The Content Must Flow: Dune and All of Warner Brothers 2021 Releases Will Hit Theaters and HBO Max Simultaneously

Courtesy of Warner Brothers

It's that time again where we finally have a piece of news that isn't about something getting delayed by the Covid-19 crisis. While everything else is slowly starting to reopen, studios are developing and looking into whatever they can make when things get back to normal again. Yep, these stories will keep happening as the world tries to return to normal. This time, it's a big one. 

In a move that is bound to shake up the theatrical window and industry as we know it, Warner Brothers today announced that it’s entire 2021 slate will be hitting theaters and HBO Max at the same time. This includes films like Dune, The Suicide Squad, Matrix 4, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and Godzilla vs Kong. All will be available on HBO Max the same day they hit theaters.

The films will be available on HBO Max initially for the first thirty days or so of it's domestic or global release date. After this, they will leave the service and continue to be shown in theaters until they leave theaters and hit the traditional home video release window. All seventeen films will be available in 4K UHD and you will not face an additional charge to access them, the way Disney launched Mulan back in September. 

Warner Brothers insists that this will be a one year plan that will benefit consumers and theatrical exhibitors, a plan made to address these crazy times we are living in. I don't think that's true at all. With this move, Warner Media has shown that they are willing to shift and lose money on their entire theatrical slate to bolster HBO Max. With this move, Warner Media has declared itself an active participant in the streaming wars. Their next move will have to be making HBO Max as accessible as possible. We are watching the business change in real time and the Movie Sleuth will be there to watch what happens next.