News
Netflix is moving to give Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, directed by Greta Gerwig, the first full wide theatrical release in the company’s history, with a seven-week exclusive global cinema window before the film becomes available on Netflix.
The Wall Street Journal says the decision marks an important shift in Netflix’s relationship with movie theaters, after years of pressure from theater owners and filmmakers for the streamer to give its major productions a traditional Hollywood-style theatrical window.
Details
• The film will open in theaters on February 12 and arrive on Netflix on April 2.
• IMAX previews will begin on February 10, two days before the full release.
• Netflix had previously planned to release Narnia exclusively on IMAX in November, 30 days before it was set to begin streaming around Christmas.
• Netflix usually gives some of its films limited theatrical runs in a few hundred cinemas, but it has never before given a big-budget movie this kind of weeks-long global theatrical window.
• Theater owners argue that major event films like Narnia can draw a larger audience on streaming after a successful big-screen run.
• Tim Richards, CEO of European cinema chain Vue, said the move could mark a turning point, showing that theatrical and streaming releases are not competing models but complementary ones.
• Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Theatres, called the decision a massive development and said his chain would aggressively support the Narnia release.
• The move comes as movie theaters struggle with attendance roughly one-third below pre-pandemic levels and continue pushing Hollywood for more major releases.
• The step could help Netflix attract more A-list filmmakers who prefer working with studios that give their films full theatrical releases.
What’s next?
If Narnia succeeds in theaters, Netflix could open the door to a new distribution model for its biggest films, especially with directors who want a wide theatrical run.
If the film underperforms, the move may remain an exception rather than a full shift in Netflix’s strategy.
