Netflix announced it will provide exclusive limited theatrical releases to some films prior to their debut on the streaming service.
Nov. 1 (UPI) — Netflix announced it will provide exclusive limited theatrical releases to some films prior to their debut on the streaming service.
Alfonso Cuarón’s ROMA, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs from the Coen Brothers and Bird Box from Susanne Bier will be released at theaters in select cities before they’re officially made available for streaming, Netflix wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
The company also announced when the films will be available to stream, with ROMA arriving Dec. 14, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Nov. 16 and Bird Box on Dec. 21.
Prior to the streaming debuts, ROMA will have exclusive limited theatrical engagements in Los Angeles, New York and Mexico, beginning Nov. 21. More engagements in U. S. cities and London will begin Nov. 29 and showings at other top U. S. markets and international territories will begin to roll out after Dec. 7, Deadline reported .
ROMA will have a wider theatrical release once it is available for streaming on Dec. 14 and will ultimately be released in more than 20 territories globally with 70mm presentations planned for some theaters.
Limited theatrical engagements for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs will begin in The Landmark in Los Angeles, The Landmark 57 West in New York, the Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco and Curzon Theater in London.
Beginning Dec. 13 Bird Box will have exclusive limited theatrical engagements in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and London.
Both films will also have larger theatrical releases once they begin streaming on Netflix.
The move will look to provide the films a greater opportunity to contend for the Oscars and other film awards.
“Netflix’s priority is our members and our filmmakers, and we are constantly innovating to serve them. Our members benefit from having the best quality films from world class filmmakers and our filmmakers benefit by being able to share their artistry with the largest possible audience in over 190 countries worldwide,” said Scott Stuber, head of Netflix’s film group.
