Roadshow theatrical release

Roadshow theatrical release (also commonly known as reserved seat engagement and limited release) is a practice whereas a film opens in a limited number of theatres in large cities like Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco for a specific period of time before it spreads to nationwide release (also known as General Release and Wide Release).

This practice dates back to the 1930s (during the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood). Large-scale epic films would open in larger cities in an engagement much like a theatrical play or musical, with components such as an Overture, the First Act, the Intermission, the Entr'acte, the Second Act, and the Exit Music, and special reserved seat admission charges. An early example of this was 1939's Gone with the Wind. Running almost four hours in length, the film was divided into the above components so that the movie goer can experience the film as if he/she were seeing an actual play in a theatre.

The original theatrical release of Disney's Fantasia also was released this way, but originally presented without main or end title credits to perpetuate a concert-going experience (a program was sold at the lobby that gave the movie goer more information on the film's content).

During the 1950s and continuing through the 1970s (during the Silver Age of Hollywood), with the rise of television and the closing of some movie palaces, studios came up with ways to bring movie audiences back to theatres by making widescreen epics, again using the "roadshow" formula. Such epics include the 1956 version of The Ten Commandments, the 1959 version of Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia, The Sound of Music, and The Sand Pebbles.

It was common practice in the 1950s and 1960s, however, for studios to re-edit some of these epics for General/Wide Release in order for theatres to book more showings a day and at reduced "popular prices". As a result, some of these films have not been seen in their entirety since their first release as the original edited footage is either missing or no longer exists. Thanks to film preservation and restoration, however, such films as Lawrence of Arabia and Around the World in Eighty Days can again be seen as the filmmakers originally intended.

The last film release to officially receive a "Roadshow/Reserved Seat Engagement" was the 1972 movie version of Man of La Mancha.

Today, a similar theatrical release practice of first premiering a film in larger cities is being done, mainly towards the end of the year, in order to qualify for film award consideration, including the Academy Awards. In many cases, such releases will have a better chance at being nominated for the Oscar. Such recent films that have gone the Roadshow/Limited Release route include 2004's Million Dollar Baby and The Aviator