Netflix will report theatrical box office grosses for six upcoming films, Variety reports. It is the first time the streamer has committed to box office transparency.
The slate spans the next year: Penélope Cruz leads La Bola Negra, a queer drama that premiered at Cannes, opening October 16. Peter Berg's period sports film The Mosquito Bowl follows October 30. David Fincher's The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth arrives November 25 as Netflix's first IMAX release. Danny Boyle's British tabloid drama Ink opens December 11.
The two biggest bets are in 2027. Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew opens February 12 with a 50-day theatrical window and will be Netflix's first wide release, screening in more than 1,000 theaters. An animated Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory follows in November.
"The real question is 'What does Netflix want to be now?'" a rival studio executive told Variety. "Having almost bought Warner Bros. Discovery, you get the sense that they can't put some of that toothpaste back in the tube."
The decision comes months after Netflix nearly completed an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Whether these six films represent a new standard or a curated exception is the question the industry is asking.
