The biggest hit movies on HBO Max in 2021 that came out as part of Warner Bros. simultaneous release strategy

Travis ClarkDec 22, 2021, 02:23 IST

Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson in "Dune."Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. released all of its movies this year simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max.
Insider ranked each release by their opening weekend viewership on Max, according to data from the TV measurement firm Samba TV.
The data accounts for Thursday through Sunday viewership unless otherwise noted.
Samba TV counts a view if a household watched at least five minutes of the movie, and the data is limited to connected-TV devices in the US, such as Roku and gaming consoles.
But the data gives solid points of comparison for each movie's performance (Samba TV couldn't provide data for "Reminiscence").

15. "Judas and the Black Messiah"

Daniel Kaluuya in "Judas and the Black Messiah."Warner Bros.

Released: February 12

Max opening weekend viewership: 653,000 households

US box office: $5.4 million

Global box office: $6.8 million (No. 15)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 96%

What critics said: "Judas and the Black Messiah can't do everything. What it accomplishes is nevertheless quite something. It is a bittersweet compliment to what's here that we end the film wishing it'd done even more." — Rolling Stone

Released: February 12

Max opening weekend viewership: 653,000 households

US box office: $5.4 million

Global box office: $6.8 million (No. 15)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 96%

What critics said: Judas and the Black Messiah can't do everything. What it accomplishes is nevertheless quite something. It is a bittersweet compliment to what's here that we end the film wishing it'd done even more. — Rolling Stone

14. "In the Heights"

Anthony Ramos in "In the Heights."Macall Polay/Warner Bros.

Released: June 11

Max opening weekend viewership: 693,000 households

US box office: $29.9 million

Global box office: $$43.9 million (No. 8)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 94%

What critics said: "Jon M. Chu and Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical now stands as a celebration of [the] community's remarkable perseverance." — The Ringer

Released: June 11

Max opening weekend viewership: 693,000 households

US box office: $29.9 million

Global box office: $$43.9 million (No. 8)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 94%

What critics said: Jon M. Chu and Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical now stands as a celebration of [the] community's remarkable perseverance. — The Ringer

13. "Cry Macho"

Clint Eastwood in "Cry Macho."Warner Bros.

Released: September 17

Max opening weekend viewership: 693,000 households (Friday through Sunday)

US box office: $10.3 million

Global box office: $14.3 million (No. 13)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 57%

What critics said: "As a director, Eastwood keeps his tone almost primordially simple; not for Macho are the murky moral calculations and defined character arcs of The Unforgiven, American Sniper, or even Gran Torino." — Entertainment Weekly

Released: September 17

Max opening weekend viewership: 693,000 households (Friday through Sunday)

US box office: $10.3 million

Global box office: $14.3 million (No. 13)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 57%

What critics said: As a director, Eastwood keeps his tone almost primordially simple; not for Macho are the murky moral calculations and defined character arcs of The Unforgiven, American Sniper, or even Gran Torino. — Entertainment Weekly

12. "King Richard"

Will Smith in "King Richard."Chiabella James/Warner Bros.

Released: November 19

Max opening weekend viewership: 707,000 households (Friday through Sunday)

US box office: $14.3 million

Global box office: $24.8 million (No. 11)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 91%

What critics said: "Green's King Richard isn't a great movie, but it doesn't need to be when the characters are this warm, and its message is so earnest." — Polygon

Released: November 19

Max opening weekend viewership: 707,000 households (Friday through Sunday)

US box office: $14.3 million

Global box office: $24.8 million (No. 11)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 91%

What critics said: Green's King Richard isn't a great movie, but it doesn't need to be when the characters are this warm, and its message is so earnest. — Polygon

11. "Malignant"

Warner Bros.

