Are you an HBO Max subscriber yet? It may just be the best investment in 2021 – or the worst, depending on who you ask.

Warner Bros. Pictures announced Thursday that every movie they release in 2021 will debut on HBO Max as well as in theaters.

That’s 17 movies, including potential blockbusters like The Suicide Squad, The Matrix 4, the reboot of Dune, Godzilla vs. Kong and Space Jam: A New Legacy. Other titles include the latest Conjuring film, The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark and the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights.

“We’re living in unprecedented times which call for creative solutions, including this new initiative,” explained Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group. “No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021.”

The announcement follows the news that the studio will launch Wonder Woman 1984 in theaters and on HBO Max on December 25.

This is a move that could finish off an already crippled theater industry, and they are, predictably, unhappy about the situation.

Adam Aron, CEO and president of the AMC Entertainment theater chain, is against Warner Bros. plan to simultaneously release all of its 2021 movies on HBO Max and in theaters.

Although he was initially on board with the idea for the Wonder Woman sequel, he said on Thursday that he was against a plan that basically forces theater chains to subsidize HBO Max.

“These coronavirus-impacted times are uncharted waters for all of us, which is why AMC signed on to an HBO Max exception to customary practices for one film only, Wonder Woman 1984, being released by Warner Brothers at Christmas when the pandemic appears that it will be at its height,” he said. His chain operates 659 locations and is the largest U.S. exhibitor.

Covid-19 lockdown orders forced many theaters chains to close over the lucrative spring and summer months, but Aron and other theater execs thought they could see a light at the end of the tunnel – one that is dimmed by this announcement. “However, Warner now hopes to do this for all their 2021 theatrical movies, despite the likelihood that with vaccines right around the corner the theatre business is expected to recover.”

And Aron does not plan to just accept this announcement. “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business,” he said. “We have already commenced an immediate and urgent dialogue with the leadership of Warner on this subject.”

Following the one month HBO Max access period domestically, each film will leave the platform and continue theatrically in the U.S. and international territories, with all customary distribution windows applying to the title. All films will be available in 4K Ultra HD and HDR on HBO Max.

If you planned to get HBO Max so you could watch WW84 during the free trial period, forget about it; WarnerMedia has already terminated that option.