Wait, Why Are So Many Theaters Boycotting Greta Gerwig’s “Narnia”?

If you’ve been impatiently awaiting the theatrical release of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “Narnia,” you’re not alone. But depending on where your local theater is, you might have to wait even longer to see it yourself.

Gerwig’s adaptation is being produced by Netflix, and it’s been in the works since before “Barbie” even released in the summer of 2023. Although the streaming service had originally planned to release “Narnia” on its streaming platform exclusively, Gerwig requested that Netflix make a deal with IMAX to produce a two-week theatrical release when the movie is scheduled to launch in 2025.

The deal has just been finalized, but while soon-to-be-moviegoers were excited over the idea of getting to see the adaptation in theaters, cinemas and other studios weren’t quite so overjoyed. Essentially, the arrival of “Narnia” — which is supposed to be a streaming-service-only film — is taking precedence over all the other studios that frequently make deals with IMAX (especially Disney). 

The film will officially release on November 26th, 2026. It will only make its way to Netflix a month later. This leaves the movie with a two-week exclusive cinematic run thanks to IMAX.

However, other studios that have movies slated for that same week or month (Disney in particular has two, one reserved for November 26th and one reserved for November 6th) are upset that IMAX has given into Netflix’s demands. Essentially, each of these studios provide IMAX with films on the regular, helping IMAX make significant profits off of each recurring hit the studios make. 

But Netflix — the competitor of pretty much every cinema and theatrical-release studio in existence — is now getting a blockbuster deal with IMAX, too. Cinemas nationwide aren’t happy about having to play a film that supports Netflix’s streaming service in theaters, and other competing studios like Disney and Lionsgate are upset that their movies are gaining a new competitor.

The other reason behind why studios in particular are so upset is because Netflix almost never does any kind of theatrical release. For IMAX to accept a deal with Netflix gives the studio priority over other production companies that regularly work with IMAX, which — to them — feels like a low blow.

The consequences of all of this are yet to be seen, but many cinemas have already promised to never show “Narnia” in their theaters, since they ultimately have control over what movies they want to play. In return, IMAX has fired back and promised to “go nuclear” to ensure that cinemas cooperate. What that option might entail, exactly, is yet to be seen.

For viewers themselves, there’s not much of a reason to boycott the actual film (especially not if you’re planning on seeing it in theaters in the first place). You can always support your local theaters in whatever it chooses to play just by visiting independent movie theaters over national chains. But in the end, we’re not likely to see any production problems with “Narnia” occurring, nor is it likely for IMAX to drop this deal on their end (without significant pressure from other studios, that is).