Cinemark, Regal Skip Two-Week Cliff Booth Window — SkimNews
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- Netflix set a two-week IMAX theatrical window for Quentin Tarantino’s The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth from its Nov. 25 release to its Dec. 25 streaming debut; Cinemark, the No. 3 U.S. exhibitor, and Regal, No. 2, will not play it, while AMC Theatres and some independents will.
- Sean Gamble said Netflix’s proposed model is not constructive for the broader theatrical ecosystem or aligned with theaters’ interests, explaining that Cinemark weighs bookings through a long-term lens because precedents can affect industry dynamics.
- Regal said shortened theatrical windows directly affect how it allocates premium screens and limit audiences’ opportunity to see films on the big screen; it will give The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping full IMAX support.
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has pre-sales “through the roof,” and Cinemark plans to keep it on screens for a second week, matching its first-week commitment; it opens immediately before Cliff Booth.
- Netflix has six films announced through November 2027 for full theatrical releases with marketing campaigns and communicated box-office results, which Gamble called a positive step while saying execution still needs to be seen.
- Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is set for a February release with a 50-day theatrical-to-streaming window, while Charlie Vs The Chocolate Factory has 47 days for next holiday season—far longer than Cliff Booth’s two-week run.
Why it matters: Regal says shortened windows directly affect how it allocates premium screens, while Cinemark and Regal are skipping Netflix’s two-week IMAX run of Cliff Booth. AMC Theatres and some independents will still show it, creating a split in exhibition over Netflix’s selective-release approach and the value of theatrical exclusivity.
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