Turning around a streaming giant like Netflix, valued at over $370 billion, is a major challenge, especially after years of focusing so intently on streaming as the company has. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos tried to convince doubters that he’s serious about also running Warner Bros. – which Netflix plans to acquire for $83 billion. He made his clearest promise yet: Warner Bros. films will still be released in theaters for at least 45 days after their theatrical release. Sarandos emphasized that Netflix intends to compete and succeed in the traditional movie business, aiming for strong opening weekends and high box office numbers.
While recent promises made in a prominent New York Times interview are reassuring, their impact depends on how much you trust the person making them. The timing of this statement, just before Netflix releases its next earnings report on Tuesday, seems deliberate. Netflix’s stock price dropped after winning the initial bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, and some critics have openly worried that Netflix could harm movie theaters. This has been a major concern throughout the process, with supporters of the Paramount bid arguing that Netflix’s actions don’t match its words. They point out that limited award-season releases and special event screenings aren’t enough to prove Netflix’s commitment to theatrical releases. In fact, the CEO seems to believe that most people won’t travel far to see a movie, suggesting he may not fully understand how many Americans live. While he’s clearly an expert in streaming, his understanding of traditional moviegoing habits may be limited.
As we’ve discussed previously, Netflix has proven it can adapt, and this is the largest acquisition it’s ever made. It’s quite possible Ted Sarandos, like a modern-day Kane, occasionally reflects on the potential of theatrical releases. He even jokingly admitted in an interview with the Times that he’s partly doing this to acquire Jack Warner’s famous desk.
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2026-01-16 18:54