With AMC Theatres and Netflix seemingly ending their feud and the former booking “KPop Demon Hunters” for 300 venues next weekend, it appears we may see more Netflix titles making their way to cinemas.
The two companies, the world’s largest SVOD service and the world’s largest cinema exhibitor, have basically frozen each other out over the years due to their disagreement regarding big-screen window exclusivity.
Netflix also seemingly had little interest in getting its films into cinemas beyond awards consideration. Now, one equity researcher tells Variety that the streamer seems to also want to maximise the reach of certain titles and drive interest back to its platform.
At the same time, box office revenues remain well behind COVID times, and exhibitors can’t afford to be so choosy – especially with a guaranteed hit. AMC briefly played “Glass Onion” a few years back, but “KPop” and the upcoming “Stranger Things” finale screenings are seen as the potential start of a bigger move.
Exhibitors don’t expect a full embrace of the big screen by Netflix, but one-off events like this could offer additional revenue during slower times of the year. Plus, as these are special events as opposed to traditional releases, exhibitors are granted favorable terms as incentives to play them.
To that effect, plans for 2026 titles are already under consideration, and the trade says Netflix is “contemplating a more robust rollout” for David Fincher’s “Adventures of Cliff Booth”.
The film, the Brad Pitt-led spinoff of Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 box office hit “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is slated to open in Summer 2026. Additionally, Greta Gerwig’s 2026 “Narnia” adaptation, currently slated for a two-week exclusive IMAX run, may be expanded beyond the premium format into more regular cinemas.
Theatrical plans won’t be finalised until closer to the release of the two films.
