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Warner Bros. Sued
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Warner Bros. are being sued by Village Roadshow over the practice of simulatenous cinema and streaming release.

The Matrx Resurrections is a major point of contention.

Several weeks ago the movie was rushed into early digital purchase / rental release less than a month after premiering in cinemas.

Among other things this suit contends that it should also have carried a price when intially released on HBO Max rather than being covered by the service subscription.

Because that inclusion encourages people to watch it at home rather than go to a cinema where they have to buy tickets.

It also increases the value of that streaming service and almost certainly results in more people subscribing.

Village Roadshow also contend that Warner Bros. are required to account for that as earnings derived from these films.

In late 2020 and without notice to its film-making partners, Warner Bros. announced that all of its 2021 films would release simultateously at cinemas and on HBO Max.

Dune director Denis Villeneuve slammed the move and during negotiations for the sequel insisted upon that having a purely theatrical release.

[ Main Image: The Matrix Resurrections. Credit: Warner Bros. via IMDb.com. ]

References

D'Alessandro, A. & Kroll, J. (October 26, 2021). ‘Dune’ Sequel Greenlighted By Legendary & Warner Bros; Pic Will Get Theatrical Window In October 2023. Deadline.

Patten, D. & Hayes, D. (February 7, 2022). Warner Bros. Slapped By Village Roadshow Suit Over ‘Matrix’ & More Going To Streaming. Deadline.

Villeneuve, Dennis (December 10, 2020). ‘Dune’ Director Denis Villeneuve Blasts HBO Max Deal (Exclusive). Variety.