Warner Bros. Movies to Stream on HBO Max Simultaneously

In the wake of the announcement last month regarding the simultaneous release of “Wonder Woman 1984” on HBO Max and in cinemas across the U.S., Warner Bros. and its parent organization, WarnerMedia, have now declared they will employ the same approach for all of their planned 2021 theatrical releases.

This encompasses films such as “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat,” “In the Heights,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “The Suicide Squad,” “Dune,” the “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark,” and “The Matrix 4.” (The WarnerMedia statement indicates that release schedules are subject to alteration, potentially impacting which titles fall under the scope of this current announcement.)

These films will be accessible on HBO Max for a period of one month, presented in 4K Ultra HD and HDR, without any supplementary cost to subscribers.

Previously this year, film studios reacted to extensive cinema shutdowns by premiering select movies directly on streaming platforms while postponing the majority of their large-scale productions. The underwhelming box office results of “Tenet” (also a Warner Bros. production) led to further postponements—however, as the pandemic continued, a growing understanding emerged that studios could not indefinitely defer releases.

As an illustration, Universal Pictures had already established an agreement with AMC and other prominent theater chains to distribute films on premium video on demand just three weeks following their theatrical debut, with revenue shared with cinema partners.

WarnerMedia’s announcement appears to represent an even more significant alteration—and while it is currently limited to 2021, it may indicate potentially enduring modifications to the traditional exclusive release window for theaters.

This development also follows the appointment of Jason Kilar, formerly CEO of Hulu, as WarnerMedia’s chief executive in April, a decision (accompanied by several rounds of workforce reductions) that appeared to prioritize streaming within the company’s strategic objectives.

Kilar conveyed the following in an official statement: