Netflix to Keep Warner Bros Movies in Theaters for 45-Day Window, Sarandos Says
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos emphasized that if the company completes its $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, it will continue theatrical releases of Warner Bros. films with a 45-day exclusive window, aiming to maintain and win at the box office.
- Sarandos acknowledged that Netflix initially underestimated the profitability of Warner Bros.' theatrical business, which he now describes as healthy and lucrative, contradicting assumptions that Netflix intended to diminish theatrical releases.
- The proposed acquisition has faced significant industry backlash, including warnings from theater groups about potential job losses and fewer movies, but Sarandos dismissed much of the criticism as emotional and based on misunderstandings of Netflix’s intentions.
- Despite Netflix's history of prioritizing streaming over theaters, Sarandos highlighted successful theatrical
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