WarnerMedia just announced something that is going to change the film industry forever. And no, that is not hyperbole. In fact, it’s probably an understatement. You see, the studio just announced that the projected slate of Warner Bros. films from 2021 are all going to follow the “Wonder Woman 1984” model and debut in theaters and HBO Max on the same day.
Yes, you read that right. The entirety of WB’s film slate for 2021 is expected to hit HBO Max on the same day as in theaters. The specific rules make it so that the film will only live on HBO Max for 30 days before the film leaves the service and goes exclusively to theaters and eventually PVOD. Again, this is exactly what’s happening with ‘WW84.’ To say this is shocking is a complete understatement. This is quite possibly the biggest industry news of 2020, in a year where we have seen every film release strategy rule book thrown out the window.
So, what films are we talking about? The projected slate of 2021 films includes “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.”
Wow. Just wow.
“We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group,” said Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group. “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.”
“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 Jason Kilar, CEO, WarnerMedia. “More importantly, we are planning to bring consumers 17 remarkable movies throughout the year, giving them the choice and the power to decide how they want to enjoy these films. Our content is extremely valuable, unless it’s sitting on a shelf not being seen by anyone. We believe this approach serves our fans, supports exhibitors and filmmakers, and enhances the HBO Max experience, creating value for all.”
LISTEN: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Goes Streaming & Sean Durkin Talks ‘The Nest’ [The Playlist Podcast]
“This hybrid exhibition model enables us to best support our films, creative partners and moviegoing in general throughout 2021,” said Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group. “We have a fantastic, wide ranging slate of titles from talented and visionary filmmakers next year, and we’re excited to be able get these movies in front of audiences around the world. And, as always, we’ll support all of our releases with innovative and robust marketing campaigns for their theatrical debuts, while highlighting this unique opportunity to see our films domestically via HBO Max as well.”
We’ll have to see how theaters and other studios react to this news in the days to come. This is going to be one interesting story as it plays out over the next year. We’ll see how this strategy first starts in 2020, with the release of “Wonder Woman 1984” on December 25.