Ted Sarandos commits to 45-day theatrical windows for Warner Bros. films, walking back reports of a theater-crushing 17-day plan
In a new interview with The New York Times , Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos made a bold commitment: Warner Bros. films will keep their 45-day theatrical exclusivity windows if the $82.7 billion acquisition goes through. That’s a pretty significant reversal from what we’ve been hearing behind closed doors.
“We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows,” Sarandos said. “I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people – we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office.”
From 17 Days to 45: What Changed?
The timing here isn’t coincidental. Cinema United warned Congress just last week that Netflix’s acquisition poses an “unprecedented threat” to theaters worldwide, and they weren’t exactly mincing words. The trade organization’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, called out the deal as potentially devastating for everyone from the biggest circuits to one-screen independents in small-town America.
The Bigger Picture: An $82.7 Billion Gamble
We shouldn’t overlook the significance of this situation. Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. could unite some of the most beloved franchises in entertainment under a single streaming platform. This includes iconic series like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, the DC Universe, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory, alongside popular hits such as Stranger Things, Squid Game, and Wednesday.
The deal is still facing serious regulatory scrutiny, with the Trump administration reportedly viewing it with “heavy skepticism.” Senator Mike Lee has said a congressional hearing is “almost certain,” and Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized the potential for a single company controlling nearly half the streaming market.
Oh, and Paramount Skydance isn’t going quietly into the night either — they’re still pressing Warner Bros. to accept their rival offer, arguing they’d face fewer regulatory hurdles.
