Warner bros.
Films are shown in parallel in the cinema and via streaming
Fans all over the world are eagerly awaiting the fourth installment in the "Matrix" series starring Keanu Reeves.
© imago images / Ronald Grant
Unusual times require unusual measures: Warner Bros. will be releasing its films in parallel in the cinema and via HBO Max in 2021.
It's like a paradigm shift: The US film studio Warner Bros. has announced in a press release that it will show all Hollywood blockbusters in cinemas and on the streaming service HBO Max at the same time for the coming year. The measure is initially limited to one year. This hybrid model is the strategic answer to the effects of the corona pandemic. Up to now, movies – with a few exceptions – have only been released a few months after the screen launch via streaming or DVD.
At HBO Max, the films run parallel to the cinema for a month, then only in cinemas around the world. There are currently 17 films on Warner Bros.'s list to be released under this procedure. Including eagerly awaited hits like "Matrix 4", "Dune", "The Suicide Squad 2", "King Richard", "Mortal Kombat" or "Godzilla vs. Kong". The promotion is initially limited to the end of the year.
Ann Sarnoff (59), head of the entire Warner Group, on the project: "We live in unprecedented times that require creative solutions." Nobody wants the films back on the big screen more than Warner Bros. itself, but you have to reconcile that desire with reality. They suspect that cinemas will have to make do with reduced capacity for the whole of 2021. Nevertheless, one wants to show the films. The company therefore sees the measure as a win-win situation.