Netflix Will Launch Every Warner Bros. Movie Currently 'Planned' for Theaters as Intended, but Expects Shorter Windows Before Streaming in Future 'To Meet the Audience Where They Are, Quicker'

As Netflix confirms plans to bargain Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion, the streaming work has said it expects shorter theatrical runs for movies successful aboriginal "to conscionable the assemblage wherever they are, quicker."

Today's announcement by Netflix that it volition get the Harry Potter, DC Comics and Game of Thrones proprietor came with an acknowledgement that it plans to proceed releasing Warner Bros.' films theatrically — astatine least, for now.

Speaking connected a just-finished capitalist call, Netflix brag Ted Sarandos was asked however the company's plans for theatrical releases mightiness alteration post-merger. And portion Sarandos stopped abbreviated of confirming immoderate factual plans, the CEO made wide that helium believed shorter theatrical windows were the aboriginal — and what consumers wanted.

"We've released astir 30 films into theaters this year, truthful it's not similar we person got this absorption to movies into theaters," Sarandos began. "My pushback has been mostly successful the information of the long, exclusive windows that we don't deliberation are that idiosyncratic friendly."

Speaking astir HBO's existent output, which includes immoderate movies released successful theaters, Sarandos said the brand's contented "includes a beingness rhythm that starts successful the movie theater" for immoderate productions, "which we're going to proceed to support."

"I wouldn't look astatine this arsenic a alteration successful attack for Netflix movies, oregon for Warner movies for that matter," Sarandos continued. "I deliberation implicit clip the windows volition germinate to beryllium overmuch much user friendly, to beryllium capable to conscionable the assemblage wherever they are, quicker. All those things we'd similar to do. But I'd accidental close present you should number connected everything that is planned arsenic going to the theaters done Warner Bros., volition proceed to spell to the theaters done Warner Bros."

Of course, Netflix has besides released a tiny fig of its ain films successful theaters, though wide releases are fewer and acold between. The caller Frankenstein had a constricted release, portion KPop Demon Hunters got a abbreviated theatrical merchandise lone aft it arrived and became a immense occurrence connected Netflix itself first.

"Netflix movies volition instrumentality the aforesaid strategy arsenic they have, which is immoderate of them bash person a abbreviated tally successful the theaters beforehand, but our superior extremity is to bring first-run movies to our members, due to the fact that that's what they're looking for," Sarandos confirmed.

"Up until now, this was not our concern model," helium concluded. "I've said that galore times. We're acquiring a concern that... it is portion of the concern model, and we're intending to proceed with that."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social