Those wacky rebels in the Midwest are at it again. One of the largest theater chains in the middle part of the country, Marcus Theaters, have said they won’t show Tim Burton’s musical, Sweeny Todd, when it is released on Friday. The reason has nothing to do with the high gore and blood content in the movie; rather, it’s coming down to good old fashioned greed.

Variety says that none of the 1,200 theaters showing Sweeny Todd this weekend will be owned by Marcus Theaters. Although details were not released, Marcus Theaters says it is because Paramount, the film’s distributor, was asking for too high a price. Company president Bruce J. Olson said, ”Unfortunately, as a result of the negotiations with Paramount reaching an impasse, Marcus Theaters will not be showing Sweeney Todd in any of its locations." Paramount, of course, said they couldn’t be happier with everything and don’t need Marcus Theaters’ 400 screens in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.

This is an interesting battle that seems to have come out of nowhere. Marcus Theaters is no small potato, despite the fact that I’ve never heard of them. They are the seventh largest chain in the country and despite Paramount’s nonchalance; it is a bit of a line in the sand for increasing fees to show these movies. No telling if it will become a trend, but as someone who still has to pay for a movie in a theater once in awhile, I’m happy to see someone trying to hold the line.