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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
James Moore

Warner Bros’s streaming strategy has infuriated cinemas – but will its release scheme work?

Photograph: Rex/Warner Bros
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arner Bros’s decision to put its entire slate of 2021 movies on its HBO Max service at the same time as they are released to cinemas was characterised as a surprise in some places. It wasn’t to anyone who’s been paying attention.

The hotly anticipated Wonder Woman 1984 was already lined up for a dual streaming/cinema release in the US. It was billed as a “one off” but you know what? Things change.

Warner giving Matrix 4, Dune, a rebooted Suicide Squad, Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, Judas and the Black Messiah and the rest a simultaneous digital release is the biggest move of its kind. But it’s far from the first and I’m going to discuss what Disney’s been doing below.

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