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Audiences will get to see “Wonder Woman 1984” on Christmas Day after all. After much speculation, Warner Bros. announced that the superhero sequel will debut on the streaming service HBO Max on Dec. 25, the same day it will open in U.S. movie theaters.
Debuting “Wonder Woman 1984” on HBO Max instead of postponing the film until next year means forgoing substantial box office returns. But the hope is that offering a splashy tentpole will drive subscribers to HBO Max, which has struggled to compete against Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. HBO Max costs $15 a month. insight, many theater operators are struggling to make ends meet — and they’re desperate for new products to show. in April when most cinemas were shuttered due to the pandemic. But months into a global health crisis that has no end in sight, a man in April when most cinemas were shuttered due to the pandemic. But months into a global health crisis that has no end in sight, many theater operators are struggling to make ends meet — and they’re desperate for a new product to show.
“As we navigate these unprecedented times, we’ve had to be innovative in keeping our businesses moving forward while continuing to super-serve our fans,” said Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group, which includes Warner Bros. Pictures. “This is an amazing film that really comes to life on the big screen and, working with our partners in the exhibition community, we will provide that option to consumers in the U.S. where theaters are open. We realize that a lot of consumers can’t go back to the movies due to the pandemic, so we also want to give them the option to see Wonder Woman 1984 via our HBO Max platform.”
The decision to forgo a traditional theatrical release is surprising because “Wonder Woman 1984” was expected to be one of the biggest films of 2020 and had the potential to surpass $1 billion in ticket sales. The $200 million-budgeted movie was originally supposed to hit theaters this past summer. However, it was delayed timeand time again amid the coronavirus crisis. Many were skeptical that “Wonder Woman 1984” would keep its Christmas Day release date since 50% of U.S. cinemas are closed and people are still hesitant to see a movie in theaters. Industry experts assumed that like “Black Widow,” “Fast & Furious 9,” “No Time to Die” and other potential blockbusters, “Wonder Woman 1984” would be postponed until 2021.
The decision to forgo a traditional theatrical release is surprising because “Wonder Woman 1984” was expected to be one of the biggest films of 2020 and had the potential to surpass $1 billion in ticket sales. The $200 million-budgeted movie was originally supposed to hit theaters this past summer. However, it was delayed time and time again.