The film, which is expected to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, has wider implications for the studio, setting the beginning of a year that could be a blockbuster, as AT&T plans to separate WarnerMedia and the new management, Discovery , get ready to take over.
Based on the DC Comics franchise, this latest version of Dark Knight hits theaters on Friday, starring Robert Pattinson, capturing the hero at an early stage in his career in the fight against crime.
Amused by the pandemic, Batman will lead a renewed attack on DC titles by Warner Bros. – which, like CNN, is a division of WarnerMedia – including “Black Adam”, “The Flash” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”, the sequel to “Aquaman”, which won more than $ 1.1 billion worldwide since its release in 2018
“The return of this hugely popular character to the big screen could not have come at a more perfect time,” Sean Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com, told CNN Business. “Batman is a kind of pop culture icon that attracts serious attention from fans and a high degree of curiosity from casual viewers every time the character restarts.”
Batman and Warner Bros. appear in theaters
The hype surrounding Batman, not to mention the brand’s loyalty to the movie, could displace it above the $ 1 billion stage at the world’s box office. Billions of dollars have become an endangered species during the pandemic. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” by DC rival Marvel was the only American film to cross that threshold during the global health crisis.
Batman’s expected success also brings with it a symbolic embrace of the theatrical model and a return to normalcy after WarnerMedia became involved in promoting its streaming service last year.
Warner Bros. decided to air all of his 2021 films on HBO Max the same day they hit theaters. It was an important choice that shook the foundations of the theater market and Hollywood itself. This move made HBO Max an attractive service for new subscribers and ruffled feathers of some of the studio’s biggest creators.
And yet Warner Bros. the decision to use a hybrid approach also seems detrimental to the box office results for his films.
The studio’s plan for 2021 yielded two nominees for Best Picture in Dune and King Richard, but revenue from those films was limited, although the sci-fi epic performed significantly better. Another lively studio film, The Matrix Resurrections, was even more disappointing, opening less than $ 11 million in North America and raising just $ 156 million worldwide.
Streaming data is not usually disclosed, so it’s unclear how these films performed on HBO Max, which far exceeded expectations with its subscription effort, surpassing 73 million worldwide, based on the company’s latest earnings results.
However, it seems indisputable that giving viewers access to these titles at home dulled their theatrical performance and only heightened the fears of theater owners about streaming that undermines their business.
Warner Bros. announced last year that it will return to exclusive theatrical editions in 2022.
“Back in shape”
Now that the Discovery deal has been approved by regulators and is expected to close in April, Warner Bros. has a chance to develop his muscles – and potentially impress the new leadership with the power of his intellectual property and operations.
In addition to Batman, Warner Bros. the wide range of films directing to cinemas is great news for an industry that is still trying to recover from the pandemic.
Warner Bros. offers many popular brands and movies that are potential hits on ticket booths. For example, in 2019 it was the No. 2 studio in box office revenue, with about $ 1.6 billion in the domestic market, nearly 14% market share, according to Comscore (SCOR).
The only studio to win more this year was Disney, which had a record 2019 and 33% market share.
For WarnerMedia, “this is a return to form in recognition of the enormous value that unhindered box office revenue has from a business perspective,” Robbins said. “As well as the social significance that going to the movies still has in global culture.”
