After Netflix won the bidding war for Warner Bros. After winding down its film and streaming businesses in December 2025, the company announced its plans to release films in theaters. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said that after Netflix acquires Warner Bros., he will “run the business largely as it is today, with 45-day windows.”
In April 2025, Sarandos previously stated that he loved theater but felt that going to the movies was an “outdated idea, for most people, not for everyone.” As a result, Netflix’s purchase of Warner Bros. sparked backlash and fears about the future of the film industry.
Sources even told Deadline that Netflix was “advocating a 17-day window that would overwhelm the theatrical business.” However, Sarandos told the New York Times that he thought it was “dated for some.”
Since I’m a fan of going to the movies, I breathed easier after hearing Sarandos’ plans for the Warner Bros. films. Warner Bros. owns several major franchises, including DC Comics, Harry Potter, Dune, the Monsterverse and The Lord of the Rings. Now that Netflix has purchased Warner Bros., changing how long its films stay in theaters would have a massive impact on the film industry, including theaters and moviegoers, but not in a good way.
Theaters need films to be successful, more than ever
As the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, people were forced to stay at home and rely on streaming services like Netflix to watch new movies. This widespread quarantine has dealt a major blow to the film industry, and theaters are still recovering and trying to stay open.
The U.S. has reportedly lost over 5,600 movie theaters since 2020 due to the pandemic, and several movie theater chains have filed for bankruptcy and/or closed. It’s been particularly difficult for independent movie theaters to stay open, and shortening the 45-day window could hurt small businesses even more.
Things have also become more difficult for theaters after the writers and actors strikes in 2023, which halted several productions, prevented film promotion and delayed the release of big budget films. The strikes caused U.S. domestic ticket sales to fall to $8.75 billion, a 23.5% decline from 2019, according to Comscore data from Variety. In 2025, the US box office didn’t even reach $9 billion, Variety reported.
As someone who has worked in a cinema during the pandemic, I have seen firsthand how difficult it was when fewer people came to see films in the cinema. With the industry still trying to get back on its feet, if Netflix were to limit screenings of Warner Bros. films, it would be even harder for theaters to turn a profit.
Going to the movies is good for the mind
Watching films in the cinema helps people connect with their community, which has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health. A 2019 scientific study by the English Longitudinal Study of Aging found that over 2,100 adults who frequently engaged in cultural activities (visiting museums, theaters and cinemas) had a 32-48% lower risk of developing depression.
Don’t get me wrong, streaming movies has its advantages. This allows people to save time and money when they have to go to the nearest theater and pay for a ticket. While Hollywood’s same-day streaming movie releases have been controversial during the pandemic, they allowed people to watch the movies they wanted to see without fear of catching COVID in the theater.
However, streaming movies at home can become too lonely over time. There is already an epidemic of loneliness in the US, and scientific research has shown a strong connection between lLoneliness, anxiety and depression in adults.
Northwestern Medicine also found that people enjoy binge-watching shows on streaming platforms Netflix has increased people’s isolation and loneliness. If Netflix pushed Warner Bros. If popular movies are streamed sooner, more people may choose to watch them alone at home.
I think people should have the opportunity to watch a film in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable. Still, cinema offers people the opportunity to get out of the house and be with others. Longer screening windows could encourage more people to go to the movies and stay socially active, which could make them feel less lonely.
People still want to go to the cinema
While many people have become accustomed to streaming movies, a sizable demographic still enjoys watching movies in theaters. Variety reported that in a National Research Group study, 59% of Generation Alpha, children born between 2013 and 2025, said they preferred watching movies in theaters rather than at home.
As streaming at home and on smartphones has become the norm for most people, watching movies in the theater has become an even more special and desirable activity for the new generation. It would be best for Netflix to target them in theaters, as younger audiences have long been the film industry’s core demographic.
Netflix has already achieved great success with its own theatrical releases. Even if KPop Demon Hunter and the Stranger Things 5 Finals were available on streaming, both blockbusters grossed millions of dollars in the short time they were shown in theaters in 2025. This turnout proves that there is an audience that will pay to watch their favorite films in theaters instead of streaming.
Ultimately, Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. will shake up the film industry significantly, but it’s unlikely to shorten the films’ theatrical run. Theaters have long been crucial to making movies such an entertaining experience and a profitable art form, and reducing their use would be a disservice to people inside and outside the industry.
