Warner Bros. and AMC Theaters have reached a 45-day theatrical window agreement. Warner Bros.' parent company AT&T shook the film industry last year when they announced that they would release Wonder Woman 1984, alongside their entire 2021 film slate day and date in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max. This meant that audiences could choose to see high-profile films like The Suicide Squad, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Space Jam: A New Legacy in theaters or at home.
This news was met with displeasure from many in the industry, including long-time Warner Bros. director Christopher Nolan himself. However, Warner Bros. always said that the day in date platform was only ever intended for 2021 and they would go back to theatrical in 2022, even moving the release of The Batman from 2021 to 2022 as to not cut into the highly lucrative box-office that comes with the release of a Batman movie. They previously struck a deal to honor a 45-day theatrical release window with Cinemark, and now have made a deal with one of the largest theater chains in the world.
According to Variety, AMC Theaters and Warner Bros. have made a deal to screen the 2022 Warner Bros. films for 45 days. AMC CEO, Adam Aron, made it no secret that the company was not happy when they announced their 2021 film release plan. However, they are happy with Warner Bros. for returning to a first-run theatrical release plan for 2022 and are in conversation with more studios. Read what Aron said below:
“It’s especially gratifying that Warner Bros is yet again embracing a theatrical window. For us at AMC, it’s especially pleasing to be working so harmoniously with Warner Bros. once again.”
Universal made headlines during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when after Universal Pictures released Trolls World Tour straight to VOD, the company said they would no longer be prioritizing theatrical releases. Later, Universal and AMC worked out a deal that is similar to Warner Bros. where they will play Universal Pictures movies in theaters 45 days before going to VOD. 45 days now appears to be the new theatrical window normal as Disney currently has Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Free Guy set for the same 45-day theatrical window before going to video on demand.
Warner Bros.' deal with AMC theaters comes the weekend after The Suicide Squad, which was originally projected to open to $30 million, opened below expectations. Since the start of 2021, no Warner Bros. movie has opened to above $40 million for an opening three-day weekend. While the pandemic is certainly to blame, the fact that the films are available on HBO Max for no additional charge certainly must be cutting into their box office. Films like A Quiet Place: Part II, F9, and Black Widow all opened above $40 million in the three-day weekend, and both Warner Bros. and AMC are certainly hoping next year audiences will rush out to see high-profile films like The Batman, Elvis, and Fantastic Beasts 3 in theaters.
Source: Variety