Warner Bros. made a major announcement for their 2021 film release plans. What’s most shocking is their decision to debut their feature films in theaters and on HBO Max. It seems like the dual debut isn’t just a trend from the COVID-19 pandemic after all. WB’s decision should frighten movie theaters like Showcase and AMC, as more people start to prefer streaming at home than going to the theater. Matrix and Dune join Wonder Woman 1984 in this new approach.
WB’s plan is to debut new releases in theaters and on HBO Max for a period of one month (in the U.S. only right now). At the end of the premier’s month on HBO Max, each film will leave the streaming platform and continue playing theatrically across the U.S. and globally. Following the expanded theatrical release, all customary distribution windows continue to apply. Every film will be available in both 4k Ultra HD and HDR on HBO Max.
Expected 2021 releases slate at this time: 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.
Read the complete press release here.
