Thanks to GODZILLA VS. KONG, Warner Bros. is now a Hollywood Hero after having been vilified by exhibitors & filmmakers for going day-and-date on HBO Max with all its 2021 films.
That decision apparently came from WB’s corporate parent AT&T as a way to jump-start its HBO Max. The fledgling streamer only had about 8.6M “activated” subscribers in late September, but by late December there were 17.2M.
WB’s day-and-date deal was only for 2021 and actually committed nearly 20 titles to theatrical release at a time when other studios were either streaming their biggest films, themselves or selling them to streaming giants.
Looking back, it was WB that launched TENET for Labor Day – thanks largely to pressure from Christopher Nolan – to give exhibitors a tentpole to play. Then WB gave theatres a holiday season event film in WONDER WOMAN 1984.
Now WB’s fueling moviegoing’s splendid spring snap-back. On the heels of GVK’s success, exhibitors will get WB/NL’s next powerhouse MORTAL KOMBAT (pictured) 4/23. Its average definite interest tracking score is already 11 points above the norm. Top demos: +25M (21 points above norm) & -25M (nearly as strong).