The co-producer of The Matrix Resurrections, in a brand new lawsuit, is blaming the movie’s lackluster field workplace numbers on a same-day streaming launch. According to The Wall Street Journal, Village Roadshow Entertainment Group filed a lawsuit as we speak towards Warner Bros., the proprietor of streaming platform HBO Max. The go well with alleges that each the same-day launch of The Matrix Resurrections and pushing up the movie’s launch date was a breach of contract. The go well with additionally claims that shifting the film’s launch date from 2022 to 2021 was a bid by Warner Bros. to drive up subscriptions to HBO Max.

Last yr’s determination by Warner Bros. to launch a whole slate of recent movies concurrently on HBO Max and in theaters raised many eyebrows. In addition to The Matrix, the in Warner Bros’ simultaneous launch technique included Dune, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, King Arthur, and others. The experiment possible doomed their field workplace fates, as The Wrap . Only two of the 17 movies made greater than $100 million in home field workplace gross sales.

The Matrix Resurrections, which was launched in December, usually a peak time for field workplace earnings, has grossed over in home field workplace gross sales, in accordance with BoxOfficeMojo. This is a noticeable decline in comparison with numerous different blockbusters with theater-only releases from final winter, corresponding to Spider-Man:No Way Home, which has made greater than $748 million within the home field workplace and the James Bond movie No Time To Die, which has earned greater than $160 million within the home field workplace.

Village Roadshow additionally alleges that Warner Bros. is trying to maintain the corporate out of future film and TV offers. “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 go well with alleged.

The Matrix lawsuit is the newest battle between Hollywood studios and the media corporations that personal the streaming platforms. Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson final yr Disney over the movie’s simultaneous launch technique, which she claimed harmed its field workplace prospects and her personal earnings. Johansson subsequently obtained an from Disney final fall.