The Matrix 4 will release on HBO Max the same day it hits theaters in 2021. The move is part of a larger initiative from Warner Bros. that will see all of their 2021 films hit the streamer the same day they hit theaters. The move comes after Warner Bros. announced that Wonder Woman: 1984 will hit theaters and HBO Max simultaneously on Christmas Day. The film will remain on the streamer for a month before it's pulled.
The Matrix 4 is one of Warner Bros' most anticipated films of 2021. The film will bring back original trilogy stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith to reprise their roles. A slew of fresh faces to the franchise have also been announced. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, and Priyanka Chopra have all been cast to star as well. While plot details are scarce, information from The Matrix 4 set has teased an updated look that will add a new layer to the already groundbreaking franchise.
In an announcement from Warner Bros., the studio revealed their plans for The Matrix 4 to hit theaters and HBO Max the same day. The Matrix 4 will be joined by some of Warner Bros. most anticipated movies on HBO Max. Dune, Mortal Kombat, The Suicide Squad, and 14 other films will be released this way. The films will remain on the platform for a month, just like Wonder Woman: 1984.
To put it mildly, the decision from Warner Bros. is entirely unprecedented. Typically, movies will play in theaters for a 90 day exclusivity window before they are put on VOD services. Even with Warner Bros. only making the films available for a month, the move is sure to shake things up. The industry has already faced an onslaught of changes over the last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Exclusivity windows are consistently shrinking and more and more blockbusters are heading straight to streaming.
The move makes sense for a few reasons, though. While not exactly struggling, HBO Max has failed to have the same success as Disney+ right out of the gate. Releasing all 17 of their 2021 films on the platform guarantees new subscribers for at least a year straight. Despite the fact that there is a vaccine on the horizon, there's no guaranteeing when theaters will be able to fill all their seats again. Some predict it could be at least a year before theaters can reopen to full capacity. In this regard, Warner Bros. is saving lives in multiple ways: these films won't face anymore delays and fans will get to watch movies like The Matrix 4 from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Source: Warner Bros.
