China Can’t Save Hollywood’s Box Office Bacon

Here’s part of the gamble that Warner Bros. is making with its decision to release its 2021 slate on HBO Max and in domestic theaters simultaneously: “Yes, 2021 box office is going to be weak, but we can still recoup some money at the domestic screens as coronavirus vaccine penetration picks up and, anyway, the Chinese box office is back to full strength and our tentpoles will play well there.” Every other studio is relying on this same strategy to a certain extent, given the uncertainty of 2021 box office figures.