In April 2025, Sarandos has stated this before that he loved theaters but thought moviegoing was an “outdated idea, for most people, not for everyone.” As a result, the purchase of Warner Bros. by Netflix to backlash and fear about the future of the film industry.
Sources even told Deadline that Netflix “has been in favor of a 17-day window that would sweep the theater world.” However, Sarandos told the New York Times that he meant it was ‘outdated for some’.
As a fan of going to the movies, I found peace when I heard Sarandos’ plans for Warner Bros. films. heard. Warner Bros. owns several major franchises, including DC Comics, Harry Potter, Dune, the Monsterverse and The Lord of the Rings. Now Netflix Warner Bros. has purchased, changing the time his films are in theaters would have a huge impact on the film industry, including theaters and moviegoers, but not in a good way.
Theaters need films to succeed, now more than ever
When the pandemic put the world on lockdown, people were forced to stay at home and rely on streaming services like Netflix to watch new movies. This widespread quarantine has dealt a major blow to the film industry, and movie theaters are still recovering and trying to stay open.
Since 2020, the The US has reportedly lost more than 5,600 theater screens as a result of the pandemic, with several cinema chains filing for bankruptcy and/or closing. It has been especially difficult for independent movie theaters to stay open, and shortening the 45-day period could hurt small businesses even more.
It has also become more challenging for theaters following the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes, which halted multiple productions, prevented film promotions and postponed big-budget releases. According to Comscore data reported by Varietythe strikes resulted in US domestic ticket sales falling to $8.75 billion, a 23.5% drop from 2019. By 2025, the US box office didn’t even reach $9 billion, as Variety reported.
As someone who worked in a movie theater during the pandemic, I saw firsthand how difficult it was when fewer people came to see movies in theaters. With the industry still trying to recover, Netflix would make it even harder for movie theaters to make a profit if Netflix cuts screenings of Warner Bros. films. would limit.
Going to the movies is good for the mind
Watching films at the cinema allows people to become involved in their community, which has a positive impact on mental health. A 2019 scientific study from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging found that over 2,100 adults who frequently practice cultural engagement (going to museums, theaters and movie theaters) had a 32-48% lower risk of developing depression.
Don’t get me wrong, streaming movies has had its benefits. It can save people time and money from going to and from the nearest theater and paying for a ticket. Even though same-day streaming releases for movies were controversial in Hollywood during the pandemic, they allowed people to watch the movies they wanted to see without fear of contracting COVID in the theater.
However, streaming movies at home can become too isolating over time. There is already one loneliness epidemic in the US., and scientific research has found a strong correlation between lloneliness, anxiety and depression in adults.
Northwestern medicine also found that binge-watching shows on streaming platforms like Netflix has increased people’s isolation and loneliness. If Netflix Warner Bros. would push.” If popular movies are streamed earlier, more people may choose to watch them alone at home.
I think people should be able to watch a movie in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable. Yet the cinema gives people the opportunity to leave the house and be with others. Longer screening windows could encourage more people to go to the cinema and stay socially active, which could make them feel less lonely.
People still want to go to the movies
Although many people have become accustomed to streaming movies, a significant group of people still enjoy watching movies. Variation reported that a National Research Group survey found that 59% of Gen Alpha, children born between 2013 and 2025, said they would rather watch movies in the theater than at home.
As streaming at home and on smartphones has become the norm for most people, watching movies in the cinema has become an even more special and desirable activity for the new generation. It would be best for Netflix to appeal to them in theaters, as younger audiences have long been the core of the film industry.
Netflix has already achieved great success with its own theater performances. Even when KPop Demon Hunters and the Stranger Things 5 finale were available on streaming, both blockbusters grossed millions of dollars in the short time they were in theaters in 2025. This rise proves that there is an audience willing to pay to watch their favorite films in theaters rather than on streaming.
Ultimately, the acquisition of Warner Bros. Netflix is giving the film industry a major shake-up, but the running time of the films in the cinema should not decrease. Cinemas have long been essential to making movies such an enjoyable experience, as well as a profitable art form, and using them less would be a disservice to people inside and outside the film industry.
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