WITH movie studios and cinemas reeling from the continued impact of Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdowns around the world, Warner Bros decided to go ahead with the bold decision to make its upcoming slate of new releases available on HBO Max.
This follows the decision to release superhero tentpole Wonder Woman 1984 on Christmas Day via a similar model. That movie will open around the world wherever movie theaters are open on December 16.
Among the titles coming out next year are Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Dune, Matrix 4, among others.
“We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group,” said Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group in today’s statement.
“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 US will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021.”
While releasing the movies on both cinema and home screens is a way for studios to recoup their enormous production costs, movie theater companies are further under threat.
“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,” Sarnoff adds.
Already under siege from flagging audiences and the ease of streaming via various devices, cinema chains the world over are at risk of bankruptcy if not worse.
Part of the decision-making likely has to do with the relatively lackluster launch of HBO Max, Warner Bros’ flagship streaming service. Part of the confusion stems from the naming convention, with HBO and HBO Go being previous brand names.
There has always been a window between a movie’s release in the cinemas and its release on streaming (home video, for the folks old enough to remember).
For a few years now, Netflix has wanted to shrink that window, to the consternation of movie theaters. Warner Bros’ move further muddies the water and it will be interesting to see if fellow nascent streamer Disney Plus follows suit. – The Vibes, December 4, 2020
