Netflix Says Its “Committed” To Releasing Warner Bros. Movies in Theaters

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Following Netflix’s successful bid to acquire Warner Bros., there was widespread concern that all Warner Bros. films would skip theaters and go straight to streaming. Netflix, known for hits like Stranger Things and Bridgerton, is now attempting to reassure audiences. While CEO Ted Sarandos has previously favored streaming, suggesting viewers prefer watching movies at home, he and co-CEO Greg Peters are now emphasizing the company’s “deep commitment” to preserving the traditional movie theater experience as they move forward with the acquisition of a major film studio.

According to Deadline, Netflix is reassuring people that Warner Bros. movies won’t only be available on streaming. They’ve stated that this deal allows them to expand into areas they haven’t been in before, including owning a movie studio with traditional theatrical distribution. Netflix intends to keep all these businesses running much as they do now, meaning Warner Bros. films will still be shown in cinemas in the future.

As a movie lover, I can tell you we’re really focused on releasing films the same way they’d be released now – meaning, giving them a proper theatrical run. We’ve always talked about getting into the cinema business, but we never actually were. Now, with this deal going through, we are in the theatrical business, and we’re committed to making it happen. We want to give these films the releases they deserve!

Had we finalized this agreement two years ago, all of Warner Bros.’ recent successful films – like Minecraft, Superman, and others such as Weapons and Sinners – would have had the same theatrical release strategy. Essentially, these movies will now be released on Netflix after their theatrical runs, mirroring Warner Bros.’ previous approach, but operating under the Warner Bros. structure.

Their ability to innovate and deliver results is crucial. We acquired this company specifically to preserve, not eliminate, that strength.

The Tug-of-War Regarding Warner Bros. Isn’t Over

Although Netflix currently has the leading bid to buy Warner Bros., the deal isn’t final. It still needs government approval, and Paramount-Skydance, the other company interested in the purchase, is determined to compete for it.

Netflix made an offer of around $82.7 billion for Paramount, but Paramount is believed to have countered with a higher bid, potentially reaching $100.7 billion. Netflix’s offer focuses only on Paramount’s streaming service and film studio, while Paramount’s includes all parts of the company. Warner Bros. Discovery is currently considering both offers to determine which one would best position the combined company for future success, given the valuable entertainment franchises involved. We’ll continue to provide updates as the situation develops.

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2025-12-09 18:32