Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos committed to maintaining 45-day theatrical windows for Warner Bros movies following the streaming giant's $82.7 billion acquisition. The clarification came in a January 16 interview with The New York Times, addressing industry concerns about Netflix's plans for theatrical releases.
Sarandos explicitly stated Warner Bros films will retain traditional cinema windows after the deal closes. "We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows," he told the Times. "I'm giving you a hard number."
The Netflix co-CEO emphasized his competitive approach to theatrical distribution. "If we're going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we're competitive people - we want to win," Sarandos said. "I want to win opening weekend. I want to win box office."
Netflix announced the Warner Bros Discovery acquisition in early December 2025 for $82.7 billion ($72 billion in equity). The deal includes HBO Max and HBO, creating one of Hollywood's largest content portfolios. Warner Bros rejected two competing bids from Paramount, including a $108.4 billion hostile takeover attempt.
Industry rumors had suggested Netflix might push for 17-day theatrical windows, a move theater chains warned would "steamroll the theatrical business." Deadline reported that Netflix had been "proponents of a 17-day window," according to sources. Sarandos dismissed those concerns, noting Warner Bros generates "billions of dollars of theatrical revenue that we don't want to put at risk."
The clarification represents a significant shift from Sarandos' previous comments at the 2025 Time100 Summit, where he called the 45-day window "completely out of step with the consumer experience." He now argues theatrical and streaming experiences complement each other rather than compete.
Warner Bros enters the acquisition after a strong 2025 box office performance. The studio generated approximately $2 billion globally from four major releases: Superman, A Minecraft Movie, horror hit Sinners, and Weapons. These films demonstrated the studio's continued theatrical viability.
The Netflix-Warner Bros deal faces expected regulatory scrutiny in coming months. Meanwhile, Netflix continues expanding its content partnerships, recently signing a $7 billion Pay-1 global deal with Sony for exclusive streaming rights after theatrical windows.
Sarandos addressed concerns about his past characterization of theatrical as "outmoded," clarifying he meant "outmoded for some" in areas without local theaters. He emphasized Netflix's commitment to preserving theatrical distribution while expanding streaming access.
The acquisition positions Netflix to compete directly with traditional studios in theatrical releases while leveraging Warner Bros' extensive film library for streaming. The 45-day window commitment provides stability for theater chains facing streaming disruption.
