The prospect of Netflix owning WB has sent both fans and industry veterans into a frenzy due to the former’s adherence to streaming. Although CEO Ted Sarandos previously stressed they would continue to commit to WB’s theatrical outputs should the acquisition clear Donald Trump‘s DOJ, Deadline reported the streamer is eyeing a 17-day theatrical window.
If true, this sits in line with the reports surrounding the streamer’s two-week release window for WB releases, even though Sarandos previously claimed the release window for them would follow industry standards.
There’s been a lot of talk about theatrical distribution, so we want to set the record straight: we are 100% committed to releasing Warner Bros. films in theaters with industry-standard windows.
This further echoes Christopher Nolan‘s initial warning against the prioritization of streaming over the theatrical experience from 2020, which pushed the acclaimed auteur to drift away from WB in the first place.
Christopher Nolan’s Streaming Warning is More Relevant Than Ever
While Nolan’s history with the studio dates back to 2002, and their decades-long collaboration saw the auteur helming some of the most celebrated hits of this century, he was quick to call out WB following its drift toward streaming.
Credit: @WarnerBrosIndia / YouTube.
Credit: Netflix
Credit: Warner Bros. Discovery
For the uninitiated, during the pandemic era, WB opted to release its titles simultaneously in theaters and on streaming. In hindsight, this decision did more harm than good, ultimately severing ties with the auteur. Blasting this decision, the director cast doubt on WB’s then model, which risked alienating many major filmmakers (via THR).
Warner Bros. had an incredible machine for getting a filmmaker’s work out everywhere, both in theaters and in the home, and they are dismantling it as we speak. They don’t even understand what they’re losing. Their decision makes no economic sense, and even the most casual Wall Street investor can see the difference between disruption and dysfunction.
Fortunately for viewers and theaters, WB reverted to its original roots, and 2025 proved to be a monumental year for the streamer. And despite registering a record year with several acclaimed outings, the prospect of a Netflix acquisition suggests a troubling regression.
WB’s 2025 Run Reflects Why Movies Need Longer Theatrical Runs
Even though franchise-driven releases like Zootopia 2 and now Avatar: Fire & Ash have proven to be box office juggernauts, 2025 in its entirety was a major year for original movies, and WB was a major contributor to it.
A still from Sinners | Credit: Warner Bros.
From Sinners proving to be a cultural landmark to F1 proving to be one of the biggest summer blockbusters of last year and Weapons continuing the studio’s impeccable horror streak, 2025 was a huge win for both original cinema and theaters. As for IP-driven hits, WB’s Superman and A Minecraft Movie became one of the most celebrated movies of the year.
Considering how memorable these experiences were, the idea of confining such cinematic events to streaming is genuinely appalling. From an economic standpoint, the loss of the industry-standard theatrical window would significantly undermine annual box-office grosses, and even a slate like 2025, one that enjoyed exceptional legs, would struggle to break even during a limited theatrical window.
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