Theaters and Studios Push Back Against Netflix’s IMAX Narnia Deal
It’s been well over a month since Netflix and IMAX announced a two-week exclusive theatrical run for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia on over 1,000 IMAX screens worldwide starting Thanksgiving 2026—but the distribution saga has taken yet another twist.
According to Puck’s Kim Masters, legacy studios such as Disney, were frustrated that IMAX gave Netflix such a prime release window. “[IMAX] did this on his own without consulting any of his [studio] partners,” one insider said, “They gave Netflix a two-week exclusive even though the other studios provide movies to them 52 weeks a year.”
Disney, which has an untitled animated film slated for Thanksgiving 2026 — a historically lucrative slot for family films — was especially angered by the move.
Meanwhile, some of the biggest theater chains, including Regal and Cinemark, were reportedly caught off guard and are now threatening to refuse to play Narnia on their IMAX screens. While IMAX claims its agreements require theaters to show its curated films, exhibitors ultimately control their own bookings.
Why Theaters Are Hesitant to Embrace Netflix
This controversy ties into a larger issue that has frustrated theatre chains for years. Netflix’s reluctance to embrace traditional theatrical releases.
This has been a perplexing misdirection from Netflix in exhibitors’ minds for years. Exhibitors are kind of fed up with Netflix sticking their toe in the water and pulling back. Apple and Amazon have tried real theatrical runs, with mixed success. But they made a real attempt, and Netflix never has.”
Anonymous theater Executive
Despite hopes that the Narnia deal signaled a shift in Netflix’s strategy, Co-CEO Ted Sarandos quickly shut down that speculation, insisting the agreement represents “no change at all” to their distribution model. For now, AMC— home to the largest number of IMAX screens in the U.S. —appears to be on board. Masters speculates that other chains may eventually follow suit, especially if Narnia builds strong early buzz.
However, with pushback from legacy studios, resistance from theater chains, and nearly two years until release, Netflix’s IMAX plans may not be set in stone just yet.
Meanwhile, none of this impacts the film’s production. Pre-production is in full swing, casting underway, and filming expected to begin this July. Stay tuned to NarniaWeb as the story continues to unfold.
Sadly, disagreements over distribution deals such as this are nothing new in this day and age of online streaming.
Last year it was Tom Cruise getting upset at Christopher Nolan for block-booking all the IMAX screens and squeezing Mission Impossible out of the running. Before that Christopher Nolan had his own spat with Warner Bros’ plan to release all of their films day-and-date on HBO Max as well as theatres (a decision which ultimately caused Nolan to part ways with the studio) and ever since the pandemic the theatres have been getting mad at Disney for shortening their exclusivity windows so that they can get content onto Disney Plus quicker.
Overall, this sort of push-back was probably inevitable, and it will probably take a few more years until the cinema distribution model settles down into something which works more cohesively for all concerned.
If plans change, I hope it’s for a broader release. I’m talking 4000+ screens, so essentially a wide release.
Disney being upset over Narnia taking prime theatre slots over from them is hilarious to me. Karma for dropping Narnia a decade ago?