Netflix to Release Greta Gerwig's Narnia Film in Theaters with Full 49-Day Exclusive Window

Netflix has announced that for the first time in its history, one of its films will receive a traditional theatrical release. The film is Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, directed by Greta Gerwig, set for release on February 12, 2027. It will have a 49-day exclusive theatrical window before streaming on Netflix. This marks a significant shift for Netflix, which had previously resisted conventional distribution, offering only limited releases for Oscar qualification. Director Greta Gerwig, known for Barbie, negotiated for a better distribution deal, initially securing a 30-day IMAX release. However, a set injury to actor David McKenna delayed production, pushing the release from Thanksgiving 2026 to February 2027. This delay, combined with Gerwig's insistence, led to the canonical distribution. Netflix had previously denied similar requests from Martin Scorsese for The Irishman, Alfonso Cuarón for Roma, and Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein. Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, had called the theatrical model "outdated" a year ago. The film is reportedly Netflix's most expensive production. Netflix fears setting a precedent, but the exceptional circumstances of the delay provide cover. Competitors like Amazon Prime Video (via MGM) and Apple TV+ have already embraced theatrical releases. The move reflects the cultural and financial benefits of theatrical distribution, especially for building franchises.