Wonder Woman 1984, Matrix 4, Dune and Other Warner Bros. Films to Stream on HBO Max Starting December 25

Warner Bros. has just announced that it will be releasing its 2021 line-up of films on HBO Max to run simultaneously with the theater release dates in the US. 

Thus, viewers can opt to catch the movies in cinemas or on their TV sets - or both. 

Wonder Woman 1984 starring Gal Gadot will serve as the opening salvo of this arrangement on December 25, 2020. The movie, just like the rest of the 2021 line-up, will be available on HBO Max for only 31 days. After that, the films will continue to play in theaters until it arrives as home entertainment. 

The other movies slated for release by the giant media company next year include The Little Things, Judas and the Black Messiah, Tom & Jerry, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Dune, and Matrix 4. 

The decision was influenced by the lingering uncertainty surrounding cinema operations until next year. 

“We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative for the Warner Bros. Pictures Group,” WarnerMedia chair and CEO Ann Sarnoff Sarnoff said in a statement. “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.” 

“With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films,” she added. “We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we’re extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances.”

So far, this unique set-up is only earmarked to be rolled out in the States. 

There's no indication at least as of the moment if the HBO experiment will be extended to other locations such as Europe or Asia.