Film Now Introducing HBO Max Classic

[writer0327]

I don't understand the strategy of making movies exclusively for TV streaming services. Seems better to release in theaters first or just make it into a TV series to begin with.

 

[Closerframe]

I don't understand the strategy of making movies exclusively for TV streaming services. Seems better to release in theaters first or just make it into a TV series to begin with.

There’s less money from a marketing perspective involved in releasing a smaller film only on a streaming service that you don’t think enough people will pay to see in a theater. Also, some characters/stories are better told in film format versus a full/limited tv series.

Consider The Irishman on Netflix, despite being released in a handful of theaters a couple weeks before it showed up on the service, a movie like that would be a box office bomb if Netflix pushed it through as many theater chains as possible then later putting it on the service. It also makes users of the service less inclined to pay to see a movie in theaters if they know it’ll eventually just show up on the application.

 

[DlAMONDZ]

Is this news? I mean...we already had that Peacemaker show that was announced that has John Cena reprising his role from The Suicide Squad(which is set in the DCEU).

Is it? Didn't they say it was complete reboot a while back?

 

[Prison Mike]

It’s because not everyone goes to the theaters all the time. A lot of the mid range and smaller budget movies can do better on streaming than in theaters.

 

[writer0327]

There’s less money from a marketing perspective involved in releasing a smaller film only on a streaming service that you don’t think enough people will pay to see in a theater. Also, some characters/stories are better told in film format versus a full/limited tv series.

Consider The Irishman on Netflix, despite being released in a handful of theaters a couple weeks before it showed up on the service, a movie like that would be a box office bomb if Netflix pushed it through as many theater chains as possible then later putting it on the service. It also makes users of the service less inclined to pay to see a movie in theaters if they know it’ll eventually just show up on the application.

I certainly agree not everything needs to be in theaters from a monetary standpoint, but then it seems the best option is to develop it into a TV series, even a limited TV series, 6 episodes, released weekly. This would at least give the series and the streaming platform some weekly word-of-mouth marketing. I'm probably nitpicking but for me, direct-to-streaming movies are treated similarly as to direct-to-DVD.... rarely good, and even those that are good get lost in the shuffle and deemed as 2nd rate films, forgotten within weeks. With a few notable exceptions, of course.

 

[Prison Mike]

I agree that the direct to streaming movies have a stigma of being crappy. That’s why these companies like Disney and AT&T are investing heavily in the content. I think eventually most of the movies will premiere on the streaming services with a select few in theaters (the ones that make the most money).

 

[Doctor Jones]

That's pretty much what's going to happen. The ones that are guarantee hits like The Batman or a Marvel movie. The risk will pretty much be nonexistent.

But as for mid and small budget movies going to streaming, we'll finally get the "tv movie" stigma obliterated. The TV movie category at the Emmy's could become extinct. What would make it qualify by then?

 

[Sithborg]

Don't take that category away from Lifetime and Hallmark Channel....

 

[Closerframe]

I certainly agree not everything needs to be in theaters from a monetary standpoint, but then it seems the best option is to develop it into a TV series, even a limited TV series, 6 episodes, released weekly. This would at least give the series and the streaming platform some weekly word-of-mouth marketing. I'm probably nitpicking but for me, direct-to-streaming movies are treated similarly as to direct-to-DVD.... rarely good, and even those that are good get lost in the shuffle and deemed as 2nd rate films, forgotten within weeks. With a few notable exceptions, of course.

I agree with your point, I find most of Netflix original movies to be absolute trash and are very reminiscent of direct-to-dvd movies seen in years prior. However, this is a given for quantity over quality(streaming music seems to be remotely similar). Right now, each service is trying to get as many eyes as possible, but in the process, we’re eventually seeing producers being more hesitant to back content that isn’t beneficial in the long run. Netflix hasn’t given the green-light to every series anymore like they did when they were first getting their feet wet—something we’re seeing Apple do. HBO already has an advantage with delivering memorable series and films for decades. It doesn’t hurt to continue seeing them release content on a variety of levels.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I certainly agree not everything needs to be in theaters from a monetary standpoint, but then it seems the best option is to develop it into a TV series, even a limited TV series, 6 episodes, released weekly. This would at least give the series and the streaming platform some weekly word-of-mouth marketing. I'm probably nitpicking but for me, direct-to-streaming movies are treated similarly as to direct-to-DVD.... rarely good, and even those that are good get lost in the shuffle and deemed as 2nd rate films, forgotten within weeks. With a few notable exceptions, of course.

Because Disney/Marvel know what they are doing with their streaming service, and WB doesn't.

I am all for the smaller/medium budget flicks. I watch them all the time on streaming services, even the awful ones. They can be all kinds of fun, and I have seen a few I rather adore. But for superhero stuff? Why do it? I think Marvel's mini-series are a much better method. I like that Star Wars seems to be alternating between ongoing and min-series. Feels like Disney knows how to get much more bang out of their bucks.

 

[Primal Slayer]

According to latest article in NY Times, DC Films will make TV series that will be interconnected with DCEU movies.

Also, few DC movies will be made exclusively for HBO Max.

Spoiler

Managing Movie Superheroes Is About to Get a Lot More Complicated

The sad thing about this....is that I wont believe it until I see it. WB does a whole LOTTA talking and not a whole lotta showing.

