Warner Bros. announced that they will release all of their 2021 films on the on-demand streaming platform HBO Max for free.
All 2021 Warner Bros. movies will stream on HBO Max on the same day of a specific film’s domestic theatrical premiere. This will be free for HBO Max subscribers for an entire month as HBO suspends its 7-day free trial period.
The selection includes predicted blockbusters like “Dune”, “Godzilla vs. Kong”, and the fourth “Matrix” film.
All the titles to look out for are “The Little Things”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “Tom & Jerry”, “In the Heights”, “Mortal Kombat”, “Those Who Wish Me Dead”, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”, Space Jam: A New Legacy”, “The Suicide Squad”, “Reminiscence”, “Malignant”, “The Many Saints of Newark”, “King Richard”, and “Cry Macho”. These movies will be available in 4K, Ultra HD and HDR.
The catch? This is only currently available in the United States. After a month of chilling on the platform, the film/s will be removed as it continues to run in theaters in the US and abroad.
This was a shocking decision and move by the entertainment giant as this is not a common practice in Hollywood. However, due to the uncertain film environment brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in many theaters still closed and operating on limited capacity, Warner Bros. Executives at AT&T Inc., said this was a “short-term fix” to the current situation.
“This is a temporary 2021 plan. We have to support exhibition with the product. We don’t think we’re changing the economics of these movies any more than the pandemic has. We’re adding another interval and period for revenue with HBO Max,” said Warner Bros. Group Chief Operating Officer Carolyn Blackwood.
The first time Warner Bros. made such a move was when they announced the same distribution strategy for the upcoming “Wonder Woman 1984” film to be released on December 25.
“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,” said Warner Bros. Chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff in a press release.
For now, Warner Bros. considers this a “win-win” situation for both film lovers and exhibitors like them. This model of hybridity allows big movie chains to stay afloat by releasing movies, while people who cannot access cinemas can watch from the comfort of their homes.
This is enough for Warner Bros. to make a profit that’s similar to the typical box office gross.
“After considering all available options and the projected state of moviegoing throughout 2021, we came to the conclusion that this was the best way for WarnerMedia’s motion picture business to navigate the next 12 months, said WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar in a blog post.
Are you excited by this surprising move by Warner Bros.? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.