Matrix 4 will hit theaters and air the same day, as part of a broader move by Warner Bros. to make all of its 2021 movies available on HBO Max.
Matrix 4 will premiere on HBO Max the same day it hits theaters in 2021. The move is part of a larger Warner Bros. initiative that will see all of its 2021 movies on 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 transmitter for a month before it is removed.
The Matrix 4 is one of the most anticipated Warner Bros movies of 2021. The film will bring back stars of the original trilogy Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett Smith to reprise their roles. A host of new faces have also been announced for the franchise. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff and Priyanka Chopra have also been cast in the lead. While plot details are scant, the information from The Matrix 4 set has featured an updated look that will add a new layer to the already groundbreaking franchise.
In a Warner Bros. announcement, the studio revealed its plans for The Matrix 4 hitting theaters and at HBO Max the same day. Matrix 4 will be joined by some of the most anticipated Warner Bros. movies on HBO Max. Dune, Mortal Kombat, The Suicide Squad, and 14 other movies will be released this way. The films will stay on the platform for a month, as will Wonder Woman: 1984 .
To put it mildly, Warner Bros. ‘decision is unprecedented. Movies will generally be shown in theaters for a 90-day exclusivity period before they are put on VOD services. Even with Warner Bros. only making movies available for a month, the move is sure to shake things up. The industry has already faced an avalanche of change over the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Windows of exclusivity are constantly shrinking and more and more blockbusters are heading straight for the broadcast.
However, the move makes sense for a few reasons. While it’s not exactly struggling, HBO Max hasn’t been as successful as Disney + from the start. Releasing all 17 films of 2021 on the platform guarantees new subscribers for at least one consecutive year. Even though a vaccine is on the horizon, there is no guarantee when theaters will be able to refill all their seats. Some predict that it could be at least a year before theaters can reopen at full capacity. In this regard, Warner Bros. is saving lives in multiple ways – these movies will face no further delays and fans will be able to watch movies like The Matrix 4 from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
