Stranger Things Just Proved Netflix’s Boss is Totally Wrong About the Future of TV & Movies

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For years, Netflix and traditional movie theaters haven’t had the easiest relationship, so news of Netflix potentially buying Warner Bros. has raised some eyebrows. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has upset many movie lovers by suggesting that going to theaters is becoming obsolete. He believes movies should be available to stream sooner, arguing that shorter release windows in theaters would be better for viewers in today’s world.

Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos has argued that falling movie theater attendance shows people prefer watching films at home. He stated this at the Time100 Summit last year, as reported by Variety. However, recent Netflix releases seem to contradict this idea. The streaming service’s release of the final season of Stranger Things as a special event in theaters was very successful, suggesting audiences are interested in seeing some content on the big screen.

The Stranger Things Finale Was a Box Office Hit

I was so excited when Netflix decided to give the final episodes of Stranger Things a special theatrical release! It was amazing to see it play on the big screen over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and it really brought in the crowds – over $25 million, can you believe it? It was a little different buying concession vouchers instead of actual tickets, apparently to make sure the cast got what they deserved. Prices were around $20 in some places, but a lot of theaters cleverly charged $11, which felt perfect. And the best part? The theaters got to keep all the money, which is fantastic!

The final episode of Stranger Things gave movie theaters a welcome boost during the holidays. It actually earned more at the box office than the blockbuster Avatar: Fire and Ash – $23.7 million domestically over two days – despite being shown in far fewer theaters. Stranger Things played in just over 620 locations, while Fire and Ash was available in 3,800. This makes Stranger Things‘ performance particularly impressive, and it likely would have been even more successful if Netflix had shown it in more theaters.

The success of Stranger Things‘ limited theatrical release is especially impressive considering the final episodes were released on Netflix at the same time. Fans could have easily watched at home, but many chose to see it in theaters, proving Netflix’s Ted Sarandos wrong about current moviegoing habits. This shows people do still want the cinema experience, especially for huge cultural events like this. If viewers didn’t care where they watched, the theatrical release wouldn’t have been so popular – only the most dedicated fans would have bothered going to a theater. Earning over $25 million (possibly closer to $30 million) from just a few hundred theaters means a large and diverse audience wanted to see it on the big screen.

While Stranger Things was a big success for Netflix in 2025, it wasn’t the only one. The hit movie Kpop Demon Hunters—which broke Netflix’s viewership records—also had a limited release in theaters after being available for streaming. It was the first Netflix film to reach number one at the box office, earning about $18 million, and another $5.3 million during a brief Halloween weekend release. Kpop Demon Hunters shows that many people still prefer seeing movies in theaters with others, enjoying the shared experience.

Will Netflix Change Its Stance on Theatrical Windows?

As a big Netflix fan, I’m excited about the possible deal with Warner Bros.! One thing Netflix has said is that they’ll still put WB movies in theaters, which is great. But I’m really curious about how long those movies will play in cinemas. Netflix usually gives its own films a short theatrical run just to be eligible for awards. It’s a smart move, because it means most of us will end up watching them on Netflix itself. We’ve already seen this with recent Netflix releases – movies like Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and Wake Up Dead Man were only in theaters for a few weeks before they started streaming.

Recent reports from Deadline suggest Netflix wants movies to play in theaters for only 17 days before becoming available for streaming. This shorter release window would likely hurt movie theaters significantly, both immediately and in the future. Theaters depend on big, popular films – like those from Warner Bros., such as Superman and A Minecraft Movie – to stay profitable. The pandemic already caused theaters to shorten how long movies play in cinemas, and that trend is unlikely to reverse. Reducing the theatrical window to just two weeks would make it even harder for movies to earn money from ticket sales.

Warner Bros. just posted one of its strongest years at the box office, with a varied slate that included A Minecraft Movie, Superman, Sinners, Weapons, F1, and more all becoming hits. When you couple that with the performances of Stranger Things and Kpop Demon Hunters, one would hope Netflix will realize there’s still a market for the theatrical experience, encouraging them to shift to longer exclusive windows. Unfortunately, history is full of examples of studios and companies learning the wrong lessons and doubling down on them, so it remains to be seen how this’ll all turn out. Rather than daydreaming about the money an extended run for Stranger Things could have made, Netflix could take this as a sign that two-day events is the blueprint to follow. Their stance on shorter windows might be emboldened as they try to manufacture a sense of excitement and exclusivity around theatrical releases.

Moviegoing has changed a lot. Because films are available on streaming services so quickly, people are more likely to wait and watch at home. Movies that used to be big hits in theaters, like those starring popular actors, now often find more success when people rent or buy them. However, theaters still have value. Special formats like IMAX offer experiences you can’t get at home, fully immersing you in a director’s vision meant for the biggest screen possible. There’s also something special about seeing a highly anticipated movie with a crowd – that excitement likely contributed to the success of shows like Stranger Things. While fewer people are going to theaters overall, certain movies still really benefit from being seen on the big screen first. Hopefully, Netflix will pay attention to what audiences want and keep their films in theaters for a reasonable amount of time.

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2026-01-06 02:41