The upcoming blockbuster film Wonder Woman 1984 will be released in theaters and on HBO Max.
What We Know:
- According to a Warner Bros. press release, the film will be available for streaming on HBO Max at no additional cost for one month. After the one month period, the film will exclusively play in theaters.
- The film will release in US theaters and on HBO Max on December 25th and it will be available in international markets on December 16th. Unlike Mulan from Disney Plus, Wonder Woman 1984 will not cost extra for HBO subscribers who already pay the $15 monthly fee.
- WarnerMedia made this decision as uncertainty remains about the viability of movie theater releases during the pandemic. The US’s coronavirus situation is worsening by the day, so it is unclear whether theaters will remain open or if people would even attend screenings. By streaming the film, WarnerMedia can grow its number of HBO Max subscribers and still offer the film in theaters.
- The movie landscape is still adjusting to the world of Covid-19. Warner Bros. is pushing back Dune to late 2021 and MGM is also moving the new James Bond film No Time To Die to next year. Theater chains Regal and Cineworld recently announced that they would be closing all of their locations for the rest of 2020.
- Along with pushing films to 2021, many studios are also embracing direct-to-viewer strategies like streaming or pay per view. Along with Mulan and Wonder Woman 1984, Pixar’s Soul will also go directly to streaming platforms.
Wonder Woman 1984 was initially set to release on October 1st. After its December 25th theater premiere and one month period on HBO Max, the film will follow the traditional route of going from theaters to DVD and digital retailers, and then to streaming platforms.
