What Netflix Buying Warner Bros. Means For WB’s Upcoming Movies & Theatrical Release Plans

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Netflix has agreed to purchase Warner Bros., following a bidding process that also included Paramount. The deal, confirmed on December 5th, is worth around $82.7 billion and will be financed through a combination of cash and company stock. Warner Bros. Discovery had been considering offers from multiple interested buyers.

Although the acquisition isn’t likely to be finalized until late 2026 or early 2027, it’s expected to significantly change Warner Bros. movies. The studio, with over a century of history, consistently releases blockbuster films, critically acclaimed Oscar contenders, and popular HBO television series.

What would happen if Netflix bought Warner Bros.? Here’s a breakdown of what we currently know about Warner Bros.’ future movies and Netflix’s plans for releasing films in theaters.

All Of Warner Bros.’s Upcoming Movies

Credit: Niko Tavernise / © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

As a movie critic, I’ve been digging through Warner Bros.’ upcoming slate, and let me tell you, they have a lot planned. They’ve already locked in release dates for dozens of films, and even more projects are in the works. Today, I’m focusing specifically on what WB has scheduled for 2026. Here’s a rundown of everything we know is coming that year.

  • Wuthering Heights — February 13
  • The Bride! — March 6
  • They Will Kill You — March 27
  • The Mummy — April 17
  • Mortal Kombat II — May 8
  • Animal Friends — June 5
  • Supergirl — June 26
  • Cut Off — July 17
  • Evil Dead Burn — July 24
  • Flowervale Street — August 14
  • Coyote vs. Acme — August 28
  • Clayface — September 11
  • Practical Magic 2 — September 18
  • Untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu/Tom Cruise film — October 2
  • Remain — October 23
  • The Cat in the Hat — November 6
  • Dune: Part Three — December 18

Here’s every Warner Bros. movie with confirmed release dates in 2027 or 2028

  • Untitled DC Studios film — March 5, 2027
  • Godzilla x Kong: Supernova — March 26, 207
  • F.A.S.T. — April 23, 2027
  • Bad Fairies — May 21, 2027
  • Untitled DC Studios film — June 18, 2027
  • Man of Tomorrow — July 9, 2027
  • A Minecraft Movie 2 — July 23, 2027
  • The Batman – Part II — October 1, 2027
  • Margie Claus — November 5, 2027
  • Gremlins 3 — November 19, 2027
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — December 17
  • Oh, the Places You’ll Go! — March 17, 2028
  • Dynamic Duo — June 30, 2028
  • The Hello Kitty Movie — July 21, 2028
  • The Lunar Chronicles — November 3, 2028

Netflix Will Release Warner Bros. Movies In Theaters… For Now

A major concern about Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. is that it might stop releasing most of Warner Bros.’ films in cinemas, particularly on a large scale. Netflix usually only releases films in theaters if they’re potential Oscar winners, like they did this year with Frankenstein and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. However, those films only have a brief and limited run in movie theaters.

Netflix has confirmed it won’t remove Warner Bros. movies from cinemas. Following the recent agreement, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos stated that all Warner Bros. films currently scheduled for theatrical release will continue to be shown in theaters as planned.

While this seems positive, it’s important to understand the details. Netflix isn’t guaranteeing that all Warner Bros. movies will continue to play in theaters, especially those still being planned. The deal focuses on protecting the theatrical releases of films that already have confirmed dates – meaning those movies won’t skip theaters and go straight to Netflix.

Sarandos and Netflix are keeping their options open with this strategy. He’s made it clear this is the current plan, but suggests it could be adjusted in the future, and it probably will be. Earlier this year, at the Time100 Summit, Sarandos stated that going to movie theaters is becoming obsolete and doesn’t fit with how people watch content today.

Ted Sarandos and Netflix are focused on keeping investors and regulators pleased as they finalize this deal. Assuring everyone that how content is released won’t change is one tactic they’re using. However, Netflix absolutely still has the ability to change its plans and move movies intended for cinemas directly to streaming if they choose.

