AMC Theatres has already responded to Warner Bros. recent decision to release its films on HBO Max on the same day that movies drop in theaters.
- The new hybrid model — releasing films in theaters and on streaming the same day — comes as AMC Theatres looks to keep its business alive during the pandemic.
Adam Aron, CEO and president of AMC Entertainment, said in a statement to Gizmodo that the theater chain has “already commenced an immediate and urgent dialogue with the leadership of Warner on this subject.”
- “These coronavirus-impacted times are uncharted waters for all of us, which is why AMC signed on to an HBO Max exception to customary practices for one film only, “Wonder Woman 1984,” being released by Warner Brothers at Christmas when the pandemic appears that it will be at its height,” Aron said. “However, Warner now hopes to do this for all their 2021 theatrical movies, despite the likelihood that with vaccines right around the corner the theater business is expected to recover.
- “Clearly, Warner Media intends to sacrifice a considerable portion of the profitability of its movie studio division, and that of its production partners and filmmakers, to subsidize its HBO Max start up,” Aron continued. “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business.“
Cinemark also responded to the news, but didn’t have a really clear idea of what this model would do to the company, Bloomberg reports.
- “In light of the current operating environment, we are making near-term booking decisions on a film-by-film basis,” the theater said. “At this time, Warner Bros. has not provided any details for the hybrid distribution model of their 2021 films.”