Warner Bros shook the film and TV industry with a move that many saw coming and others were fearful of facing the reality of. In 2021 WB will be releasing 17 of it's theatrical releases for a one month window of exclusivity on HBO Max. This ultimately means that highly anticipated projects such as Mortal Kombat, Dune, Wonder Woman, The Matrix 4, The Suicide Squad and more.
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.
The Little Things - January 29, 2021
Tom & Jerry - March 5, 2021
The Many Saints of Newark - March 12, 2021
Reminiscence - April 16, 2021
Godzilla vs. Kong - May 21, 2021
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It - June 4, 2021
In The Heights - June 18, 2021
Space Jam: A New Legacy - July 16, 2021
The Suicide Squad - August 6, 2021
Dune - October 1, 2021
King Richard - November 19, 2021
Matrix 4 - December 22, 2021
Cry Macho - TBD
Malignant - TBD
Those Who Wish Me Dead - TBD
Mortal Kombat - TBD
Judas and the Black Messiah - TBD
“We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group,” said Warner Media Studios Chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff in a 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 U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021. With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films. 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.”
This shift in strategy may speak to a bigger shift in the industry as we see production studios look to digital release options for what would have been the major theater blockbusters. WB being one the largest studios in the industry it's to be expected that other studios will follow suit. Great projects need releasing after meaning we may see a redirected approach to existing and upcoming film & TV projects, whether that's for the best considering the future of the entertainment industry is yet to be decided.
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