Official Academy Award nomination announcements

Netflix to Release Greta Gerwig's $200M 'Narnia' in 90 Countries on IMAX Thanksgiving, Streaming Christmas

Jan 17, 2025, 10:40 AM

Netflix has agreed to a unique release strategy for Greta Gerwig's adaptation of C.S. Lewis' 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' marking a significant shift in the company's approach to theatrical distribution. The film, with a budget of 200 million dollars, will premiere exclusively in approximately 1,000 IMAX theaters across 90 countries worldwide on Thanksgiving Day 2026, before becoming available on Netflix on Christmas Day 2026. This deal, described as a precedent-setting move, includes a four-week exclusive theatrical window, with IMAX guaranteeing a two-week run, potentially extending to a third week based on demand. The agreement was negotiated between Netflix's chief content officer Bela Bajaria, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond, and Gerwig's team. This arrangement reflects Netflix's willingness to cater to major filmmakers' desires for theatrical releases, despite its traditional focus on streaming.