Netflix’s 17-Day Cinema Plan Sparks Industry Uproar

The rumour mill is in overdrive as Netflix circles Warner Bros., with both film buffs and industry insiders raising eyebrows over what this could mean for the future of big-screen releases. Netflix’s reputation for prioritising streaming has many wondering if the traditional cinema experience is on the chopping block. While CEO Ted Sarandos has publicly promised to stick with Warner Bros.’s established approach to theatrical releases—pending approval from Donald Trump’s DOJ—reports suggest the streaming giant is considering a mere 17-day run in cinemas for new titles.

If this plan goes ahead, it would line up with earlier whispers about a two-week window for Warner Bros. films, despite Sarandos previously assuring everyone that release schedules would remain in line with industry norms.

There’s been a lot of talk about theatrical distribution, so we want to set the record straight: we are 100% committed to releasing Warner Bros. films in theatres with industry-standard windows.

This whole situation brings to mind Christopher Nolan’s warnings from a few years back, when he voiced concerns about streaming taking priority over the cinema experience—a stance that ultimately led him to part ways with Warner Bros.

Christopher Nolan’s Concerns Resurface

Nolan’s partnership with the studio stretches back to 2002, and together they’ve delivered some of the most talked-about films of the past two decades. But when Warner Bros. started leaning into streaming, especially during the pandemic, Nolan didn’t hold back. He criticised the studio’s decision to release films in cinemas and online at the same time, arguing it would drive away top filmmakers and damage the industry.

Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theatres and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing. Their decision makes no economic sense, and even the most casual Wall Street investor can see the difference between disruption and dysfunction.

After a period of experimenting with streaming-first releases, Warner Bros. eventually returned to its roots, and 2025 turned out to be a standout year for the studio. But with Netflix now in the picture, some fear the industry could be heading backwards.

Why Longer Runs Matter for Local Cinemas

Blockbusters like Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire & Ash have pulled in huge crowds, but 2025 was also a big year for original stories, with Warner Bros. leading the charge. Films like Sinners became cultural touchstones, F1 was a massive hit over summer, and the studio’s horror streak continued with Weapons. Even their franchise titles, like Superman and A Minecraft Movie, were among the year’s most celebrated releases.

For many punters, these films were more than just a night out—they were events. The idea of limiting such experiences to a short cinema run, or pushing them straight to streaming, doesn’t sit well with a lot of people. From a business perspective, cutting down the time films spend in cinemas could seriously hurt box office numbers. Even a year as strong as 2025 would have struggled to break even if films had only a couple of weeks on the big screen.

Considering how memorable these experiences were, the idea of confining such cinematic events to streaming is genuinely appalling. From an economic standpoint, the loss of the industry-standard theatrical window would significantly undermine annual box-office grosses, and even a slate like 2025, one that enjoyed exceptional legs, would struggle to break even during a limited theatrical window.

Locals are keen to see how this all plays out, with many sharing their thoughts on what Netflix’s plans could mean for the future of going to the flicks.