Netflix Will Shrink Theatrical Windows On Warner Bros. Movies

I’ve been following the news about Netflix and Warner Bros., and it sounds like Ted Sarandos is planning some changes to how WB movies are released in theaters. He’s already said they’ll definitely be shortening the period when a movie is only available in cinemas. Apparently, at Netflix, they really believe long exclusive theatrical windows aren’t good for viewers – they want people to be able to watch what they want, when they want, and it sounds like he’s bringing that philosophy to WB too. I think that’s a really positive step!

Following the announcement, Sarandos explained that he believes the release timing for shows and movies will become more convenient for viewers over time, adapting to how and when people want to watch.

Currently, Warner Bros. films released in 2025 typically play in theaters for about 77 days before becoming available on streaming, initially on HBO Max. Netflix will probably try to shorten this period to 38 days or even less.

This insight comes from statements Sarandos made before the Warner Bros. deal. Speaking at the Time100 Summit, he explained that even a 45-day theatrical window seems too long and isn’t needed in today’s movie market.

What are people really saying? They simply want to enjoy movies at home, and that’s okay. But movie studios and theaters are fighting to keep a traditional 45-day wait period between theatrical release and home viewing, which doesn’t align with what audiences actually want.

If Ted Sarandos thinks a 45-day exclusive theatrical release is too much, Warner Bros.’ average 77-day window isn’t likely to work in the future. However, Warner Bros. films typically become available digitally after 32 days, so Netflix could skip theaters altogether and start streaming those movies at that point instead.

Okay, so once Warner Bros. starts seriously working with Netflix, it’s pretty much confirmed their movies won’t be in theaters for very long anymore. The big thing everyone’s wondering now is just how short those theatrical runs will be for the movies that even make it to cinemas. As a fan, I’m a little worried about that!

What Warner Bros. Movies Could Become Netflix Streaming Originals

Netflix probably won’t treat all Warner Bros. movies the same way. Big franchises like Dune, DC films, Minecraft, Lord of the Rings, and the Monsterverse are still likely to get theatrical releases. While Netflix generally prefers streaming, these popular titles are almost guaranteed to make a lot of money in theaters, and Netflix won’t want to miss out on that.

Big, popular movies will continue to be shown in cinemas, but most other films will likely end up on Netflix eventually. Movies planned for 2026 should still have theatrical releases, but films scheduled for 2027 and later may instead premiere directly on Netflix.

The streaming service might consider films like F.A.S.T. (a new action thriller by Taylor Sheridan) as a good option. Melissa McCarthy’s upcoming Christmas movie, Margie Claus, could also be a major hit during the holidays on Netflix. Even more ambitious projects, like Gremlins 3, might skip theaters altogether.

Generally, most romantic comedies and dramas will likely end up on Netflix from now on. Horror films that aren’t part of established franchises may also skip theaters. For instance, Warner Bros.’ planned 2025 films, Companion and The Alto Knights, probably wouldn’t have been shown in cinemas if Netflix had been in charge.

Will Netflix Ever Completely Take WB Movies Out Of Theaters?

The biggest concern with this agreement is that Netflix might eventually stop showing Warner Bros. films in cinemas. While Netflix currently assures everyone that won’t happen, there’s still a fear it could be a future strategy. Buying a studio with so many well-known franchises gives Netflix a huge opportunity to improve its streaming service with both classic movies and fresh reboots of popular content.

Netflix hasn’t traditionally focused on releasing films in cinemas. It’s a new area for them, and acquiring Warner Bros. provides the resources to enter this market and grow its presence. However, Netflix has historically seen movie theaters as rivals.

If Warner Bros. stopped releasing films in cinemas altogether, it would severely harm movie theaters and the box office. Similar to how Netflix put Blockbuster out of business, they could further diminish the importance of movie theaters and encourage people to watch all kinds of films at home instead.

Honestly, I really hope that scenario never comes to pass – it’s almost too crazy to even think about! But you know, it feels like just yesterday people were saying a Netflix takeover of Warner Bros. was impossible. So, who knows what could happen, right?

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2025-12-05 20:35