Cinema United, Netflix Hold 'Constructive' Talks on Theatrical Collaboration
Michael O'Leary, CEO of the exhibitor lobbying group Cinema United, confirmed a "constructive" and "positive" meeting with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos at CinemaCon to discuss potential collaboration. While no promises were made regarding Netflix films receiving theatrical releases, O'Leary indicated a mutual desire to find a path forward that fits both business models. The article also notes O'Leary's continued push for longer theatrical windows and Cinema United's opposition to the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Key Takeaways
- The meeting between O'Leary and Sarandos was described as "positive," but no promises were made regarding future Netflix theatrical releases.
- O'Leary stated that for Netflix to present at CinemaCon, it would need to commit to releasing "half a dozen movies" theatrically with full marketing and windows.
- The exhibitor group continues to advocate for longer theatrical windows, ideally 90-120 days before films land on SVOD platforms.
- Cinema United reiterated its opposition to the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger, citing concerns over distributor market concentration.
Why It Matters
The meeting signals a potential thaw in the relationship between Netflix and major exhibitors. While no deal is imminent, the dialogue itself—kept on the books even after Netflix dropped its WBD bid—indicates a recognition of mutual interest between the largest SVOD player and the struggling theater industry. This conversation occurs as Cinema United praises Universal's move to a 45-day window and opposes the Paramount/WBD merger, showing a multi-front strategy to influence streaming economics. The signal to watch is whether Netflix experiments with a wider, fully marketed theatrical release for one of its upcoming prestige films.
Read full article at msn.com