New data reveals record-high sessions and downloads for HBO Max in the weeks since the debut of Zack Snyder's Justice League.
According to Bloomberg, Apptopia shows that the WarnerMedia streaming platform has a recorded 8.9% jump above its competitors such as Disney+, Netflix, Hulu and YouTube, among others. In the week that followed the debut of Zack Snyder's Justice League, app downloads for HBO Max increased by a whopping 64%.
Following the release of the theatrical cut of Justice League in 2017, fans began an online campaign known as #ReleaseTheSnyderCut to get director Zack Snyder's original version of the film released to the general public. Part of what fueled the campaign was knowledge of the troubled production the film underwent as a direct response to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice underperforming at the box office coupled with mixed critical reception.
During that time, Snyder's 20-year-old daughter Autumn committed suicide, resulting in Snyder stepping away from the film during post-production to be with his family. Warner Bros. executives then brought in director Joss Whedon (who had previously directed the billion-dollar hits The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron for Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe) to reshoot parts of the film and finish post-production. Tom Holkenborg's score was similarly replaced with a new score by Danny Elfman for the film's cinematic release.
After four years of campaigning, WarnerMedia made the decision in 2020 to invest an additional $70 million for Snyder to complete his version of the film for streaming on HBO Max. However, since its release, fans of the film have started a new online campaign called #RestoreTheSnyderVerse, which is also gaining momentum. Part of the new campaign's goals includes encouraging HBO Max subscriptions as a way of sending a message to WarnerMedia to allow Snyder to make the remaining Justice League films he had originally planned.
Zack Snyder's Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Ray Porter as Darkseid, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. The film is now streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Bloomberg