The film with Robert Pattinson and John David Washington is now scheduled to open in drive-in theatres in the ‘Golden State’ on Sept 11.

Warner Bros, which previously opposed such a limited distribution, has decided to row back on its decision to delay the release of the potential blockbuster.

Warner Bros. has clearly changed its tune. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the Christopher Nolan movie “Tenet” was released in drive-ins in the Greater Los Angeles area on Sept 11.

Five theaters have already scheduled screenings, most notably the Paramount Drive-in and the Mission Tiki theater in Montclair.

The decision has come two weeks after the official release of “Tenet” in the United States on Aug 31, when the American studio indicated that the long-awaited feature would not be screened in states where the ban on reopening theaters was still in effect.

“Tenet” is still not showing in New York and in indoor theaters in Los Angeles, which have remained closed in response to the covid-19 pandemic.

“This amounts to a severe financial blow for the studio, given that these cities are the two biggest movie markets for the American industry.

Last Tuesday, theaters in Silicon Valley, Orange County and San Diego were granted permission to reopen provided they limited audiences to 25% of their capacity or no more than 100 people.

Approximately 70% of theaters are now back in business, and many of them have timed their reopening to coincide with the release of “Tenet” in order to optimize ticket sales.

The drastic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has given a new lease of life to American drive-ins, which were more often than not the only venues that could comply with rules on social distancing.

Since its release in North America, “Tenet” has garnered more than 20 million dollars in North American receipts, making it the highest grossing movie to be released in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.