A wave of criticism is aimed at Narnia, which is in preparation on Netflix. This follows the streamer’s decision to release the film for two weeks only in IMAX theaters.
Tim Richards, CEO of Europe’s largest private cinema operator, Vue Entertainment, expressed this frustration in a letter, saying: “As a result, ‘Narnia’ will not be watched by audiences on 99% of the world’s cinema screens. It will only be shown on IMAX screens owned by operators keen to break established theatrical release windows.”
He continued: Those who choose to respect the established theatrical release window have been threatened by IMAX with a “nuclear option” if they don’t play it. The result? IMAX and Netflix may benefit from a short-term gain, but the industry and audiences around the world will lose. ยป
“Millions of families who would like to watch ‘Narnia’ in theaters will be unnecessarily deprived of this opportunity…IMAX has not only accepted this restrictive model, but appears to be encouraging other filmmakers to follow suit. In doing so, it risks undermining the very ecosystem that makes theatrical success possible,” concludes Tom.
In the meantime, Narnia will arrive during the 2026 Thanksgiving holiday.
