Warner Sending Entire 2021 Slate to HBO Max and Theaters.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by MattJ1991

Most of the people who download 1080p rips online weren't going to theatres or buying Blu-rays anyway so that's not really a significant factor here.

If studios were worried about pirating all they have to do is add a Digital watermarking to the movies.

[jayman3]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

So which is it? "End of an era" or "temporary?"

It was an emotional knee jerk response for end of an era, followed by the assurance of one year promise.

[John1701D]

All the people still saying theaters will be fine...

[Mavrick]

No HBO in the UK, so I guess cinema will still be the only option, unless they make them available on rival platforms or put them on Sky Box Office PPV.

Whatever the case without the ease of access in the UK people will inevitably just end up downloading copies from the lovely folk in the US that do have easy access.

Either way it sucks given the cinemas are constantly being shut down here.

[avs commenter]

I enjoy going to the theater, but I go less and less every year. My local theater has terrible amenities and no premium options. It's still expensive, but the value is just not there.

[MazeRunner]

So happy for all the average Americans and their undersized TVs.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by joshsquash729

Since I'm in NY, and our theatres aren't opening for the foreseeable future, this is pretty cool. Of course I'll miss seeing them on a huge screen with surround sound, but I'm just glad I'll get to see them at all. Though this does throw a wrench in my one-and-done HBO Max trial plan I had going for the Snyder Cut.

There are theaters open near NYC. I’ve gone to Long Island (probably closest if you are in Queens, note that if a town goes above 2% test positivity for 7 day average their theaters need to close) and CT a few times, and there are also theaters in NJ which don’t seem too hard to get to.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by John1701D

All the people still saying theaters will be fine...

I think the only theaters that will be wounded are the multiplexes. The theaters with less then 8 screens will be fine. As was said before this shift was coming. Instead of doing a wait and see AMC and Cinemark decided to to get greedy.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Originally Posted by John1701D

All the people still saying theaters will be fine...

Great Googa Mooga - Orlando Jones - YouTube

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by Joey9775

That's very true. Netflix original is almost direct to video.

like who wants to pirate Netflix's crappy Adam Sandler movies or the teen romcoms with Joey King and Noah Centineo

[NI-Gunner]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

Win-lose.

If the movie is in HD and free online for pirates that's lost money. Let's be real, theatre moviegoers are pirates too.

The overwhelming majority of people aren't pirates. Hell, I used to be, but streaming is so affordable it's not even worth the hassle to pirate anymore, and virtually everything I'd want to watch is on the services I already pay for.

Financially, it'll be a negligible difference, or even a net gain for studios. Think about it. Streaming pretty much eliminates all the bloated, extraneous costs and overhead associated with exhibiting movies in theaters. All you need to market your big movie is a trailer and banners on the streaming platform itself. That alone cuts your costs in half AND you can take more creative risks.

I don't think there's much to "lose" at all.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by jayman3

Also, for some assurance, here’s an important tidbit



This is a temporary “one-year” deal.

It won't be temporary. It'll kill off multiplexes. Plus I don't see many studios spending 200+ mil on blockbuster films if they're not assured they can gross a billion or more in movie theaters.

The industry may be permanently altered by this.

[Worship.my.wreck]

I brought this up to some of my friends and they already said they will be pirating the movies lol.

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

I bet Universal is regretting the deal they made with AMC now. They could be doing the same.

I wish ALL movie studios would have followed Universal's lead.

Give the movie to theatres for 3 weeks first, for the REAL movie fans to enjoy. Then give it to digital for the people who don't give a damn.

[Farerb]

And people blamed Disney for killing theaters.

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

I brought this up to some of my friends and they already said they will be pirating the movies lol.

Yep. Don't forget Roku and Firesticks or whatever have easily accessible illegal apps that have all these new pirated movies.

I always see online comments "why pay 20 to rent when I can watch on my Roku stick for free!!!!!"

[Hardback247]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

It won't be temporary.

How do you know?

[Worship.my.wreck]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

I wish ALL movie studios would have followed Universal's lead.

Give the movie to theatres for 3 weeks first, for the REAL movie fans to enjoy. Then give it to digital for the people who don't give a damn.

Yeah but if i was Universal i would be pissed. I mean, the only reason they made that deal with AMC was because AMC made a hissy fit over not wanting to play their movies if they put them on VOD at the same time. Now WB is doing it and all the theater chains are going along with it. Universal screwed themselves with that deal.

[John1701D]

Originally Posted by mwynn

I think the only theaters that will be wounded are the multiplexes. The theaters with less then 8 screens will be fine. As was said before this shift was coming. Instead of doing a wait and see AMC and Cinemark decided to to get greedy.

In what way were they greedy? Desperate to stay open, make money, pay their employees, sure.

I dislike throwing around the greedy slam, we all want to make more money, it's not a bad thing.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

I wish ALL movie studios would have followed Universal's lead.

Give the movie to theatres for 3 weeks first, for the REAL movie fans to enjoy. Then give it to digital for the people who don't give a damn.

Yeah the Universal or Netflix (for their bigger movies) model isn’t so bad. 3 weeks to a month in theaters first still feels like a theatrical release.

I love going to the theater, but with the expense and hassle of doing so in this era, hard to justify that except in very rare occasions if a movie is available at home same day.