Warner Bros. will release all 2021 movies on HBO Max in the U.S.
Warner Bros. previously announced that Wonder Woman 1984 would be simultaneously released in theatres and on HBO Max on Christmas day. The list of other films that will follow suit throughout 2021 includes The Matrix 4, Dune, The Suicide Squad, In The Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat and the Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints of Newark.
After one month of streaming on HBO Max, the movies will leave the platform and continue to play in theatres. The company called the move "a unique, consumer-focused distribution model" and a "strategic response to the impact of the ongoing global pandemic." I mean, we can't complain. The plan sounds pretty great. Unfortunately for us in Canada, there's been no confirmation if we will get the same special treatment as HBO Max users.
WarnerMedia CEO Ann Sarnoff said that the move is a "win-win for film lovers and exhibitors," and they are "extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances.”
RELATED: Jared Leto returns as the Joker for ‘Justice League’
[video_embed id='2060814']RELATED: Jared Leto returns as the Joker for ‘Justice League’[/video_embed]
The strategy will be in place for one year, and WarnerMedia insists that "no one wants films back on the big screen more than we do."
Movie fans everywhere took to Twitter to discuss the news, with some saying it's going to be game-changing to watch the year's biggest movies from the comfort of their couch. Others were very concerned about their beloved movie theatres and how they will survive.
Now we await the major decisions made by rival studios who are releasing big films next year. The big questions for 2021: To send to movie theatres or straight to streaming?
BEFORE YOU GO: Watch three generations of family dance together on TikTok
[video_embed id='2112245']BEFORE YOU GO: Watch three generations of family dance together on TikTok [/video_embed]
