As the coronavirus ripples through every sector of public life, Hollywood must determine in real time how to deal with a crisis that seems to worsen by the hour. Movie theaters across the world have shuttered, including hundreds of venues operated by AMC, Regal and Cinemark, the United States three largest chains. Blockbusters like A Quiet Place Part II, Mulan, No Time to Die, Furious 9 and Black Widow all of which staged hefty marketing campaigns worth millions have been delayed. Other projects still in production (the long list includes The Batman, the Avatar sequels and Baz Luhrmanns Elvis Presley biopic) are suspended indefinitely.

If the COVID-19 pandemic lasts through May, the global box office could face an estimated $20 billion loss . If its longer, who knows what might result. Regional economies will be affected, too, as film operations pump money into local businesses and employ freelance crew members who are now out of work .

Meanwhile, scores of people stuck at home are relying on digital platforms for entertainment, giving studios an opportunity to recoup some funds by making nimble, unprecedented decisions to use streaming outlets (Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and video-on-demand services (iTunes, Amazon Prime Video and cable systems like Comcast and Cox) to showcase movies that can no longer play in theaters.

Disney, for one, capitalized on the situation by releasing Frozen II on Disney+ months ahead of schedule. Paramount Pictures is cutting a deal to give Netflix The Lovebirds, a murder-mystery comedy starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani that was supposed to open April 3.