Warner Sending Entire 2021 Slate to HBO Max and Theaters.

[hudson4k]

Crazy and sad news.

From THR:

Warner Bros. smashes box office windows, will send entire 2021 slate to #HBOMax and theaters.

From Variety:

When Warner Bros. announced that “Wonder Woman 1984” would land on the streaming service HBO Max on Christmas, the same time it debuts in theaters, many expected it to be an isolated case in response to an unprecedented pandemic.

Instead, the studio will deploy a similar release strategy for the next twelve months. In a surprising break from industry standards, Warner Bros.’ entire 2021 slate — a list of films that includes “The Matrix 4,” Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” remake, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical adaptation of “In the Heights,” Sopranos prequel “The Many Saints of Newark,” and “The Suicide Squad” — will debut both on HBO Max and in theaters on their respective release dates. The shocking move to simultaneously release movies day-and-date underscores the crisis facing movie theaters and the rising importance of streaming services in the wake of a global health crisis that’s decimated the film exhibition community.

Warner Bros.’ 2021 release slate also includes Denzel Washington’s thriller “The Little Things,” biographical drama “Judas and the Black Messiah,” a remake of “Tom and Jerry,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” video game adaptation “Mortal Kombat,” “Those Who Wish Me Dead,” “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy,””Reminiscence,” James Wan’s “Malignant” and sports drama “King Richard.”

In Theaters | On HBO Max | Exact Same Day - YouTube

[John1701D]

Link isn't working.

[ben6543]

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@Collider
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Breaking: Every single 2021 Warner Bros. movie will be released on HBO Max and in theaters on the same day — that includes 'Dune', 'The Matrix 4', and 'Godzilla vs. Kong'.

Huge news out of Warner Bros. today. Following the announcement that the highly anticipated Wonder Woman 1984 will be released on HBO Max on Christmas Day for a limited one-month engagement on the streaming service (in addition to a concurrent theatrical release where theaters are open), the studio announced today that all of its 2021 films will follow this same release model.

Yes indeed, movies like Dune, Matrix 4, and Godzilla vs. Kong will be released theatrically worldwide, but concurrent with the domestic theatrical release the movies will also be streaming exclusively on HBO Max for one month. After that one month period is over, the film will depart HBO Max and continue to be available in theaters worldwide, at which time it will follow all customary distribution windows applying to the title – which means after it leaves HBO Max, it will later still have a full Digital HD and Blu-ray/DVD release before eventually returning to the streamer.

The 2021 Warner Bros. films that are expected to be released next year – and that are expected to follow this “on HBO Max and in theaters at the same time” model – include:

The Little Things
Judas and the Black Messiah
Tom & Jerry
Godzilla vs. Kong
Mortal Kombat
Those Who Wish Me Dead
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
In the Heights
Space Jam: A New Legacy
The Suicide Squad
Reminiscence
Malignant
Dune
The Many Saints of Newark
King Richard
Cry Macho
Matrix 4
All films will be available in 4K Ultra HD and HDR on HBO Max.

This hybrid model was created as a strategic response to the impact of the ongoing global pandemic.

[hudson4k]

Originally Posted by John1701D

Link isn't working.

Added a Twitter link until it goes up. Wanted to post this ASAP so adding all the details through edits.

EDIT: THR and Variety article links now in OP, removed THR Twitter link.

[CyberpunkCentral]

Oh ****!

[whiteberry]

Warner Bros. to Debut Entire 2021 Film Slate, Including ‘Dune’ and ‘Matrix 4,’ Both on HBO Max and In Theaters

When Warner Bros. announced that “Wonder Woman 1984” would land on the streaming service HBO Max on Christmas, the same time it debuts in theaters, many expected it to be an isolated case in response to an unprecedented pandemic.

Instead, the studio will deploy a similar release strategy for the next twelve months. In a surprising break from industry standards, Warner Bros.’ entire 2021 slate — a list of films that includes “The Matrix 4,” Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” remake, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical adaptation of “In the Heights,” Sopranos prequel “The Many Saints of Newark,” and “The Suicide Squad” — will debut both on HBO Max and in theaters on their respective release dates. The shocking move to simultaneously release movies day-and-date underscores the crisis facing movie theaters and the rising importance of streaming services in the wake of a global health crisis that’s decimated the film exhibition community.

Warner Bros.’ 2021 release slate also includes Denzel Washington’s thriller “The Little Things,” biographical drama “Judas and the Black Messiah,” a remake of “Tom and Jerry,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” video game adaptation “Mortal Kombat,” “Those Who Wish Me Dead,” “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy,””Reminiscence,” James Wan’s “Malignant” and sports drama “King Richard.”

https://variety.com/2020/film/news/w...-4-1234845342/

[trevrox]

Not good.

[mwynn]

https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/3/2...quad-space-jam


There are some limitations to the new business model. The movies will only stream on HBO Max for one month before leaving the platform for a period of time. They will also play in theaters, keeping the relationship with movie theater distributors like AMC and Regal. The plan is to run this experiment for one year.

The movies Warner Bros. is planning to release include: The Little Things, Judas and the Black Messiah, Tom & Jerry, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In The Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Reminiscence, Malignant, Dune, The Many Saints of Newark, King Richard, Cry Macho and Matrix 4. All films will be released in 4K Ultra HD and HDR.

[CyberpunkCentral]

[John1701D]

Horrible, terrible news. I won't give in and I'll still go see these at theatres.

[Britnasty]

This is insane. But let’s get real, with Pfizer’s vaccine leading the way and it’s distribution model, regular theatrical going at best wouldn’t return till Fall 2021 IF that.

I imagine Disney is gonna do something big to follow. Black Widow, Raya and Jungle Cruise to Disney+?

Universal I could see sticking with their theatrical/PVOD model they currently have but lessening windows and adding stuff to Peacock.

What an interesting time to live in.

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

Holy S*** that is huge...and terrible for theaters. We're talking some huge blockbusters by one of the largest studios. I wonder if anyone else will follow in their steps...like Disney.

[trevrox]

I can only hope that this is a one year thing and they return to normal in 2022. However I fear this might end up being a permanent move.

[tcripe]

Theaters are done. Only a matter of time until Disney announces something similar.

[Chaotic]

Fine with me. Theaters where I live will be closed for the foreseeable future.

[imsounoriginal]

Will try to go to theaters for GvK and Dune, maybe for Matrix 4 if I even feel like seeing it. The rest I either don't care about or was perfectly fine to wait for streaming anyway.

Only slight nuisance is that we'll have to keep hearing about how theatrical distribution is dead forever.

[hudson4k]

Originally Posted by John1701D

Horrible, terrible news. I won't give in and I'll still go see these at theatres.

I live in NYC so I won't be able to see them in theaters. However, I hope an immediate end is placed to this when all theaters are reopened. This is horrible news if permanent

[slumcat]

Obituary of theatrical.

[Britnasty]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZzR...ature=youtu.be

[hudson4k]

Originally Posted by Britnasty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZzR...ature=youtu.be

I cannot stress this enough: This is the worst video I have ever seen. Trying to make ruined jobs into a cool video. Thanks for sharing though, I'll add it to OP.