Brad Pitt's Rare $409M Tarantino Sequel Officially Gets Rejected by 2 Biggest Theater Chains Weeks Before Release

Key Points:

• Quentin Tarantino is directing a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood titled The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, marking his first sequel since the Kill Bill films in the early 2000s.
• Netflix will distribute the film, but its theatrical release will be limited, including a two-week IMAX run that will not be shown on Regal or Cinemark IMAX screens due to scheduling conflicts and competition with other major releases.
• The Hunger Games film Sunrise on the Reaping, releasing around the same time, is receiving priority for IMAX screenings from major theater chains because of its larger theatrical commitment and longer release window.
• Netflix's limited theatrical release strategy continues to cause friction with theaters, as the streaming giant balances exclusive streaming premieres with shorter theatrical windows, despite some exceptions like Greta Gerwig's Narnia film.
• The original Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was a major box office and critical success, but the limited release of its sequel highlights ongoing tensions between streaming services and traditional movie theaters.