Photo by Kilyan Sockalingum on Unsplash
Warner Bros. has announced that it will debut all its films slated for release in 2021 simultaneously on the streaming service HBO Max and in theatres.
Last month, Warner Bros. announced that it would release its DC Extended Universe feature, Wonder Woman 1984, simultaneously on both HBO Max and in theatres on 25 December, forgoing a traditional theatrical release. International regions, where HBO Max is not available, will also receive the film a week earlier on December 16.
When speaking on the Wonder Woman 1984 news, Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, stated: “As we navigate these unprecedented times, we’ve had to be innovative in keeping our businesses moving forward while continuing to super-serve our fans.”
Many expected this to be an isolated incident due to the current condition of the theatrical experience through the unprecedented pandemic, however, in a surprising break from traditional industry practices, the studio will be releasing all its 2021 features similarly.
These 2021 releases – simultaneously appearing in cinemas and on HBO Max on their respective release dates – will be available to HBO Max subscribers to stream for 31 days (a one-month period). They will then play exclusively in theatres until their traditional home entertainment releases. At that point, customers will be able to buy or rent films through online platforms like iTunes or Amazon.
The list of 17 films Warner Bros. will be releasing in 2021 includes Denis Villeneuve’s highly-anticipated, blockbuster adaptation of Frank Herbert’s revered science-fiction novel, Dune; Lana Wachowski’s sequel to the iconic Matrix trilogy with The Matrix 4; James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad; The Sopranos’ prequel, The Many Saints of Newark; Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical adaptation of In the Heights; a live-action meets computer-animated remake of Tom and Jerry; and a sequel to 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, among many others.
Warner Bros. 2021 release slate
| Film | Release Date |
| Mortal Kombat | January 15 |
| The Little Things | January 29 |
| Tom and Jerry | March 5 |
| The Many Saints of Newark | March 12 |
| Reminiscence | April 16 |
| Godzilla vs. Kong | May 21 |
| The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | June 4 |
| In the Heights | June 18 |
| Space Jam: A New Legacy | July 16 |
| The Suicide Squad | August 6 |
| Dune | October 1 |
| Elvis | November 5 |
| King Richard | November 19 |
| Matrix 4 | December 22 |
| Judas and the Black Messiah | TBA |
| Malignant | TBA |
| Those Who Wish Me Dead | TBA |
Words: Ashvin Sivakumar | Subbing: Karolina Pracht
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