Released: September 10

Max opening weekend viewership: 933,000 households

US box office: $13.4 million

Global box office: $34 million (No. 9)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 76%

What critics said: "None of this is especially scary, but, if you're patient, Wan delivers the kind of hilariously sick climax that only a sadist would spoil." — New York Times

Released: September 10

Max opening weekend viewership: 933,000 households

US box office: $13.4 million

Global box office: $34 million (No. 9)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 76%

What critics said: None of this is especially scary, but, if you're patient, Wan delivers the kind of hilariously sick climax that only a sadist would spoil. — New York Times

10. "The Many Saints of Newark"

Michael Gandolfini and Alessandro Nivola in "The Many Saints of Newark."Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros. Pictures

Released: October 1

Max opening weekend viewership: 1 million households

US box office: $8.2 million

Global box office: $12.7 million (No. 14)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 71%

What critics said: "The movie was, to borrow an image from the 'Pine Barrens' episode, like sucking ketchup packets." — Boston Globe

Released: October 1

Max opening weekend viewership: 1 million households

US box office: $8.2 million

Global box office: $12.7 million (No. 14)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 71%

What critics said: The movie was, to borrow an image from the 'Pine Barrens' episode, like sucking ketchup packets. — Boston Globe

9. (tie) "Those Who Wish Me Dead"

Angelina Jolie in "Those Who Wish Me Dead."Warner Bros.

Released: May 14

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.2 million households

US box office: $7.3 million

Global box office: $23.4 million (No. 12)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 62%

What critics said: "Those Who Wish Me Dead could have risen to meet Jolie's ability. But the film reflects the industry's lack of imagination for an older female action star." — The Atlantic

Released: May 14

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.2 million households

US box office: $7.3 million

Global box office: $23.4 million (No. 12)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 62%

What critics said: Those Who Wish Me Dead could have risen to meet Jolie's ability. But the film reflects the industry's lack of imagination for an older female action star. — The Atlantic

9. (tie) "Tom and Jerry"

Warner Bros.

Released: February 26

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.2 million households

US box office: $14.1 million

Global box office: $46.0 million (No. 7)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 31%

What critics said: "Very young kids might find some enjoyment in the brightly hued, fast-paced mania of it all, but those with any real affection for the pair of violently opposed animals will leave unimpressed." — Guardian

Released: February 26

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.2 million households

US box office: $14.1 million

Global box office: $46.0 million (No. 7)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 31%

What critics said: Very young kids might find some enjoyment in the brightly hued, fast-paced mania of it all, but those with any real affection for the pair of violently opposed animals will leave unimpressed. — Guardian

7. "The Little Things"

Denzel Washington in "The Little Things."Warner Bros.

Released: January 29

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.4 million households

US box office: $15.2 million

Global box office: $29.8 million (No. 10)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 45%

What critics said: "It's a movie that's constantly on the verge of developing into something as intense and haunting as writer/director John Lee Hancock wants it to be, but it never achieves its goals, especially in its final half-hour." — RogerEbert.com

Released: January 29

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.4 million households

US box office: $15.2 million

Global box office: $29.8 million (No. 10)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 45%

What critics said: It's a movie that's constantly on the verge of developing into something as intense and haunting as writer/director John Lee Hancock wants it to be, but it never achieves its goals, especially in its final half-hour. — RogerEbert.com

6. "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It"

Warner Bros.

Released: June 4

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.6 million households

US box office: $65.6 million

Global box office: $202 million (No. 3)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 55%

What critics said: "Three films into this series (and eight into the overall 'Conjuring' franchise), it's not shocking that creative wells are starting to run a little dry, though that doesn't lessen the sting of this particular disappointment." — Indiewire

Released: June 4

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.6 million households

US box office: $65.6 million

Global box office: $202 million (No. 3)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 55%

What critics said: Three films into this series (and eight into the overall 'Conjuring' franchise), it's not shocking that creative wells are starting to run a little dry, though that doesn't lessen the sting of this particular disappointment. — Indiewire

5. "Dune"

Oscar Isaac and Josh Brolin in "Dune."Warner Bros.

