Netflix will release a movie in over a thousand IMAX theaters! But they already warn that it will be an exception

Where I said streaming, I now say cinema. It turns out that Netflix has announced a significant change in its film distribution strategy, allowing a massive theatrical release in 2026 with The Chronicles of Narnia, which will adapt the famous heptalogy by C. S. Lewis. This film will debut in over a thousand IMAX theaters around the world, marking a notable event in the platform’s approach to cinema. The release will coincide with the holiday season, as it will be streamed on Christmas and a few days earlier, on Thanksgiving Day, in IMAX.

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IMAX or IMENOX

This move comes at a time when Netflix is under pressure from creators, as exemplified by the frustration expressed by Greta Gerwig, director of ‘Barbie’, due to the platform’s refusal to show her film in theaters. This type of tension has been a constant in the relationship between Netflix and some filmmakers, who have criticized the lack of opportunities to showcase their works on the big screen.

Although Netflix has allowed some of its productions to be shown in theaters on a limited basis, this is the first time the company has granted a wide release, which could open the door to a new era of collaboration with filmmakers. However, Ted Sarandos, CEO of Netflix, emphasized that this will be an exception and not a new standard for all future productions.

The future of the company, with or without theatrical releases, remains promising. So much so that Netflix celebrated reaching 300 million subscribers in the last quarter of 2024. This news is accompanied by an announcement of a price increase in the United States, although it has not yet been confirmed if this will impact subscribers in Spain. This success in subscriber acquisition could contribute to the platform making bolder decisions in the future regarding its content and its impact on movie theaters.

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