Wonder Woman 1984 may have pioneered the strategy of hitting theaters and HBO Max simultaneously, but it won’t be the last.
The Warner Bros. Pictures Group announced today that its entire 2021 movie slate, which includes Dune, The Suicide Squad, and Matrix 4, will make their streaming debuts on HBO Max the same day they open in theaters in the U.S.
The films will remain available on HBO Max for one month, beyond which they will continue playing in theaters.
Other titles currently expected to open in 2021 following this strategy include Space Jam: A New Legacy, In the Heights, The Many Saints of Newark, 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, Reminiscence, Malignant, King Richard, and Cry Macho. (As the press release notes, however, that list of titles is subject to change.)
“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 of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, in a release. “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.”
At this time, there are no confirmed plans for this released strategy to continue past 2021.