Director Patty Jenkins recently voiced her objection to the day-and-date model at CinemaCon, which was first used by WarnerMedia on her film “Wonder Woman 1984” before applying the hybrid model to all of their 2021 releases as a way to help boost subscriptions to their streaming service, HBO Max. This led to the public ire from fellow directors Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, with Nolan reportedly looking to sever his working relationship with the studio over their controversial decision.
More of Jenkin’s comments from CinemaCon in Las Vegas have made their way online thanks to the Los Angeles Times, where she took dead aim at streaming films looking “like fake movies.” Another talking point meant to defend the theatrical experience from competing streaming options.
“And by the way, aren’t you seeing it? All of the films that streaming services are putting out, I’m sorry, they look like fake movies to me. I don’t hear about them; I don’t read about them. It’s not working as a model for establishing legendary greatness,” Jenkins said at CinemaCon last month, blasting many peers, filmmakers, and studios in the process. While she’s likely taking aim at places like Netflix, often accused of just flooding the zone with oversaturated content, a lot of great filmmakers also have to debut their films on streaming services these days, especially when the economic possibilities of certain films mean you’d be crazy not to accept the financial offer (see “CODA” on AppleTV+, a film that would have been traditionally a small indie, but was bought for $25 million thanks to its Sundance success)
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Jenkins’ thoughts are a bold statement given that multiple DC Comics films are heading to HBO Max, such as “Batgirl,” “Blue Beetle,” and “Zatanna,” perhaps even bolder when you consider the reception to “Wonder Woman 1984” (aka, not good).
It’s worth mentioning that while Jenkins has dabbled and continues to work in television, she has secured her next two feature films with Lucasfilm‘s “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron” (her next movie) and her third DC Comics film “Wonder Woman 3.” She’s certainly speaking from a position of comfort as a director that is regularly courted for blockbusters, not every filmmaker has that privilege or option.
READ MORE: ‘Wonder Woman 3’ In Development With Patty Jenkins Returning To Write And Direct
She continued suggesting that streaming is more of a place for television, “Streaming is great for massive amounts of content and bingeing TV shows. I think they are two very different skill sets, and I see them succeeding as two very different things. That’s why I think it’s a mistake for the film industry to throw something away so valuable.”
Speaking of Wonder Woman, star Gal Gadot is part of a high-profile Netflix original film “Red Notice.”
This likely has more to do with where Jenkins was speaking; CinemaCon is essentially a theatrical event for exhibitors and press, comments like these would simply be what attendees were hoping to hear from studios and filmmakers, defending their industry from streaming. Still, one can’t help but think the comments will land as a slap in the face to many filmmakers, cast and crew who have worked tirelessly on a film and put in their best efforts, only to see it bought by a streaming service, a totally normal scenario in 2021, and a platform where millions of people will see the finished product.
