Netflix’s Theatrical Strategy ‘Has Evolved,’ Ted Sarandos Says
Still, he admits, "we are a streaming-first business."
Drew Taylor
October 20, 2026
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"Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew" (Netflix)
Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, clarified the streaming giant’s attitudes towards theatrical exhibition during Tuesday’s 2026 Q3 earnings call. He emphasized that family films will likely get the widest releases, while other movies will have more limited rollouts.
Sarandos began by stressing Netflix's core focus: "This is our core. But we consider... every time we have a new film – the film itself, the audience for the film, and the filmmaker...”
2026 will see around 30 films released theatrically, "pretty much" what Netflix did last year. Each film will have a unique release pattern.
Most theatrical releases are limited, playing in a handful of theaters (some owned by Netflix) for a couple of weeks before arriving on Netflix. But not always:
"We start off by looking at the projects we have, asking ourselves: How do we best serve movie lovers? How do we do it without actually harming the view value to Netflix?"
Sarandos highlighted specific examples:
- “La Bola Negra” will have a 47-day window before its Netflix debut and a smaller theatrical release.
- The upcoming Peter Berg-directed drama, “The Mosquito Bowl” will also have a similar release strategy.
- “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth”, the new David Fincher film starring Brad Pitt, will have a two-week Imax exhibition.
Sarandos noted a shift in strategy for "big family films", like:
- Greta Gerwig’s C.S. Lewis adaptation, "Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew"
- The animated "Charlie vs. the World"