Even ‘Stranger Things’ hasn’t changed my mind about Netflix theaters

THE Stranger Things final was released in theaters on New Year’s Eve. Yet despite doing well with this one-day release, it seems Netflix still isn’t a fan of the theatrical experience when it doesn’t need to be.

Due to actors’ contractual terms regarding residual films, there are no box office figures to report for screenings, but Deadline and other media outlets reported that the finale grossed between $25 and $30 million in cash during its 620 screenings across North America. This concession money technically that means the episode is over Demon Hunters KPop as Netflix’s largest theater owner for 2025. The finale is also a particular victory for AMC, which did not screen KPop during this movie times) in theaters, but reported more than half of all Stranger Things fans watched it at an AMC theater.

You’d think this would be good news since the streamer is looking to take over Warner Bros., which had a strong enough big screen in 2025 – and honor the policy of this studio of put your films in theatersbut sources speaking to Deadline say Netflix is ​​considering a 17-day window for each of its potential films. That’s less than half the 45-day standard met by WB and other Hollywood studios, and AMC and other theater chains would much prefer that standard be maintained. Exhibitors would also like to have more theatrical broadcasts of Netflix, with the Stranger the finale functions as a possible “olive branch” to help move things forward.

But if this so-called 17-day window happened, it would “roll over” the movie theater industry and be bad for everyone in general. At the time of writing, Netflix has not revealed any moves it plans to take if it were to acquire WB, instead maintaining its position from December that things would be happening now. business as usual. But common sense and the streamer’s own past will tell you that things will be anything but, and ultimately, that other shoe will drop.

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