Netflix is set to launch proper theatrical releases, beginning with the upcoming "Narnia" film.

      Grinvalds/123RF / Netflix

      Netflix has historically not been supportive of traditional multiplexes. Throughout much of its time as a film studio, the streaming service has viewed theaters as a hesitant pit stop—just a short, reluctant diversion before content arrives where it ultimately belongs: on the couch. However, this is beginning to change, and the company is making this transition in a highly visible manner.

      On Friday, the streamer announced that Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will receive an extensive theatrical release on February 12, 2026, followed by a 45-day exclusive window before it becomes available on the platform on April 2. For a company that has long regarded theatrical releases as merely a means for award considerations rather than a genuine distribution strategy, this is a significant move.

      Gerwig’s Narnia is the perfect choice for this new strategy.

      Netflix selected this film for a reason. The Magician’s Nephew, the origin tale of the Narnia universe based on C.S. Lewis’ 1955 novel, possesses the kind of cross-generational and cross-cultural appeal that warrants a big-screen experience. With Greta Gerwig—recently celebrated for the cultural phenomenon that was Barbie—arguably being the most reliable director today, and with the Narnia intellectual property having decades of devoted fans, if Netflix were to trust any film to support a full theatrical run based solely on its own value rather than just for Oscar reasons, this is the one.

      Theater owners are elated—and they have every reason to be.

      The exhibition sector has endured years of watching streaming diminish its influence, so the excitement is completely justified. Michael O’Leary, president of Cinema United, referred to it as “welcome news,” and Adam Aron of AMC vowed the chain’s total support. This isn’t merely a public relations gesture—these are businesses that desperately need a streaming giant to acknowledge them as a legitimate distribution partner rather than just a symbolic checkbox.

      Narnia

      Netflix’s approach has been evolving for some time. The company released a theatrical sing-along version of K-pop Demon Hunters last year, and CEO Ted Sarandos publicly committed to honoring the traditional theatrical window for Warner Bros. Discovery titles as part of their ongoing pursuit. The announcement regarding Narnia appears to reflect a company finally coming to terms with the fact that certain movies are simply too significant to debut on a 55-inch television.

      Shimul is a contributor at Digital Trends, with over five years of experience in the tech space.

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