What the superhero film can make

Can a nostalgia-packed superhero flick convince people to leave their couches and head to the cinemas? “Wonder Woman 1984” seeks to answer that question.

Movie theater owners are hopeful that the “Wonder Woman” sequel, which arrives Christmas Day, will lure a key demographic back to cinemas despite continued surges in coronavirus cases.

But, the ongoing pandemic isn’t their only concern. On the same day that “Wonder Woman 1984” debuts on the big screen, it will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

“‘Wonder Woman 1984’ represents the first test of a simultaneous big screen/small screen release of a title of this…