Cinemark Holdings reported total revenue of $1.05 billion compared to $857.5 million a year ago, even as the major theater chain rejected Netflix’s upcoming film The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth over a release window dispute.
Cinemark and Regal Reject IMAX Bookings Over Theatrical Windows
Both Cinemark and Regal Cinemas have declined to book David Fincher’s The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth on their IMAX screens, leaving AMC and selected independent cinemas as the primary exhibitors carrying the release.
The project, which Fincher directed and Quentin Tarantino wrote, sees Brad Pitt reprising his role as a stuntman. The dispute centers on a two-week theatrical run scheduled to begin on November 25, ahead of the movie’s streaming premiere on Netflix on December 23, 2026. Addressing the decision during an earnings call, Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble said the company evaluates titles individually while considering long-term industry precedents.
The ‘Cliff Booth’ situation is an interesting one. We book all of our films on a case-by-case situation. In that particular situation, we always look at things through a long-term lens and how certain precedents and things we might do could affect longer-term industry dynamics. In this particular case, we don’t believe the proposed release model is constructive for the broader theatrical ecosystem, and it’s not aligned with what’s of the greatest interest in our theaters.
Sean Gamble, Cinemark CEO
Regal voiced similar concerns regarding shortened exclusivity periods. Brooks LeBoeuf, Regal’s senior vice president of U.S. content, stated that limited theatrical windows restrict audience opportunities to experience films on large screens, IndieWire reported. The chain has previously booked Netflix titles, such as the KPop Demon Hunters sing-along in August 2025, a title that AMC had declined to carry.
Regal’s premium screens are among our most valuable assets, and one of the factors we consider in how we allocate them is the level of commitment distributors make to the theatrical marketplace. Shortened theatrical windows have a direct impact on those decisions, as they limit the opportunity for audiences to experience films on the big screen.
Brooks LeBoeuf, Senior VP of U.S. Content for Regal
Theaters Dedicate Premium Screens to Hunger Games Prequel
With major exhibitors turning down the streaming title for the Thanksgiving holiday frame, theater chains are instead dedicating their premium screens to Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Gamble noted that advance ticket sales for the Lionsgate prequel are exceptionally strong, TheWrap reported. Both Regal and Cinemark have prioritized their capacity for it instead of the Netflix title.
The tactical shift leaves AMC to handle the majority of the domestic footprint for The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, utilizing roughly 200 IMAX screens in the United States, Pixeltwelve reported. Combined with select independent venues internationally, the film will reach approximately 550 screens worldwide, IndieWire reported. Regal operates around 100 IMAX locations, while Cinemark maintains roughly 20.
Netflix Shifts Narnia Release Date to 2027
The current scheduling conflict arose after Netflix swapped out Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew from the Thanksgiving window, pushing that title to February 2027. Netflix has recently attempted to demonstrate a more collaborative approach with theater owners by reporting box office figures for select titles, such as La Bola Negra, which earned over $277,000 across four theaters. Despite friction over the Cliff Booth distribution model, Cinemark leadership pointed to upcoming 2027 releases as a positive indicator of broader theatrical engagement from streaming platforms, including titles like Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller What Happens at Night, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
As the company navigates this transition, it continues to prepare a slate of theatrical titles including The Mosquito Bowl, Ray Gunn, and Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory. While Netflix has not made firm commitments regarding the exact duration of future windows, the industry continues to watch whether the streamer will continue to shorten windows for non-family content.
Worth a look