“I want to win the box office”: Netflix CEO Sarandos promises to keep Warner Bros. films in theaters for 45 days

According to Sarandos, many of Netflix’s assumptions about the financial health of Warner Bros.’ cinema model incorrect. The theatrical market is more profitable than expected, according to the co-CEO. Yet the planned $83 billion takeover remains controversial. Cinema operators warn of fewer films, job losses and closures. At the same time, Paramount Skydance is conducting a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which increases uncertainty.

Sarandos said he was not surprised by the criticism. “Loud voices, but not necessarily many voices,” he said. He acknowledged that Netflix had communicated little about its vision for theatrical releases for years, which fueled mistrust. He emphasized that Netflix is ​​not against cinemas, but that the focus has long been on streaming because that market has performed exceptionally well.

Experiments

Netflix is ​​now experimenting with special cinema screenings of its own titles, such as the New Year’s Eve release Stranger Things 5-final and limited runs of KPop Demon Hunters. “If you give people a reason to leave the house, they’re happy to do it,” Sarandos said.

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He qualified his earlier statement that cinema visits were “outdated”. According to him, this only applies to places without cinemas, while cities such as New York prove the opposite. Meanwhile, Netflix continues to emphasize that Warner Bros. will continue to operate as an independent studio, although Sarandos hinted that release windows could eventually become “more consumer-friendly.”

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In addition, Netflix announced a renewed global output deal with Sony Pictures worth more than $7 billion over several years.