Regal and Cinemark decline IMAX screenings for Netflix's upcoming Tarantino sequel
Regal and Cinemark will not show the Netflix-distributed sequel The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth on their IMAX screens, citing the film's short two-week theatrical window and competition from a new Hunger Games release.
Netflix’s upcoming sequel The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, a follow-up to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, will not be shown on IMAX screens at Regal and Cinemark theaters when it opens on Nov. 25. The decision, reported by Deadline, reflects the film’s limited two-week theatrical run and the crowded Thanksgiving box-office schedule, which includes the new Hunger Games title Sunrise on the Reaping slated for a wider release on Nov. 20.
Regal’s senior vice president of U.S. content, Brooks LeBoeuf, said in a statement to Variety, “Regal’s premium screens are among our most valuable assets, and one of the factors we consider in how we allocate them is the level of commitment distributors make to the theatrical marketplace. Shortened theatrical windows have a direct impact on those decisions, as they limit the opportunity for audiences to experience films on the big screen. We will continue to prioritize releases that recognize the value of theatrical exclusivity, including ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,’ which will have our full support in IMAX.”
The film will receive a limited theatrical release before moving to Netflix, a model that has sparked debate in Hollywood over the balance between streaming platforms and traditional cinemas. Recent examples include longer theatrical windows for Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew and La Bola Negra, both distributed by Netflix.