Christopher Nolan’sTenetwill be released on HBO Max this May. This comes afterNolan has already criticized HBO Maxfor being what he considers “the worst streaming service.”
Tenetwas written and directed by Nolan and starred John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki. The film followed an unnamed CIA operative (Washington) who joins a secret government organization that uses time inversion to save the world.Tenetreceived fairly positive reviewsand earned Oscar nominations for Best Visual Effects and Production Design.
RELATED:Watch Christopher Nolan’s Tenet The Way It Was Intended: On A Gameboy
HBO Max recently announced that fans will soon be able to watch the espionage thriller on the streaming platform starting on May 1. Nolan has made it no secret that he isn’t a fan of the streaming industry and HBO Max. Last December, he criticized Warner Bros.' decision to release their 2021 films simultaneously in theatres on HBO Max. The filmmaker argued that the decision would hurt theater owners and did not take the opinions of those involved in the films into consideration. Believing that they were designed for the theatrical experience, Nolan argued that films should be shown to wide audiences but are now “being used as a loss-leader for the streaming service.” The HBO Max release strategy for 2021 reportedly resulted inNolan no longer working with Warner Bros.
Tenetwas originally slated for releaseon July 07, 2025, but it was pushed back to July 31, and again to August 12 because of the pandemic. Unlike films likeThe King of Staten IslandandPalm Springs,Tenetwasn’t initiallyreleased on a streaming platform or on-demand.Tenet’s distributor, Warner Bros., was determined to release the sci-fi blockbuster in theatres last year. Warner Bros. Chairman Toby Emmerich asserted that Warner Bros. wasn’t going to treatTenetlike a traditional global day-and-date release.
The time-traveling epic was released internationally in August and in select American cities on September 3. Warner Bros. released the film in New York City this March after various theatres reopened. The film has grossed $305 million internationally and $57 million domestically on a $200 million budget. Due to restrictions, the film struggled in America. For perspective, Nolan’s previous movie,Dunkirk(2017), earned $188 million domestically.Nolan has defendedTenet’s box office resultsand said that he’s “thrilled” it made almost $350 million. He also noted that studios were fixated on the pre-COVID expectations and were drawing the wrong conclusions from the film’s release.
The box office results ofTenetwere reportedly part of the reason behind Warner Bros.' decision to releaseWonder Woman 1984on HBO Maxday-and-date with theaters. Released on Christmas day, 2020, the DC film proved to be a success for the streamer if not a universally acclaimed hit with audiences.
Tenetwill be released on HBO Max on May 1.
MORE:‘Last Of Us’ HBO Show Will Adapt Game Dialogue And Deviate From Story
