the death or future of cinema: can theaters survive this cataclysmic decision?

By: Keaton Marcus

In the past few weeks, I’ve devoted my time to this page for more interesting articles about less conventional topics. Why? I was trying to divert my attention from the same old film news that comes out each week. However, I really cannot ignore this, because WB just announced that they would be throwing their entire 2021 theatrical slate on to streaming platform HBO Max so that audiences can access them both in theaters and at home on the same day, until it leaves the platform 31 days after release. This all started when the studio reported that upcoming blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984 would hit streaming this December 25th along with being released in theaters. That was already a cataclysmic decision, but who was expecting this? All 17 WB films set to release next year, including Dune, The Suicide Squad, In the Heights, The Matrix 4, Godzilla vs. Kong and more will eventually stream starting this Christmas with the Wonder Woman sequel.

That introduction was more or less simply introducing the news, and I do really have plenty of thoughts on the matter. To start things off, I’d say my general consensus is ultimately conflicted. I’m excited to watch all these anticipated movies in the comfort of my home while having the option of seeing them in cinemas, but at the same time I feel guilty about the certain joy. I love the moviegoing experience, and there will never be anything even close to the magic of heading to the theater, the child-like happiness of watching your most anticipated movie in the entire year. Of course, 2020 didn’t let that happen. January and February started off somewhat normally, with films like Bad Boys for Life, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Birds of Prey taking charge of the box office, but as this mythic Coronavirus and its cases started to spread like wildfire across the US, everything changed. Universal sent releases such as The Hunt, Trolls World Tour and The Invisible Man after the films had only been in cinemas for a matter of weeks for premium prices on VOD services.

Back then, that was considered nearly historic, so imagine the reaction, and backlash, Warner Brothers is receiving now for their controversial actions. Theater chains, such as AMC, Regal and more, must be infuriated, and I cannot help but feel that this studio acted selfishly. I do realize that WB needed to do something to stop the constant delays of their biggest movies, but the company was acting solely for their own self-interest. Dropping next year’s entire slate of potential box office smashers onto HBO Max will surely drive subscriptions for the service, but this is a total cheap shot. That brings me to my next point…Is this a cheap way to get more people to pay the platform? Of course it is. Warner Bros. has capitalized on the fact that they quite literally have their own streaming service, and finally came to a realization that profits would be made if their films released both in theaters and at home. It was the perfect plan, and the win-win for HBO and WB that the two needed, but what about all the cinemas? Hopefully some of the country will be vaccinated sometime next year, which will sit more butts in the theaters, but many chains could run out of business by then.

The Warner Bros. Group Picture chairman, Toby Emmerich, argued that this could be potentially good for theater chains. “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.” This is fundamentally true, and it is a total overreaction to think that this is the death of all cinema itself. The big question is, will other streaming services work with studios to do similar things? I really do think so. Disney has already done it with their live-action adaptation of Mulan, which hit homes for an expensive price of 30 dollars to watch. The studio then did it again with Pixar’s animated film Soul, planned to stream this Christmas, so what’s stopping them from pulling the plug on Black Widow, most likely their most anticipated upcoming movie? Virtually nothing. I am guessing that the Marvel project should hit Disney+ by next year like the WB films, and that will unfortunately be another big jab towards cinemas. In terms of more studios, Amazon and Netflix have chances with Universal’s Fast & Furious 9 and MGM’s No Time to Die, both of which have struggled severely with the constant delays. Other big films like A Quiet Place Part II are on the line as well. Heck, HBO Max could easily take The Batman, but when that releases, we will likely be in the norms once again.

Now let’s take a look at that sexy line-up WB sent to streaming. As mentioned, the whole thing will kick off with Wonder Woman 1984, which will stream December 25th. Later on in 2021, Mortal Kombat will hit on January 15, The Little Things on January 29, Tom and Jerry on March 5, The Many Saints of Newark on March 12, Reminiscence on April 16, Godzilla vs. Kong on May 21, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It on June 4, In the Heights on June 18, Space Jam: A New Legacy on July 16, The Suicide Squad on August 6, Dune on October 1, Elvis on November 5, King Richard on November 19 and The Matrix 4 on December 22. The other three movies: Judas and the Black Messiah, Malignant and Those Who Wish Me Dead don’t have a release date yet. This is a massive line of potential hits. From DC movies to the third Conjuring installment, the next movie in the MonsterVerse, and even a surprise Mortal Kombat video-game adaptation. As long as this vaccine process works out, this will be a one-year thing, but it’s certainly insane. One thing is for sure: 2021 will be a goldmine for moviegoers after the desolated shit show that was this year.

In conclusion, it will be interesting to see how HBO and WB’s plan plays out and if they will be successful or not. If their first few releases do well, other streaming services and studios may pair up and follow, but if all fails, what will be the future of cinema? Until the pandemic eventually quiets down, I’m thinking we’ll see some sort of a symbiotic relationship between studios and streaming platforms, as we have noticed throughout 2020. The downside is: theaters will have to hold on as long as possible without completely shutting down, which will likely not be the case. The box office has more-or-less survived thus far, and I am confident that moviegoers will see these massive movies in the theaters as well as at home.