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Photorealistic courtroom scene with legal documents and a screen displaying text on a wooden table.

Photorealistic courtroom scene with legal documents and a screen displaying text on a wooden table.

Village Roadshow Entertainment Group sued Warner Bros. on Monday for breach of contract over the studio’s decision to release Matrix Resurrections simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters. The lawsuit escalates growing hostility between those in the movie industry who stand to make millions of dollars through big theatrical releases and major media companies that have turned to prioritize growing their streaming services. “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,” states the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Warner Bros. said in a statement, “This is a frivolous attempt by Village Roadshow to avoid their contractual commitment to participate in the arbitration that we commenced against them last week. We have no doubt that this case will be resolved in our favor.” Village Roadshow alleged the non-industry-standard practice caused Matrix Resurrections, which it claimed was slated to be released in 2022 but was moved up by Warner Bros., to underwhelm at the box office. The blockbuster sequel has grossed only $37 million domestically compared to nearly $750 million by Ver mais