Warner Bros studio said it will debut all of its 2021 films in cinemas and on the HBO Max streaming service on the same day.
The unprecedented shift has hammered the shares of struggling cinema operators.
The movies, which are expected to include "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "The Suicide Squad," will be available on HBO Max for one month starting on the same day they hit cinemas, the studio said in a statement.
"Mortal Kombat," a new version of "Dune" and a "Matrix" sequel also are scheduled to follow the new release pattern.
Shares of AMC Entertainment, the world's largest cinema operator fell almost 16%, and rival Cinemark dropped about 22%.
The change, led by WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, was the most aggressive move to date to bring movies into homes sooner, and it sent a shock across Hollywood.
Cinemas have long resisted attempts by studios to shorten the time that cinemas can offer new movies exclusively.
Kilar, a former Amazon.com executive and the founding CEO of Hulu, took over AT&T's media division in May and has restructured businesses to focus on HBO Max, the company's new competitor to Netflix.
Warner Bros executives said the strategy was prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has limited moviegoing and kept many cinemas closed, and would stay in effect for one year.
"We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the US will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021," said Ann Sarnoff, chair and CEO of Warner Media Studios and Networks Group.
For consumers, watching at home could cost less than a trip to the cinema. HBO Max charges $15 a month, while the average cost of two movie tickets in the US reached $18.32 in 2019, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Cinema operators did not embrace the plan.
AMC CEO Adam Aron said Warner Bros was sacrificing profits at its movie studio to boost HBO Max, adding: "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," Aron said in a statement.
A Cinemark representative said Warner Bros had not shared details of its plan and it would make near-term booking decisions "on a film-by-film basis."
Cinema chains have been devastated by the pandemic and forced to lay off workers and borrow funds to stay afloat. Smaller chains are lobbying for US government aid.
Cinemark and AMC have reached agreements with Comcast's Universal Pictures to show films that will be made available for home viewing as soon as 17 days after they reach cinemas.
Walt Disney has moved some movies from cinemas to its Disney+ streaming service. The company is expected to unveil details about its streaming plans later this month.
