MATRIX RESURRECTIONS Producer Sues Over Box Office Bomb
By Movieguide® Contributor
In a recent lawsuit, the co-producer of THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS sued Warner Bros. over lackluster box office numbers.
Village Roadshow Entertainment Group filed the suit that claimed a same-day release in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max breached their contract.
The company also claimed that the studio moved the movie’s release date from 2022 to 2021 in a bid to gain more subscribers for HBO Max.
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS, released in December 2021, grossed over $37.2 million at the domestic box office. In comparison, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME smashed box office records with a $748 million domestic haul. The James Bond movie NO TIME TO DIE earned over $160 million.
Village Roadshow Entertainment Group accused Warner Bros. of keeping them out of future movie and TV deals.
“WB has also been devising various schemes to deprive Village Roadshow of its continuing rights to co-own and co-invest in the derivative works from the films it co-owns,” the lawsuit read.
The case mirrors a suit against Disney filed last year by actress Scarlett Johansson over Marvel’s BLACK WIDOW.
While Johannsson received an undisclosed settlement in her case against Disney, it is no surprise that Village Roadshow Entertainment Group expressed similar frustrations.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Scarlett Johansson and the Walt Disney Co. have settled her lawsuit regarding BLACK WIDOW’s release on streaming.
The decision marks the end of the first notable fight between a major studio and its star over release strategies in the COVID-19 era.
The two parties released a joint statement which states that they will continue to work together on future projects despite their legal battle.
“I am happy to have resolved our differences with Disney,” Johansson said. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together over the years and have greatly enjoyed my creative relationship with the team. I look forward to continuing our collaboration.”
Johanssen is best known in the Disney world for her portrayal of Marvel’s Natasha Romanoff.
The chairman of Disney Studios Content, Alan Bergman, added that he is “pleased” with the settlement.
“We appreciate her contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and look forward to working together on a number of upcoming projects,” Bergman said.
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