*Netflix is reportedly pushing to drastically shorten theatrical release windows if its acquisition of Warner Bros. goes through. According to a Deadline report, the streamer favors a 17-day window, sparking concerns across Hollywood about the potential impact on cinemas and industry-standard practices.
The report cites the “Stranger Things” Season 5 finale, which earned $25 million in theaters while simultaneously releasing on Netflix, as an example of the streaming-first approach that worries theater chains. It is not yet confirmed that Netflix will enforce the 17-day window for Warner Bros. films. Negotiations with theaters could result in a compromise, possibly extending the window somewhere between 17 and 45 days.
As IGN reports, if the 17-day window is adopted, it could affect high-profile releases such as “Man of Tomorrow” (July 9, 2027), “The Batman: Part 2” (October 1, 2027), “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova” (March 26, 2027), and “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” (December 17, 2027).
The $82.7 billion deal, announced in December, would transfer Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming operations to Netflix, giving the company access to major franchises such as DC Comics heroes, “Game of Thrones,” “Harry Potter,” “Dune,” and “Barbie.” The merger excludes Warner-owned cable properties, such as CNN and TNT.
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The acquisition faces antitrust scrutiny. Rep. Darrell Issa warned it could create a company controlling over “30 percent share of the streaming market: a threshold traditionally viewed as presumptively problematic under antitrust law.” Variety reports that producers urged Congress to apply “the highest level of antitrust scrutiny.”
Netflix chief Ted Sarandos emphasized that theatrical releases will continue in the short term. “We’ve released about 30 films into theaters this year, so it’s not like we have got this opposition to movies into theaters,” he said, adding that over time, release windows will evolve to become “much more consumer friendly” while still honoring planned theatrical schedules.
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