WB to Release Entire 2021 Schedule Same Day on HBO Max

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In a major surprise, Warner Brothers announced that it will release its entire 2021 schedule the same day in theaters and on HBO Max. There will be no surcharge for HBO Max subscribers, but the available window will only be 31 days per film. After that, the movie will be removed from HBO Max and made available through alternative VOD and DVD channels. Many of these movies, including the DC titles, will probably wind up back on HBO Max at a later date. This is the same manner in which they will show the previously announced Wonder Woman 1984 movie debuting at Christmas time. The company calls this rollout "unique" for 2021 and will not be followed in 2022 and beyond.

Although Warner says this rollout will apply to all releases in the calendar, it could be subject to change if theaters rebound substantially later in the year. Movies in this release include the Suicide Squad and Matrix sequels, the Dune remake, Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights, the Sopranos prequel, Godzilla vs. Kong, Space Jam with LeBron James, the latest Conjuring film, and another movie version of Mortal Kombat.

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HBO Max has now canceled its seven-day free trial offer, so that people can't sign up just to get Wonder Woman. This summer, Disney Plus canceled its free trial offer prior to the premiere of Hamilton for the same reason.