Warner Bros. Sued Over The Terrible Release Of "Matrix Resurrections"

As we already know, the return of Keanu Reeves' Neo and the Matrix franchise was linked to Warner Bros.' decision to give The Matrix Resurrections a hybrid release last year. Accordingly, the supposed-to-be blockbuster arrived simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, and it wasn't the only movie that went day-to-date on this streaming platform in 2021. In 2020, the studio already announced its plan to release upcoming movies both in theaters and on HBO Max due to the pandemic.
"We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021," said CEO Ann Sarnoff. "With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films. We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we're extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances."

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

However, Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, the company that co-produced all the Matrix films, was not happy with this situation. In fact, the resentment of the company was so remarkable that it has even decided to sue Warner Bros. for the really bad choice, which is said to be the biggest reason that turn Matrix Resurrections into a huge box office bomb.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, in the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the company stated that: “WB’s sole purpose in moving the release date of The Matrix Resurrections forward was to create a desperately needed wave of year-end HBO Max premium subscriptions from what it knew would be a blockbuster film, despite knowing full well that it would decimate the film’s box office revenue and deprive Village Roadshow of any economic upside that WB and its affiliates would enjoy, especially as compared to a 2022 exclusive theatrical release.”

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Matrix Resurrections was released on December 22nd in the US and grossed $153 million worldwide, of which approximately $37 million was recorded at the US box office. At the moment, it is not clear what figure Village Roadshow has asked after such damages.