Greta Gerwig, the director of “Barbie” and “Lady Bird,” is bringing her talents to the world of epic storytelling. Her upcoming adaptation of “The Chronicles of Narnia” will debut in IMAX theaters before it hits Netflix, marking a rare move for the streaming service.
Puck News was the first to report that Gerwig’s “Narnia” adaptation –– based on C.S. Lewis’ iconic fantasy series –– will have an exclusive two-week IMAX run starting Thanksgiving Day 2026. Following its theatrical release, the film will be available to stream on Netflix beginning Christmas Day.
Netflix’s theatrical strategy
This is part of Netflix’s broader strategy, which has tested limited theatrical releases in recent years. The streaming giant is known for its direct-to-streaming titles, but several of its films have had brief runs in theaters before they’re available to subscribers.
For example, “The Irishman” had a limited theatrical release in 2019, largely seen as an effort to attract Oscar’s attention. Similarly, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” had a theatrical run to generate buzz for awards season. More recently, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” followed suit with a limited release before streaming on Netflix.
Gerwig leverages ‘Barbie’ success
Gerwig’s deal for “Narnia” was made before the massive success of “Barbie.” However, after “Barbie” became a cultural phenomenon, Gerwig leveraged her newfound power to negotiate an exclusive IMAX release for “Narnia.” According to Puck, IMAX, Gerwig’s talent agency, and theater owners all played a role in the negotiations.
