Imax CEO Slams Theater Chains Over Cliff Booth Snub — SkimNews
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- Rich Gelfond dismissed resistance from theater chains to screening The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth, stating he 'frankly doesn’t understand' why they wouldn’t play it during its 27-day exclusive theatrical window starting Nov. 29.
- Regal and Cinemark will not show Cliff Booth in their Imax theaters, citing the shortened theatrical window, while AMC Theatres will screen the film.
- Imax secured a two-week exclusive run for Cliff Booth starting Thanksgiving weekend, after Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew vacated the frame by moving to a February theatrical release.
- Gelfond pointed to Kpop Demon Hunters Singalong as precedent, noting Regal and Cinemark profited from screening it despite its prior Netflix release, and argued the same logic applies to Cliff Booth.
- Gelfond said he’s seen an extended clip of Cliff Booth and expects a surprisingly successful run, especially for fans of Tarantino, Brad Pitt, and David Fincher.
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping opens the weekend before Cliff Booth and will occupy Regal and Cinemark’s Imax screens, which Gelfond said could have accommodated both films.
Why it matters: Regal and Cinemark’s refusal to run *Cliff Booth* despite Imax’s endorsement and past precedent risks ceding Imax-exclusive programming control to Netflix and AMC, altering the balance of power in premium large-format exhibition and signaling ongoing resistance to hybrid release models that others have already adapted to.
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