Regal inks deal to show Warner Bros movies before they stream on HBO Max
Following shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show will go on for Cinemark’s Regal Cinemas chain on Easter weekend.
The nation’s second-largest theater chain will kick things off with a limited 500-theater opening on April 2, with the release of “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
More theaters across the country will open timed for the April 16 release of “Mortal Kombat.”
On Tuesday, Regal officially announced it inked a deal with Warner Bros., the studio behind both films, to bring all of its 2021 titles to the big screen for 45 days.
In December, the iconic film studio announced that its entire 2021 slate would simultaneously be released in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service, including titles such as “The Suicide Squad” and the upcoming “Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark.”
In most cases, attendance is capped at 25 percent to 50 percent. The Knoxville, Tenn.-headquartered company opted to shutter its movie theaters six months ago.
“We have long awaited this moment when we can welcome audiences back to our Regal theaters and restore our essential role within the communities we serve,” parent company Cineworld’s CEO Mooky Greidinger said. “With the health and safety of our customers, staff and communities as our top priority, we continue to take all the necessary precautions … to confidently provide a safe and comfortable experience.
Warner Bros.’ recently released Black Panther Party historical drama “Judas and the Black Messiah” has garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for five Academy Awards.
“We are very happy for the agreement with Warner Bros.
This agreement shows the studio’s commitment to the theatrical business, and we see this agreement as an important milestone in our 100-year relationship with Warner Bros,” Greidinger added.
Other films on the Warner
Bros. slate in 2021 include Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical “In The Heights,” the LeBron Jamesfronted sequel to 1996’s Looney Tunes juggernaut “Space Jam” and the biopic “King Richard” about the life of Richard Williams, the father and driving force behind tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.
The long-awaited “Matrix 4” is scheduled for Dec. 22.