Is this the end of the same-day streaming on HBO Max? It seems so. A new deal between Warner Media and AMC Theaters will put an end to the controversial business model.
One of the biggest theatrical developments during the COVID shutdown was the decision by WarnerMedia to release all their theatrical releases the same day on their HBOMax streaming platform. The decision sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood and drove a massive wedge between WarnerMedia and filmmakers all over the world.
Well, it seems we've seen the last of day-and-date streaming as a new deal was struck today between Warner Bros. and AMC Theaters stating that starting in 2022, WarnerMedia will respect the 45-day theatrical window allowing films to run in theaters for a month and a half before the films are made available on streaming.
Warner will still release its 2021 films like Dune and Matrix 4 on the streaming platform, as the new deal doesn't take affect until 2022.
This new deal came on the heals of the box office numbers from The Suicide Squad which revealed a massively subpar return for the $185 million budget film. The Suicide Squad only raked in $26.5 million at the US box office.
“We’re especially pleased that Warners has decided to move away from day-and-date releases and commit to theatrical windows as well,” AMC President Adam Aron said. “We’re having conversations with other movie studios in Hollywood.”
Aron said that studios’ experimenting with the theatrical window was a result of the pandemic, adding, “We’re seeing the consensus that exclusive theatrical window is a good way to build major motion picture franchises.”
So what do you think about this news? Are you a fan of the day-and-date model, are you glad to see it going away? Let us know in the comment section.