Major studios pausing film releases in Russia

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STORY: Hollywood is taking a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with major studios pausing the theatrical releases of upcoming films in the country.

The Walt Disney Company said on Monday (February 28) that it's delaying the release of movies in Russia, starting with the upcoming Pixar release, "Turning Red."

Within hours, WarnerMedia said it would pause this week's release of the hotly anticipated "The Batman" in Russia, as it awaits "a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy.”

Disney said in a statement that it ''will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation."

Sony Pictures Entertainment will also delay some releases, including superhero movie 'Morbius", according to reports by Variety.

Over the weekend, the Ukrainian Film Academy created an online petition that called for an international boycott of Russian cinema and the Russian film industry following the invasion.

Russia is a significant market for Hollywood, accounting for $601 million in box office takings in 2021, or about 2.8% of worldwide ticket sales, according to Comscore.