Warner Bros. Pictures and AMC Theatres have agreed to a shortened theatrical release window for the studio’s 2022 movies.
AMC announced a deal to show Warner Bros.’ 2022 films in its theaters for an exclusive 45-day period before they hit the home market, reported Variety. The agreement is similar to the one the studio struck with Cineworld, the owner of Regal Cinemas, in April, as well as the deal Paramount reached with exhibitors to screen its movies in theaters for a 45-day window before it streams them on Paramount+.
The announcement comes after WarnerMedia’s controversial decision to release its 2021 Warner Bros. films day and date in theaters and on HBO Max for a month, in response to concerns about the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on movie theaters. “It’s especially gratifying that Warner Bros is yet again embracing a theatrical window,” AMC CEO Adam Aron said. “For us at AMC, it’s especially pleasing to be working so harmoniously with Warner Bros. once again.”
This news also comes after WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar confirmed the company would end its hybrid release strategy in 2022. “We’re in active dialogue with every major studio on this topic,” Aron said. “We’re hearing considerable support that an exclusive theatrical window is an important way to build a successful movie franchise.”
Warner Bros.’ 2022 slate includes the DC Extended Universe movies Black Adam (July 29), The Flash (Nov. 4) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Dec. 16), as well as the DCEU-adjacent The Batman and the animated DC adventure DC League of Super-Pets. On the non-DC side of things, the studio has a Sesame Street movie musical scheduled to debut near the top of 2022, as well as Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic and the third Fantastic Beasts film later that year.
With just under four months left in 2021, Warner Bros. still has several movies scheduled to arrive day and date in theaters and on HBO Max, including the James Wan horror film Malignant, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation and Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix 4. Despite concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant contributing to The Suicide Squad‘s lower than expected box office opening, the studio looks to stay the course with the remaining movies on its docket this year.
Source: Variety
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