Theatrical Windows
Universal extends theatrical windows to five weekends in 2026
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Universal Pictures has announced it will extend the exclusive theatrical run for its films to a minimum of five weekends in 2026, up from 17 days during the pandemic era. The studio plans to increase this to seven weekends in 2027. This shift aims to support cinema operators amid ongoing debates over streaming versus theatrical releases.
Netflix has pledged a 45-day theatrical release window for Warner Bros. movies as part of its bid to acquire the studio, amid ongoing tensions with Paramount. This commitment came during a Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee hearing, marking a shift from the streamer's earlier dismissal of theaters as outdated. However, industry leaders question the details and implications of this promise.