Image Source: IndieWire
Cliff Booth is facing a surprising theatrical setback ahead of its planned Thanksgiving release. David Fincher’s upcoming Netflix film, starring Brad Pitt, will not play on Regal or Cinemark’s IMAX screens when its exclusive large-format run begins November 25, according to IndieWire.
The decision limits the film’s access to some of the biggest premium screens in the United States. Instead, the movie will be shown primarily through AMC’s IMAX locations, along with a handful of smaller theater circuits. The arrangement is expected to give the film a worldwide total of approximately 550 IMAX screens.
Cliff Booth Loses Major IMAX Support
Regal and Cinemark have declined to book the film on their IMAX screens during its theatrical window. AMC, which operates roughly 200 IMAX screens in the United States, will serve as the primary exhibition partner. Regal has approximately 100 IMAX locations, while Cinemark operates closer to 20.
The release strategy is particularly notable because IMAX typically has significant influence over which films occupy its screens. However, IMAX joined the project as a partner relatively late in the process. That allowed major theater chains to opt out if they preferred to keep another title in premium auditoriums.
In this case, Regal appears ready to prioritize The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping for a second weekend rather than show a Netflix title with a comparatively short theatrical window.
Regal Defends Its Theatrical Strategy
Brooks LeBoeuf, Regal Global Entertainment’s senior vice president of U.S. content, said the company carefully considers the level of commitment distributors make to theatrical releases when assigning premium screens.
“Regal’s premium screens are among our most valuable assets,” LeBoeuf said in a statement to IndieWire. He added that shortened theatrical windows affect those decisions because they reduce the time audiences have to experience films in theaters.
Regal said it would continue prioritizing releases that recognize the importance of theatrical exclusivity, specifically pointing to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as a film receiving its full IMAX support.
A Short Window From Netflix
The film’s theatrical run will begin November 25, with Netflix streaming it on December 23, just in time for the Christmas holiday. That gives the movie an exclusive theatrical period of less than a month, a schedule that appears to have influenced Regal and Cinemark’s decision.
Netflix originally planned to place Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film in the Thanksgiving release window. That project was moved to February so it could receive a longer theatrical run and a clearer path to premium-format screens. The change helped create space for Fincher’s Brad Pitt-led action film, but it also highlighted the difficult balance between streaming availability and theatrical exclusivity.
For Netflix, the IMAX engagement remains an important opportunity. The company has increasingly experimented with longer theatrical releases, even as its streaming-first business model continues to create tension with cinema chains. Premium screens are limited, particularly during the busy holiday season, and exhibitors are placing greater value on films that offer extended runs.
Another Streaming Release Faces Theater Trouble
The dispute comes during a broader week of friction between streaming companies and theatrical exhibitors. Amazon’s Ali G: Who Iz I? is also reportedly facing resistance from several major chains, including Regal, Alamo Drafthouse and AMC.
The Sacha Baron Cohen comedy opened in approximately 150 select theaters as part of a brief theatrical event. Amazon planned to continue the release before making the movie available on streaming, but several large chains have reportedly chosen not to hold it. The company did not provide details about the number of screens involved in the extended run.
These developments reveal the increasingly complicated relationship between studios, streaming platforms, IMAX and theater owners. Distributors want the marketing impact and prestige of a theatrical launch, while exhibitors want longer windows that can generate sustained ticket revenue.
What the IMAX Decision Means
The setback does not cancel the film’s theatrical release, but it could affect its visibility and box-office potential. AMC’s extensive IMAX presence gives the movie a substantial platform, while the additional smaller circuits should help maintain a broad international rollout.
Still, the absence of Regal and Cinemark is significant. Audiences in markets dominated by those chains may have fewer opportunities to see the film in its intended premium format. The decision also sends a strong message to Netflix about the cost of offering a movie on streaming only weeks after its cinema debut.
With David Fincher directing and Brad Pitt returning to the character of Cliff Booth, the film remains one of Netflix’s most anticipated theatrical experiments. Its November performance may help determine how aggressively the company pursues IMAX partnerships and extended cinema windows in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why will Cliff Booth not play on Regal or Cinemark IMAX screens?
Regal and Cinemark reportedly chose not to book the film because of its shortened theatrical window and their preference to prioritize longer theatrical releases, including The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
When does the film’s IMAX release begin?
The exclusive IMAX theatrical engagement is scheduled to begin November 25, during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Where will the movie play in IMAX?
The film will primarily play on AMC’s IMAX screens worldwide, along with select smaller theater circuits. The total rollout is expected to reach approximately 550 screens.
When will the movie stream on Netflix?
Netflix is scheduled to release the film for streaming on December 23, less than a month after its theatrical opening.
