Warner Bros. will make at least 10 movies next year exclusively for HBO Max. After its predecessors HBO Go and HBO Now were shut down, HBO Max launched in May of 2020 as the latest iteration of the streaming service. While it is primarily built around HBO's original programming, it also serves as a content hub for WarnerMedia’s vast back catalog of television and film properties. HBO Max first made waves with the announcement of its simultaneous release strategy, which drew backlash from many filmmakers.
Godzilla vs. Kong has been the most successful tentpole title to release under Warner Bros.’ day-and-date release model as it grossed nearly $500 million worldwide and over $100 million domestically amid the global pandemic and despite its simultaneous 30-day streaming availability on HBO Max. Other titles released through this hybrid model include the detective thriller The Little Things starring Oscar winners Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto, the critical darling Judas and the Black Messiah, the video game adaptation Mortal Kombat, the musical In the Heights, and most recently Space Jam: A New Legacy.
While Warner Bros.’ day-and-date releases have gotten much of the attention, the studio has also produced a few exclusive titles for the streamer including Seth Rogen’s An American Pickle, the COVID-themed movie Locked Down, and the much-ballyhooed Justice League Snyder Cut. Now, according to Variety, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar says Warner Bros. will produce 10 or more movies exclusively for HBO Max in 2022. Kilar declared “motion pictures matter and will continue to matter” and announced a return to a more traditional theatrical model next year, albeit with a shortened 45-day window.
Warner Bros.'s simultaneous releases will continue all throughout this year and include some highly anticipated titles, such as James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, and The Matrix 4, but this strategy will not continue into 2022. As per this latest report, it seems exclusive HBO Max releases will be the next strategy to lure viewers to the service. As of now, HBO Max still lags way behind Netflix’s 200 million subscribers and Disney+’s 100 million.
Other than Zack Snyder’s Justice League, HBO Max’s original films have had trouble making waves despite attracting some big-name talents like Steven Soderbergh for two films in No Sudden Move, which stars an ensemble cast, and Let Them All Talk starring Meryl Streep. However, these releases have mostly flown under the radar. DC’s Batgirl will likely be one of HBO Max’s exclusive releases in 2022, but other than that, it will be interesting to see what else Warner Bros. comes up with to attract subscribers to the platform.
Source: Variety