Article by Steve J. Ray
No, you didn’t read that headline wrong, all WB movies released in theatres next year will simultaneously be streaming on HBO Max… has the world gone mad, or is this the future?
For me there’s nothing like the big screen experience. Summer blockbusters are made to be projected onto huge screens, with the sound blasted through 2000 watt speakers, there’s nothing like it. However… the thought of being in a movie theater at this moment in time fills me with dread, and sends my anxiety levels through the roof. I want to see all the big movies, particularly films like Wonder Woman 1984, and The Batman, but still don’t feel comfortable with venturing out and doing so in an auditorium. Am I being silly? Perhaps, but my wife and I are in high risk groups, and getting Covid19 could prove fatal to both of us.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Toby Emmerich, Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman gave his thoughts on the subject:
It allows us to do a global release and a national release in what we think is going to be a checkerboarded theatrical market place for the bulk of 2021. We think where theaters are open, and consumers can go, that a lot of people will choose to go to the theater, especially for big movies.
Ann Sarnoff, CEO, WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, had this to say:
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. 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.
It’s hard to argue with any of that, though I really feel for theater owners, and staff. What about you? Would you rather see WB movies on the big screen, or do you also feel that simultaneous home release will be better for the industry? Please let us know.
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