Voice of London

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