A whole new world for Netflix has come. The world's biggest streamer has spent many years suggesting that movies getting wide exclusive theatrical releases is a dying release model that its films will never fully embrace. But when Netflix seriously pursued buying Warner Bros. (before Paramount's hostile takeover worked), it became clear that the streamer wanted to become a bigger player in the theatrical landscape.
The fallout of this news has yet to fully take effect, but it could bring sweeping changes to Netflix. The days of a limited theatrical release being the best-case scenario for every movie with big-screen hopes are gone. If Netflix is willing to switch up a decade-plus formula for Gerwig and Narnia, other filmmakers and franchises will want the same treatment, and it will be harder for them to say no with this precedent set.
How much Netflix embraces wide theatrical releases for future movies could depend greatly on how Narnia performs. But if the studio has shifted its thinking and wants to give a few movies a year exclusive wide releases on the big screen, there are many options. The slate of titles Netflix has in development includes many that hold strong theatrical release on paper.
The Adventures Of Cliff Booth
While Narnia has become the first Netflix movie to receive a wide theatrical release, its delay to 2027 means that another of the streamer's films could be the first to actually come out in this format. Narnia was positioned as Netflix's big winter release and one that would bring a piece of IP to theaters. But with a return trip to the fantasy world pushed, a window has opened for The Adventures of Cliff Booth.
Directed by David Fincher from a script by Quentin Tarantino, Brad Pitt is returning to headline the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel. Netflix snatched up the rights to the film after Tarantino decided not to move forward with it. The movie is scheduled for release later this year, but the belief has been that it'll get a limited, Oscar-qualifying theatrical run before going to Netflix.
But if Netflix is starting to explore bringing select titles to theaters in a wider capacity, The Adventures of Cliff Booth is one of the smartest options. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood made $393 million in theaters, and while the sequel won't have Leonardo DiCaprio, Pitt proved with F1 ($634M global gross) that he's still a bankable star.
Netflix should give The Adventures of Cliff Booth a wide release in November. The streamer has notably kept quiet on the film's release schedule, which could be a sign that discussions about a global theatrical release are already underway and have been for a while.
Gears Of War
Video game movies are taking over Hollywood, and Netflix is set to continue that movement in a few ways. A live-action Gears of War movie is one example. The studio has been developing an adaptation of the sci-fi shooter since 2022, with Dune's Jon Spaihts writing the script and Deadpool 2's David Leitch directing.
The film has not made any significant progress over the last few years, but should it ever gain momentum, a theatrical release could be a brilliant move by Netflix. Gears of War is a billion-dollar video game franchise. There will be plenty of adult gamers eager to see a live-action movie set in this universe, which could propel it to be a box office success.
There's no reason to limit the scale of Gears of War to the small screen. Making it a theatrical-first franchise is a better option, one that could allow Netflix to capitalize on the growing appetite for video game movies in this format.
BioShock
That's why Netflix shouldn't only consider Gears of War as a potential video game adaptation with theatrical upside. The studio announced plans for a live-action adaptation of BioShock in 2022 with Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) directing and Michael Green (Logan) writing the original script and Justin Rhodes (Terminator: Dark Fate) doing a rewrite.
Putting BioShock in theaters would allow Netflix to benefit from the flood of people who would see it on the big screen and contribute to a likely solid box office haul. The BioShock video game franchise has sold more than 43 million copies over its lifespan, so there should be plenty of demand for this film.
With Lawrence expected to turn his attention to BioShock after finishing The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (releasing November 20), Netflix doesn't need to rush to decide. But this would make for an exciting addition to the 2027 or 2028 theatrical slate if they do it.
Denzel Washington's Hannibal
Netflix might not have the same luxury of waiting when it comes to figuring out what to do with Denzel Washington's upcoming war epic. He's starring in a large-scale movie about the Carthaginian general named Hannibal, who is known as an incredible warrior and conqueror. Washington is working with director Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer) and writer John Logan (Gladiator), with filming slated to begin this summer.
The project has always been envisioned as a streaming-first release, but Netflix should look at switching that now. This could be its chance to make a massive epic that dominates the box office, like Gladiator. The original movie made $466 million in 2000, and the sequel (which Washington starred in) made $462 million in 2024. These historical epics can really hit it big. Even Apple's Napoleon from Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix made $224 million in 2023.
Rather than just give the untitled Hannibal movie a limited theatrical release next year so it can be eligible for the Oscars, Netflix may be better off giving it robust exposure on the big screen.
Gundam
Netflix is gearing up to unleash a live-action Gundam movie into the world. Production on an adaptation of the Japanese sci-fi military franchise officially began in April 2026, with Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo headlining the cast. This positions Gundam for release in 2027, one that may now include eyes on a full theatrical release.
Sweeney is currently one of Hollywood's biggest box office stars after having turned Anyone But You and The Housemaid into major hits. Gundam may be a completely different challenge for her marketability, but that doesn't mean Netflix shouldn't attempt to use her status to make this a global theatrical hit.
The popularity of this IP gives it a strong chance to become a massive success, especially at the international box office. Netflix would leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table by keeping this out of theaters.
KPop Demon Hunters 2
After becoming Netflix's most-watched movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters is unmatched as a global smash on streaming. Plans for a sequel are underway, with a 2029 release in mind, but whether it will be exclusive to Netflix or receive a theatrical launch has yet to be determined. Given the much greater demand for KPop Demon Hunters 2, it would not be surprising if Netflix kept it for streaming only so it could break records.
But a theatrical release for the sequel should also not be dismissed easily. While KPop Demon Hunters may not have become a worldwide sensation had it premiered in theaters, the awareness that the franchise now carries makes KPop Demon Hunters 2 a much safer bet at the box office. The strong performance of the original in a limited release teases the strong demand for such a communal experience.
Whether KPop Demon Hunters 2 would prove to be Netflix's version of Frozen II (a $1.4 billion record-breaking animated film) is unclear. But even if the film made half that amount in theaters, it would be a gigantic success for Netflix. A theatrical release also likely would not decrease the sequel's viewership once it moved to streaming.
English (US) ·