After 45 days, new Warner Bros. movies are no longer guaranteed to stream on HBO Max

Warner Bros. Discovery.

Warner Bros. has yet another indication that it is moving towards streaming. Discovery CEO David Zaslav is reversing former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar’s push towards streaming, the studio remains committed to the 45-day theatrical window but may extend the time between when a film is first released in theaters and when it’s streaming on HBO Max.

The timing of when Warner Bros. films will be streaming on HBO Max will be decided on a case-by-case basis, an individual with knowledge of the plan told , bringing it more in line with how Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ new releases arrive on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. “The Northman,”The film, for instance, was a box-office disappointment, and it was made available to stream on Peacock less than a month after it premiered in theaters. “Jurassic World Dominion” — a box office success — is still only available in theaters or on premium video on demand (PVOD) two months after release.

“If we can monetize better by having another window before it goes to HBO Max, we may do that,” a spokesperson confirmed as Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic “Elvis”The movie will debut on PVOD on August 9, but it is not yet streaming on HBO Max. The new normal for some Warner Bros. releases is a theatrical window followed closely by a PVOD window. thenA release on HBO Max.

HBO Max subscribers could expect every Warner Bros. movie to be available for streaming within 45 days of its release. “The Batman”And “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”They were made available for streaming just over a month after their initial release in theaters.

Beginning with “Elvis,”However, it will be difficult to predict the streaming schedule. Austin Butler directed the film, which opened in theaters June 24, and was originally scheduled to debut on HBO Max on August 8. That date was canceled. “Elvis”You can find the streamer on Warner Bros.’s website. They also reap the benefits of PVOD, before putting the film onto HBO Max.

“We’ve committed to 45-day window for theatrical, but we will experiment if there are windows along the way before it gets to a streaming service,”The spokesperson said more.

Like Zaslav’s shuttering of CNN+ and potential return of HBO Max to Amazon Prime Video channels, this move is just the latest repudiation of Kilar’s streaming strategy. This one stands in contrast to the former WarnerMedia CEO’s “Project Popcorn,”Every 2021 Warner Bros. new release was streamed on HBO Max the day it was released. The surprise announcement rankled filmmakers and exhibitors, and then Kilar committed to giving the studio’s 2022 slate a 45-day window of theatrical exclusivity.

Although Project Popcorn was criticized by the creative community immediately after its announcement, it produced a steady stream theatrical films with full marketing campaigns (beginning with blockbuster). “Wonder Woman 1984”U.S. HBO Max customers at a time when it was impossible to predict when films would return to theaters. The flow of high-profile product — which included box office hits such as “Godzilla vs. Kong”And “Dune,”Streaming successes include “Mortal Kombat”And “The Suicide Squad” — helped HBO Max add 12.8 million subscribers from March 2021-March 2022.

Under Zaslav, however, Warner Bros.’ theatrical exhibition has become a focal point. After the death of the almost completed, “Batgirl” movie, Zaslav reiterated his commitment to theatrical over streaming during Warner Bros. Discovery’s earnings call last week.

“This idea of expensive films going to streaming, we cannot find an economic case for it, so we are making a strategic shift,” Zaslav said of direct-to-streaming titles, reiterating the studio’s commitment to theatrical.

These films include “Don’t Worry Darling,” “Black Adam”And “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” could take much longer to debut on HBO Max, and devalues the streaming service as a go-to destination for new release titles — at least on a consistent basis.

However, that kind of consistency may be seen as a hindrance to potential box office or PVOD profits, as some might argue Disney’s 45-day window followed by a Disney+ streaming release is almost too reliable. Ask Pixar. “Lightyear”In theaters.

Sharon Waxman contributed to the report.