The release dates of countless highly-anticipated movies were delayed this year amid shutdowns, and once the theaters reopened, their future remained uncertain due to the low viewership numbers. Warner Bros. will try to combat this problem by simultaneously streaming their 2021 movies on HBO Max right after their global cinema release.
According to WarnerMedia’s official release, “the hybrid model was created as a strategic response to the impact of the ongoing global pandemic.”
The first movie they’ll test this strategy with will be Wonder Woman 1984, set to be released on December 25th.
Warner Bros.’ 2021 slate of movies, set to be released both in theaters and on HBO Max, includes a total of 17 titles. Some of them are the most highly-anticipated movies of the year, such as In the Heights, The Suicide Squad, Dune, and Matrix 4.
According to the current strategy, the films in question will be available on HBO Max for the first month of global cinema release, before leaving the platform while still staying in theaters in the U.S. and international territories.
Only time will tell what this historic decision will mean for the movie industry at large, but it’s already making an impact. Stocks in the movie theater industry have drastically dropped after the announcement, with Cinemark and AMC Entertainment taking the biggest hit, and we’re yet to see if any major studios will follow Warner Bros’ lead.
