Some are starting to believe that Netflix may finally be softening its long-held resistance to theatrical movies — or maybe it’s all optics. It’s hard to tell.
A 46-day theatrical run for “La Bola Negra” will be the streamer’s longest yet, while Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are set for wide theatrical releases in 2027.
Furthermore, according to Variety, Netflix now plans to report box-office grosses for six upcoming films — including ‘Narnia,’ ‘Charlie,’ David Fincher’s “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” “The Mosquito Bowl” and “Ink.” That marks a major break for a streaming company that usually refuses to report theatrical numbers.
The timing is telling. Netflix came close to owning a major Hollywood studio via its attempted Warner Bros. deal, and co-CEO Ted Sarandos has hinted that the company may now do things with theaters it “hasn’t done before.”
For years, Netflix treated theatrical windows as outdated and prioritized streaming. However, as Hollywood increasingly argues that movies need theatrical eventization to build lasting value, Netflix appears to be testing the same playbook.
Some may wonder: Is Netflix finally cracking? The streaming giant spent years insisting movies such as “Oppenheimer” could have been just as big on the streamer as they were in theaters, but its latest moves suggest that stance may finally be cracking. The company is increasingly embracing theatrical releases, with longer windows and a willingness to report box-office grosses, but a few high-profile experiments don’t yet amount to a genuine shift.
The bigger question is whether Netflix is finally recognizing the value of theaters — or simply testing how far it can push a streaming-first model.
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