German theatres boycott Avengers: Age of Ultron for Disney fee increase

Disney requested a bigger fee for showing the latest Avengers film but movie theatres in smalltown Germany aren't having any of it.

Avengers: Age of Ultron, which opened on April 23 in Germany, is not being shown on 686 screens in 193 small towns in Germany.

Disney raised its rental fee from 47.7 to 53 percent. In addition, advertising money from Disney and advances for 3-D glasses have both been cut.

The protest began in northern Germany but other theatres across the country have joined the boycott. German industry advocacy group I.G. Nord expressed concern about eastern Germany, as price increases could force theatres to close.

Movie theatres in the country previously protested a rental fee hike by Disney in 2003 with the release of The Hulk.

While smalltown German moviegoers may have to travel to big cities to see the film in theatres, perhaps some theatres could instead screen this reasonable facsimile of the film: The Aveggies: Age of Bon Bon, starring the Cookie Monster as Dr. Brownie with his teammates Onion Man, Captain Americauliflower, Black Bean Widow, Mighty Corn, and Zuchin-Eye?