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Netflix Pushes for 17-Day Theatrical Window for Warner Bros. Releases
Following its acquisition of Warner Bros. film studio, Netflix is aiming to shorten the theatrical exclusive window from 45 days to 17 days, according to Deadline sources.
Publicly, Netflix has stated its intention to continue releasing Warner Bros. films in theaters. However, these statements, made on the eve of a merger of this magnitude, should be treated with caution as they may aim to appease antitrust regulators.
In a joint letter released in mid-December, Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters wrote: "There's been a lot of talk about theatrical distribution, so we want to set the record straight. We are 100% committed to releasing Warner Bros. films theatrically, aligned with industry standard windows. While this hasn't been our business model in the past, we look forward to bringing Warner Bros.' expertise to Netflix."
17-Day Theatrical Window?
But behind the scenes, Netflix is reportedly preparing for changes once the deal is approved and finalized. According to Deadline sources, these internal plans include reducing the exclusive theatrical window (theatrical window) for new Warner Bros. films from the current 45 days to just 17 days.
Deadline reported that "sources say Netflix is a supporter of the 17-day window, which could put pressure on the theatrical business, while theater chains like AMC believe a line around 45 days should be maintained."
Fear of Competition
While Warner Bros. films would still be eligible for theatrical release after 17 days, their exclusivity would end at that point. This means viewers could start streaming the movies from home or on the go. Theaters are concerned about this competition.
Many consumers are expected to choose relatively inexpensive streaming options with 4K HDR in their preferred settings instead of paying high ticket prices for outdated large-screen visuals. (Related article: Vue CEO criticizes IMAX: "Risk of damaging the theater ecosystem") Since the 2026 release schedule is already set, any changes are likely to be implemented starting in 2027.
Stranger Things Surpasses Avatar
Netflix recently screened the final episodes of "Stranger Things" in US theaters for two days over the New Year's holiday. According to Deadline, "Stranger Things" outperformed "Avatar: The Way of Water" in terms of ticket revenue during those two days.
▶ Source: https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1767607195
