 The film still remains set for a theatrical release, with the new date still to be decided. In a statement to Variety, a New Line Cinema spokesperson said they've decided not to release the film on August 16th in order to let audiences discover the first installment by either renting it or watching it on the Mac streaming service. Chapter 1 opened to $11 million in its first weekend in theaters and never gained traction at the box office. The franchise is meant to span over four films. I'm Tammy Trujillo.