Are AMC Theatres and Netflix finally finding common ground?
It looks like it! AMC is now set to show “KPop Demon Hunters” in 300 locations after Netflix decided to re-release this animated musical hit over Halloween. This is significant because AMC has mostly kept Netflix films off their screens. The two companies have clashed over how long films should stay exclusively in theaters.
Analyst Alicia Reese from Wedbush Securities explains that Netflix used to focus on getting its films into theaters mostly for awards or to appease talent. Now, they seem more interested in reaching wider audiences.
AMC feels the pressure. Box office revenues are still about 20% lower than pre-pandemic times, and every hit counts. Interestingly, AMC skipped showing “KPop Demon Hunters” during its August sing-along release, missing out on the film that earned around $18 million that weekend.
For years, AMC has been hesitant to partner with Netflix, even though theaters need more content. The only Netflix film shown at AMC before this was “Glass Onion,” a sequel to “Knives Out.” Recently, AMC expressed a more positive outlook, mentioning that both companies see potential for collaboration. They’ve even planned for the two-hour “Stranger Things” finale to show in AMC theaters on New Year’s Eve, coinciding with its release on the streaming platform.
This shift highlights Netflix’s growing interest in theatrical releases. Some suggest they’re recognizing that movies in theaters have lasting cultural significance. Others think it’s a response to losing projects and talent to competitors like Warner Bros. and Paramount.
Netflix isn’t looking at theaters merely as a financial strategy. Instead, they view it as a marketing opportunity to engage fans. By partnering with AMC, they aim to broaden the audience for their theatrical films, while AMC can boost its revenue during slower seasons.
Upcoming films hint at more collaboration. Greta Gerwig’s 2026 adaptation of “Narnia” will have a two-week exclusive Imax run at AMC, with potential plans for wider releases. Similarly, David Fincher’s “Adventures of Cliff Booth,” a spinoff from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is being considered for a theatrical rollout.
Not every project will get this treatment, however. “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will only have a limited run for awards consideration due to scheduling conflicts.
Earlier this year, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos dismissed the idea of the theater experience as outdated, emphasizing Netflix’s commitment to exclusive first-run movies on its platform. As a result, theaters don’t expect full support from Netflix akin to what Amazon MGM is doing with its planned 15 annual theater releases.
Netflix usually offers a limited selection of films in theaters, mainly for awards qualification. A theater owner noted that Netflix isn’t likely to announce an extensive lineup but will selectively showcase standout films.
Interestingly, Netflix has also provided favorable terms for theaters, allowing more flexible screening schedules. Unlike most distributors that require strict showtimes, Netflix lets theaters decide how and when to show “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Hollywood studios are generally happy to see Netflix trying to embrace theatrical releases, as long as they don’t take away from traditional studios’ spaces, particularly in prime market segments.
As one studio executive put it, “We’re here to showcase films year-round. We don’t want to be sidelined by Netflix.”
This evolving relationship between Netflix and AMC reflects broader changes in the film industry, where streaming and traditional cinema are learning to coexist. It remains to be seen how this new partnership will reshape viewing experiences and box office dynamics in the coming years.
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