The streaming giant Netflix announced Friday it will break new ground by giving director Greta Gerwig’s upcoming ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ a full nationwide theater release lasting more than six weeks before the movie appears on its platform.
Gerwig both wrote and directed this first-ever film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ 1955 novel, which tells the backstory of how the magical world of Narnia came to be. Movie theaters will show the film starting February 12, while Netflix subscribers will have access beginning April 2.
The decision represents a significant shift for Netflix, which has traditionally kept its movies exclusively on its streaming platform. The company has made limited exceptions, particularly for films with Oscar potential, since Academy Award eligibility requires a theatrical debut.
According to Netflix, the company chose this broader theater strategy for ‘Narnia’ due to the beloved series’ universal appeal spanning different age groups and countries worldwide.
Movie theater executives welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm.
‘This is welcome news,’ Cinema United President Michael O’Leary said in a statement, adding, ‘Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is a movie audiences will want to see on the big screen. Now they’ll have that opportunity.’
Netflix has demonstrated growing interest in theater partnerships, including last year’s theatrical release of a sing-along edition of its animated hit ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has also committed to maintaining traditional 45-day theater exclusivity windows for Warner Bros. films during the company’s Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition discussions.
Originally, Netflix planned to show ‘Narnia’ only in IMAX theaters for two weeks beginning Thanksgiving weekend. Gerwig praised the company’s decision to expand the release.
‘I cannot wait for people to see the film in theaters on February 12 and on Netflix on April 2,’ Gerwig said.
AMC Entertainment’s chairman and CEO Adam Aron promised his theater chain, the country’s largest, would fully support Netflix’s efforts.
‘We are in their corner fully,’ Aron wrote on the social media platform X. ‘We are and will be all in.’
