The same rollout format Warner Bros. is adopting for Wonder Woman 1984 in these challenging times will be applied to the studio's full 2021 film slate. All films from WB will be released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, where they will be available on the steaming service for 31 days.
This move comes on the heels of the CDC revealing that while vaccines may start being distributed before the end of the year, the vaccinations will go to healthcare workers and the elderly first. Everyone else (outside of those with underlying health conditions) will have to wait until late Spring for their vaccination. Furthermore, recent polls have revealed that even after the vaccine has been distributed, many individuals still won't feel comfortable sitting in a movie theater...
Films that will be distributed in this new theater/HBO Max rollout include:
- The Suicide Squad
- The Matrix 4
- Dune
- Godzilla vs. Kong
- Space Jam: A New Legacy
- Little Things
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Tom & Jerry
- Mortal Kombat
- Those Who Wish Me Dead
- The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
- In The Heights
- Reminiscence
- Malignant
- The Many Saints of Newark
- King Richard
- Cry Macho
THR is reporting that this decision was not made in conjunction with movie theater owners who are likely to be very upset with this development. Many theaters are holding on by the skin of their teeth, borrowing large sums of money or raising capital by selling off stocks.
Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, stated, "We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group. No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021."
"With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films. We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we’re extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances."
What are the chances that other studios follow in WB's footsteps? Do you see Disney/Marvel following suit with the MCU films on Disney+? Let us know in the comment section below.