Released: October 22

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.9 million households

US box office: $106.3 million

Global box office: $390 million (No. 2)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 83%

What critics said: "Denis Villeneuve's new big-screen adaptation underlines why generations have been fascinated by the story." — Vox

Released: October 22

Max opening weekend viewership: 1.9 million households

US box office: $106.3 million

Global box office: $390 million (No. 2)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 83%

What critics said: Denis Villeneuve's new big-screen adaptation underlines why generations have been fascinated by the story. — Vox

4. "Space Jam: A New Legacy"

LeBron James in "Space Jam: A New Legacy."Warner Bros.

Released: July 15

Max opening weekend viewership: 2.1 million households

US box office: $70.5 million

Global box office: $162.8 million (No. 5)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 25%

What critics said: "Corporations handing a bag of unrelated IP and ordering screenwriters to come up with a story around them is the template for most studio filmmaking now, if not all of contemporary existence." — Slate

Released: July 15

Max opening weekend viewership: 2.1 million households

US box office: $70.5 million

Global box office: $162.8 million (No. 5)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 25%

What critics said: Corporations handing a bag of unrelated IP and ordering screenwriters to come up with a story around them is the template for most studio filmmaking now, if not all of contemporary existence. — Slate

3. "The Suicide Squad"

Idris Elba in "The Suicide Squad"Warner Bros.

Released: August 6

Max opening weekend viewership: 2.8 million households

US box office: $55.8 million

Global box office: $167.4 million (No. 4)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 90%

What critics said: "The gloriously unhinged James Gunn keeps Margot Robbie, John Cena and a top cast of crazies firing on all cylinders and turns a botch job original that was the worst movie of 2016 into the down-and-dirty whirlwind it was always meant to be." — ABC News

Released: August 6

Max opening weekend viewership: 2.8 million households

US box office: $55.8 million

Global box office: $167.4 million (No. 4)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 90%

What critics said: The gloriously unhinged James Gunn keeps Margot Robbie, John Cena and a top cast of crazies firing on all cylinders and turns a botch job original that was the worst movie of 2016 into the down-and-dirty whirlwind it was always meant to be. — ABC News

2. "Godzilla vs. Kong"

"Godzilla vs. Kong"Warner Bros.

Released: March 31

Max opening weekend viewership: 3.6 million households (based on Wednesday through Sunday)

US box office: $100.5 million

Global box office: $467.9 million (No. 1)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 75%

What critics said: "Freed from the obligation to try and be anything more meaningful than it is, Godzilla vs. Kong ekes out its biggest triumphs when it embraces silliness and spectacle." — Mashable

Released: March 31

Max opening weekend viewership: 3.6 million households (based on Wednesday through Sunday)

US box office: $100.5 million

Global box office: $467.9 million (No. 1)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 75%

What critics said: Freed from the obligation to try and be anything more meaningful than it is, Godzilla vs. Kong ekes out its biggest triumphs when it embraces silliness and spectacle. — Mashable

1. "Mortal Kombat"

Warner Bros.

Released: March 31

Max opening weekend viewership: 3.8 million households

US box office: $42.2 million

Global box office: $83.6 million (No. 6)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 54%

What critics said: "Another paltry reminder that Hollywood has abandoned the sincere pleasure action films provide: pointing a camera at a person in motion to showcase their beauty and savagery." — Vulture

Released: March 31

Max opening weekend viewership: 3.8 million households

US box office: $42.2 million

Global box office: $83.6 million (No. 6)

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 54%

What critics said: Another paltry reminder that Hollywood has abandoned the sincere pleasure action films provide: pointing a camera at a person in motion to showcase their beauty and savagery. — Vulture

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The biggest hit movies on HBO Max in 2021 that came out as part of Warner Bros. simultaneous release strategy

15. "Judas and the Black Messiah"

14. "In the Heights"

13. "Cry Macho"

12. "King Richard"

11. "Malignant"

10. "The Many Saints of Newark"

9. (tie) "Those Who Wish Me Dead"

9. (tie) "Tom and Jerry"

7. "The Little Things"

6. "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It"

5. "Dune"

4. "Space Jam: A New Legacy"

3. "The Suicide Squad"

2. "Godzilla vs. Kong"

1. "Mortal Kombat"