Netflix Eyes Wider Theatrical Runs for Awards Hopefuls, But How Wide?

In October 2015, Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba, perished in its box-office debut after most theaters, including major circuits, boycotted the film because the title premiered day-and-date on Netflix. Beasts played for two weeks in 31 cinemas, earning just $90,777 on its way to being snubbed by Academy Award voters.

Nearly three years later, Netflix is looking to up its Oscar game after edging out HBO for the most nominations at this year’s Emmys. Insiders tell The Hollywood Reporter that the streamer, which recently hired top awards strategist Lisa Taback, is eyeing more ?than just an awards-qualifying release for it upcoming films, including Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma and Paul Greengrass’ 22 July.

Cuaron shot his black-and-white, Spanish-language film ?— an ode to his childhood in Mexico City — with a high-end digital camera best suited for premium large-format or 70mm screens equipped with Dolby Atmos sound. (Sources say that there is a theatrical Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos version in the works.)

Both Cuaron and Greengrass are said to want an expanded theatrical presence beyond a token run. What Netflix offers them could be a template for other A-list filmmakers.

After the Beasts debacle, Netflix struck partnerships with iPic and Landmark Theatres, whereby ?it essentially rented, or “four-walled,” auditoriums to keep talent happy and qualify its movies for awards consideration. Last year’s Mudbound picked up four Oscar noms but walked away empty-handed. All told, 33 Netflix films played in cinemas last year in 40 cities globally — not all were awards players — yet Netflix hasn’t reported grosses since Beasts.

Netflix announced July 25 that Roma, from Participant, will be released day-and-date on the streamer and in theaters, but it won’t elaborate on theatrical plans (earlier this year, the company briefly looked into buying the Landmark chain). And unless the streamer backs off of its day-and-date stance, booking the sort of premium screens that Cuaron desires will be tough. The last movie the Mexican filmmaker directed, Gravity (2013), was nominated for 10 Oscars and won seven, including best director for Cuaron, and was considered groundbreaking for its 3D work.

A foreign-language, black-and-white film is hardly an easy box-office sell, and Cuaron, like other filmmakers pursuing projects that may not stir up keen interest among the major Hollywood film studios, landed at Netflix. Ditto for Greengrass, whose upcoming English-language film chronicles two harrowing 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway.

“Even though a director may want his film in a theater,” says Wall Street analyst Eric Handler, “that is the cost of doing business with Netflix.”

Netflix insiders have give no indication that the streamer is ready to give up day-and-date releases. Amazon Studios, conversely, has actively wooed theaters owners by agreeing to hold off releasing its movies on Amazon Prime.

“The theaters are big proponents of windowing,” says Handler. “If they allow Netflix to do day-and-date, that could open the floodgates for others.”

A version of this story first appeared in the Aug. 1 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

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