As Netflix confirms plans to buy Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion, the streaming service has said it expects shorter theatrical runs for movies in future “to meet the audience where they are, quicker.”
Today’s announcement by Netflix that it will acquire the Harry Potter, DC Comics and Game of Thrones owner came with an acknowledgement that it plans to continue releasing Warner Bros.’ films theatrically — at least, for now.
Speaking on a just-finished investor call, Netflix boss Ted Sarandos was asked how the company’s plans for theatrical releases might change post-merger. And while Sarandos stopped short of confirming any concrete plans, the CEO made clear that he believed shorter theatrical windows were the future — and what consumers wanted.
“We’ve released about 30 films into theaters this year, so it’s not like we have got this opposition to movies into theaters,” Sarandos began. “My pushback has been mostly in the fact of the long, exclusive windows that we don’t think are that user friendly.”
Speaking about HBO’s current output, which includes some movies released in theaters, Sarandos said the brand’s content “includes a life cycle that starts in the movie theater” for some productions, “which we’re going to continue to support.”
“I wouldn’t look at this as a change in approach for Netflix movies, or for Warner movies for that matter,” Sarandos continued. “I think over time the windows will evolve to be much more consumer friendly, to be able to meet the audience where they are, quicker. All those things we’d like to do. But I’d say right now you should count on everything that is planned as going to the theaters through Warner Bros., will continue to go to the theaters through Warner Bros.”
Of course, Netflix has also released a small number of its own films in theaters, though wide releases are few and far between. The recent Frankenstein had a limited release, while KPop Demon Hunters got a short theatrical release only after it arrived and became a huge success on Netflix itself first.
“Netflix movies will take the same strategy as they have, which is some of them do have a short run in the theaters beforehand, but our primary goal is to bring first-run movies to our members, because that’s what they’re looking for,” Sarandos confirmed.
“Up until now, this was not our business model,” he concluded. “I’ve said that many times. We’re acquiring a business that… it is part of the business model, and we’re intending to continue with that.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
