{
  "id": 7368693,
  "title": "Russia's cinemas may lose their backdoor access to Hollywood blockbusters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/russias-cinemas-may-lose-their-backdoor-access-to-hollywood",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T17:29:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/kolobok-or-how-russians-still-prefer-american-films/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Since the introduction of \"pre-screening entertainment\" in 2022 in Russia, Russian audiences have been able to watch popular Hollywood films, even though they cannot be legally distributed due to international sanctions. These screenings involve viewers purchasing tickets for domestic films, but then watching American blockbusters for free before the Russian feature begins. However, this practice might soon come to an end, with Russian cinema owners predicting it could cease within the next two to three months. The reasoning behind this change is the upcoming release of major Hollywood films, such as Dune 3 and Avengers: Doomsday, which are unlikely to be screened in Russian theaters. The film industry specialist, Alexey Voronkov, attributes this impending end to the stricter regulatory environment imposed by Russia's Culture Ministry in March 2026.",
  "summary": "After years of illegal screenings, Russians may soon lose access to major foreign films in their cinemas. Since 2022, \"pre-screening entertainment\" — as the practice is known locally — has allowed Russian cinema-goers to watch Hollywood blockbusters, even as these cannot be legally distributed due to international sanctions imposed after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}