What is block booking?

Block booking is a practice in the entertainment industry where a distributor requires a theater or venue to show a group of films as a condition of showing a highly-anticipated or popular film. This can sometimes result in smaller or independent films being overlooked or not given the same amount of screen time as the blockbuster film.

Block booking has been criticized for limiting choices for moviegoers and reducing diversity in the types of films that are shown in theaters. In response to these criticisms, the practice of block booking has been largely eliminated in the United States due to anti-trust regulation and changes in distribution agreements.

However, block booking is still used in some international markets and in other forms of entertainment, such as music and live performances. In these cases, it is important for venues and event organizers to carefully consider the impact of block booking on both their audience and the artists they work with.