On the heels of this morning’s newsaboutThe Irishman, Netflix has unveiled a slew of release dates for its fall films, most of which are expected to be strong awards contenders.
At the top of that list isNoah Baumbach’s divorce dramaMarriage StorystarringScarlett JohanssonandAdam Driver. If there’s one film that Netflix really thinks has a shot at Best Picture this year, it’sMarriage Story, notThe Irishman. Trust me. Want proof? It hits the big screen on Nov. 6 and will play in theaters for a full month before the film debuts on the streaming service on Dec. 6. That’s longer than the 23-day theatrical window given toRoma, and the 26-day window that is being afforded toThe Irishman.
Most of Netflix’s other major fall films will receive a 2-3 week theatrical window, and keep in mind that these films won’t play larger chains like AMC, which insists on a 90-day theatrical window, so as to avoid setting a precedent that major studios will be able to point to later. That means they’ll likely wind up at your local Landmark, Laemmle or iPic theater, which Netflix typically rents out itself.
First up isSteven Soderbergh’sThe LaundromatstarringMeryl Streep,Gary OldmanandAntonio Banderas. It will be released in select theaters on Sept. 27 and debut on Netflix on Oct. 18. The following week, Netflix will releaseCraig Brewer’sDolemite is My Namein select theaters on Oct. 4, and the film will begin streaming three weeks later on Oct. 25. The same goes forDavid Michôd’sThe KingstarringTimothée ChalametandJoel Edgerton, which will open in theaters on Oct. 11 before hitting Netflix on Nov. 1.
That very same day, theAlicia VikandermovieEarthquake Birdwill open againstThe Irishmanin select locations before debuting on Netflix just two weeks later on Nov. 15. And don’t sleep onFernando Meirelles’ The Two PopesstarringAnthony HopkinsandJonathan Pryce, which will be released in select theaters on Nov. 27 before arriving on Netflix on Dec. 20. That film, along withMarriage Story,The KingandThe Laundromat, is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, which kicks off Wednesday and runs through Sept. 7
Finally,Sergio Pablos’ animated featureKlauswill receive one week of theatrical exclusivity, as it will open in select cinemas on Nov. 8 before screening on Netflix Nov. 15, and the Cannes award winnersI Lost My BodyandMati Diop’sAtlanticswill both play for two weeks on the big screen beginning Nov. 15, before streaming on Nov. 29.
The Laundromatopens against Universal’s animated movieAbominable, whileDolemitewill take on DC’sJokerandThe Kingwill do battle withGemini ManandThe Addams Family. Meanwhile, the release date forMarriage Storygives it a two-day jump on Amazon’sHoney Boy, another family drama that’s inspired by true events.
Of course, Netflix won’t be too concerned with competition at the box office, as the streamer doesn’t release theatrical grosses, leaving reporters and analysts to estimate ticket sales. But Netflix does recognize the importance of a theatrical release when it comes to awards season, and that element has always been part of the company’s pitch to top filmmakers such as Scorsese, Baumbach, and in this case, Soderbergh. In fact, the Academy nearly created a new rule requiring a four-week run in theaters, though it ultimately did not proceed with such a requirement.
I’ll be talking about all of these movies and more on the upcoming season ofFor Your ConsiderationwithScott MantzandPerri Nemiroff, so please remember to tune in when that show returns!
