Giving theatrical releases to Netflix originals is an excellent way to woo top talent and Academy voters.
‚The Irishman‘ Netflix
At least some of the blowback over Netflix’s Oscar campaign for Roma (which yielded Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Film and Best Director but no Best Picture trophy) concerned the notion that the film’s theatrical release prior to its streaming debut was essentially honoring the letter of the law rather than the spirit. Alfonso Cuaron’s acclaimed Mexican melodrama played in a limited release three weeks prior to its Netflix debut and played here and there over the awards season. Netflix never releases hard box office figure (which they didn’t have to do since they bought out the theaters in question), so we have no more of a way of knowing how many people saw it in theaters as we do how many people watched it via streaming. But the streaming giant may be playing by the old-school rules next year, with Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman set to reportedly earn a more conventional wide theatrical run.
That’s the word from The Hollywood Reporter, which notes that Scorsese wants a wide theatrical release for his $125 million-budgeted Jimmy Hoffa flick. If this comes to pass, then it’ll likely mean treating The Irishman like a normal theatrical release, with the major chains (AMC, Regal, etc.) involved and actual reported box office numbers. Now those numbers won’t mean much beyond potential bragging rights (or, if it performs poorly, a vindication of Netflix’s current limited theatrical window), but it’s more about appeasing Scorsese and chasing Oscar gold. This kind of “theaters before Netflix” plan may become the new normal for awards contenders and (potentially) with prestige flicks released outside of the awards season. If it attracts top talent, then it’s a win/win no matter how many people see it in theaters.
Some in the Academy (including Steven Spielberg) are reportedly pushing for new qualifying rules demanding at least a one-month theatrical-to-streaming window for any title. Now that Netflix is now a member of the MPAA (no longer an outsider looking in), it will face more pressure to report box office numbers for the movies it does allow to play in theaters.
