Executive: More movies in theaters would result from Netflix’s takeover of Warner Bros

In an effort to allay concerns among theater chains and operators who are still doubtful that Netflix will adhere to conventional theatrical release strategies, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos stated on Thursday that the company’s possible acquisition of Warner Bros. would lead to «even more» films being released in theaters.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday afternoon, Sarandos claimed that by merging Netflix’s film production skills with a well-established theatrical distribution company, the acquisition of Warner Bros. would result in more high-caliber films being shown in theaters.

Deadline reported last month that Sarandos had pledged to uphold the 45-day theatrical release window for Warner Bros. pictures without mentioning how Netflix films will be distributed. In the past, Netflix has only briefly shown its own films in cinemas, frequently in order to be eligible for awards.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. normally releases between 12 and 14 films annually, while Paramount aims to expand its eight annual releases to 15 by 2026. Sarandos questioned Paramount’s competitive offering, saying that its strategy of releasing 30 films annually in theaters would be impossible to achieve.