It appears movie producers have learned a thing or two from attempting to "release Tenet in theaters during a global pandemic"::https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/fandom-in-context-what-do-fans-think-of-tenets-release/.

Following Warner Bros.' will-they-won't-they drama over Tenet this past summer, which resulted in somewhat lackluster box office receipts (if you can call $350 million lackluster), the studio has decided to drop their other 2020 tentpole, Wonder Woman 1984, on streaming. Patti Jenkins' follow-up to her 2017 superhero hit will swing on lightning bolts over to HBO Max on Christmas Day.

Wonder Woman 1984 won't be exclusive to HBO Max. According to Gal Gadot, who plays the titular Amazonian woman of wonder, the film will also screen in select theaters.

"It wasn't an easy decision, and we never thought we'd have to hold onto the release for such a long time, but COVID rocked all of our worlds," Gadot tweeted.

"So…you can watch it in theaters (they're doing an amazing job keeping it safe) and you can watch it on HBO Max from your homes."

pic.twitter.com/t0iaXgVWXh

— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) November 19, 2020

Back in 2017, Wonder Woman earned $800 million worldwide. Needless to say, the returns on a streaming release will be considerably smaller. However, it does indicate the weight Warners is placing on HBO Max for the studio's future. HBO Max has attracted more than activations since May, and to keep subscribers happy, they're going to have to keep giving them that sweet, sweet content.

The movie is another massive shift in moviegoing in a year that was a perpetual earthquake. Earlier this year, Warner Bros., after delaying Tenet for several months due to lockdown ordinances, procedures and best practices, released the film to lower-than-expected returns. Tenet was a test run, though. Other studios, like Disney, also floundered to find an adequate release model for major releases during the pandemic. The same weekend that Tenet dropped, Disney released Mulan on VOD, charging Disney Plus subscribers a $30 premium to watch the live-action remake.

All eyes have been on Wonder Woman ever since, with Hollywood Studios sitting on many of their major releases. Disney and Marvel shelved their long-awaited Scarlett Johansen vehicle Black Widow, while MGM held onto the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die, long enough for its biggest twist to be spoiled. Will they be the next to go the Wonder Woman route?