Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos seems to have changed his mind on theatrical distribution, at least when it comes to Warner Bros. films. In December 2025, news broke that Netflix had struck a deal to acquire Warner Bros., which would give the streamer control of some of the biggest IP in the world, including but not limited to Harry Potter, DC Comics, Looney Tunes, and The Big Bang Theory. The news has been met with sharp criticism from many, with a significant one being Netflix’s past disdain for the theatrical model, playing its own films in the bare minimum number of theaters to qualify for awards.
In an interview with The New York Times, via Variety, Ted Sarandos confirms he is committing to giving Warner Bros. movies a 45-day theatrical release window, which has become the new industry standard since the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarandos says this change of pace came because “the general economics of the theatrical business were more positive than we had seen and we had modeled for ourselves. It’s a healthy, profitable business for them.” Sarandos then states that Netflix “want to win.” Sorandos said:
“When this deal closes, we will own a theatrical distribution engine that is phenomenal and produces billions of dollars of theatrical revenue that we don’t want to put at risk. We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows. I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people — we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office.”
Has Netflix Really Turned Around on the Idea of Theatrical Releases?
For years, Netflix and Ted Sarandos have been against the theatrical release window. In April 2025, Sorandos called communal moviegoing “an outmoded idea.” They have given films from acclaimed directors like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein or Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man the bare minimum in terms of theatrical release, likely leaving millions on the table. Netflix did claim its first number-one opening weekend for the re-release of KPop: Demon Hunters in August 2025. Yet instead of keeping the film in theaters, it pulled the movie after three days and immediately put the sing-along version up on Netflix the following day.
Giving a hard 45 theatrical date now to the press certainly helps make Netflix look more appealing to many in the industry, as it gives filmmakers and actors a hard date to cite to Netflix when signing deals for upcoming feature films. However, if Netflix does acquire Warner Bros., it will become one of the biggest players in Hollywood and, in theory, could alter the deal whenever it wants. Regarding many people’s hesitation to Netflix acquiring Warner Bros., and their fear for what the streamer would do for the theatrical release, Sarandos said:
“I think it was a lot of loud voices, but not necessarily a lot of them. I think a lot of it was folks who questioned, rightfully so, our intent with theatrical because we hadn’t said anything about it. A lot of it was the emotions around that more than anything else.”
While Sorandos wants Netflix to win the box office, before that, he will still need to win Warner Bros. Currently, Paramount CEO David Ellison is attempting a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount has recently filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. after the studio’s board of directors rejected eight separate bids from Ellison and his financiers. Netflix is not giving up without a fight. While many would hope that both Paramount and Netflix fail to acquire Warner Bros., Sarandos puts a nail in the coffin of that idea, saying. “What people would like to see is no deal. But that’s not possible. There are two outcomes of this deal, and we have a signed deal done.”
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