Warner Bros. will launch its theatrical films exclusively in theaters next year, Deadline reports. The decision ends the studio’s experience in 2021 of releasing great films as Wonder Woman 1984, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal combat, Suicide squad, Dune, and The Matrix 4 simultaneously on its HBO Max streaming service and in theaters during the first 30 days that they are released.
The news comes as part of a Warner Bros. ad. of a new agreement with cinema owner Regal Cineworld, the second largest cinema chain in the world. After more than six months of shutdowns, Regal’s cinemas will reopen in April and begin showing Warner Bros. films. how Kong x Godzilla and Mortal combat alongside his HBO Max debuts.
When Warner Bros. films return to theaters in 2022, Regal theaters will once again have total exclusivity (without HBO Max or paid streaming rental competition). But this exclusivity window will be for a much shorter period of time: Regal will have only a 45-day theatrical exclusivity window, half the standard 90-day window that existed in previous years.
The theater’s shortened window corresponds to recent changes from other studios prompted by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry. Paramount recently announced similar 45-day windows for its hit movies, such as Mission: Impossible 7 and an even shorter 30-day window for smaller titles. Universal has also signed similar agreements with AMC and Cinemark: films with premieres of less than $ 50 million domestically will reach paid video services 17 days after their premiere, while films with larger premiere weekends can start with rentals paid 31 days after the premiere.
Disney has also been experimenting with premium releases in streaming day and date through its Disney Plus Premiere Access program, which offers movies like Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon earlier for an additional fee of $ 30.