 

[Snow Queen]

I was thinking to myself "well, maybe the benefit is appealing to creatives they want to work with - giving them more freedom." Then I remembered Waititi, Favreau and Rodriguez all have worked or are working on Mando+other shows, and... well never mind.

As a bit of an aside, I do wonder what characters get deemed "risky" with this.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I was thinking to myself "well, maybe the benefit is appealing to creatives they want to work with - giving them more freedom." Then I remembered Waititi, Favreau and Rodriguez all have worked or are working on Mando+other shows, and... well never mind.

As a bit of an aside, I do wonder what characters get deemed "risky" with this.

The minorities, the LGBTQ+, and women in general.

 

[Snow Queen]

The minorities, the LGBTQ+, and women in general.

I'll believe it when I see it.

*sees Batwoman on CW*

Uh, never mind, please take it back.

 

[writer0327]

Because Disney/Marvel know what they are doing with their streaming service, and WB doesn't.

I am all for the smaller/medium budget flicks. I watch them all the time on streaming services, even the awful ones. They can be all kinds of fun, and I have seen a few I rather adore. But for superhero stuff? Why do it? I think Marvel's mini-series are a much better method. I like that Star Wars seems to be alternating between ongoing and min-series. Feels like Disney knows how to get much more bang out of their bucks.

Exactly how I feel. If you're going to produce what amounts to a made-for-TV or direct-to-DVD movie, then you might as well make it a miniseries. Disney+/Marvel/Star Wars seems to have figured this out rather quickly and this smells like WB/HBO might be afraid of "copying" Disney (similar to the DCEU not wanting to mimic the MCU) even though it makes all the sense in the world to do so.

 

[writer0327]

As a bit of an aside, I do wonder what characters get deemed "risky" with this.

Probably character's popularity, or lack thereof, will be the main determining factor I think. Booster Gold is tailor made for this.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

 

[DlAMONDZ]

Shows connecting with movies? WB can't even get their movies to connect lol

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Shows connecting with movies? WB can't even get their movies to connect lol

Now all their movies connect! In the multi-verse of madness!!!!

Out wait, Marvel already beat them to that too? Nevermind.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I was thinking to myself "well, maybe the benefit is appealing to creatives they want to work with - giving them more freedom." Then I remembered Waititi, Favreau and Rodriguez all have worked or are working on Mando+other shows, and... well never mind.

As a bit of an aside, I do wonder what characters get deemed "risky" with this.

Maybe they can steal the Russos???

But they'll probably just give everything to Berlanti to produce and give to his team.

 

[Slick]

It does sound like the DC content alone will be enough to justify a HBO Max sub once they get all the old stuff on there.

I mean for me personally the DC content on HBO Max past, present and future is the reason why I’m a subscriber. Same with Disney Plus for the Marvel and Star Wars stuff too. For me the other great non DC, Marvel and Star Wars tv shows and films that HBO Max and Disney Plus have is a bonus. But I can’t hate on Netflix because I still love it and obviously as you can tell by my signature that I’m looking forward to Jupiter’s Legacy and the other Millarworld Projects since they canceled the Marvel shows.

 

[Iceman]

I mean for me personally the DC content on HBO Max past, present and future is the reason why I’m a subscriber. Same with Disney Plus for the Marvel and Star Wars stuff too. For me the other great non DC, Marvel and Star Wars tv shows and films that HBO Max and Disney Plus have is a bonus. But I can’t hate on Netflix because I still love it and obviously as you can tell by my signature that I’m looking forward to Jupiter’s Legacy and the other Millarworld Projects since they canceled the Marvel shows.

Yeah, same. I’ll keep Netflix and Amazon Prime for general stuff while Disney + and HBO Max will keep me up with all Marvel/DC/Star Wars content. I hope future fantasy projects like Witcher make it onto one of those 4 providers as I’m dropping cable which will pay for all of those and more by itself.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I still would love to see a cross pollination of film and television. A single story dovetailing in and out of both formats over many years. I was interested when that was the plan for the The Dark Tower adaptation a decade ago with Javier Bardem. Though this would only work with their biggest properties if theatricals are getting less risky but also whose scope would warrant it like Dark Tower. It would just be cool to see an audience get invested in a story and follow it in different formats.

Not that it was necessary for GOT, but if that finale was a movie it would have been a giant hit... maybe if it was actually good though.

Maybe something like Saga.

 

[Doctor Jones]

So they've acquired 28.7 million subscribers in seven months. It costs $14.99 a month.

Now someone who's better at numbers than me could dig deeper and see if HBO Max could actually profit off of this with their upcoming movies in the next year?

 

[Closerframe]

So they've acquired 28.7 million subscribers in seven months. It costs $14.99 a month.

Now someone who's better at numbers than me could dig deeper and see if HBO Max could actually profit off of this with their upcoming movies in the next year?

Roughly $5.2B a year in streaming alone isn’t a bad starting point if the numbers continue growing at their current rate. This figure doesn’t include any projects coproduced or joint advertising ventures. Netflix currently has roughly 195M subscribers and a ton of that is coming from outside the US. When HBO starts rolling out in other countries, I’d be interested in seeing how much their subs grow which could completely justify their 2021 release strategy.