Netflix will give Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew a worldwide theatrical release on Feb. 12, 2027, moving the fantasy film out of its planned Thanksgiving 2026 IMAX slot and into the streamer’s widest cinema commitment yet. The movie will play exclusively in theaters for over 45 days before reaching Netflix on April 2, with IMAX sneak previews starting Feb. 10.
The shift marks a major change from the earlier plan, which centered on a shorter IMAX event before a quick streaming debut. Netflix’s official announcement describes the film as the first screen adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ 1955 prequel, which tells the origin story of Narnia. Gerwig wrote and directed the movie, with David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough and Susan Wokoma in the cast.
The longer window gives Gerwig’s film a cleaner theatrical identity after months of industry debate about Netflix’s movie strategy. Co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said earlier this year that Netflix would commit to 45-day theatrical windows for Warner Bros. films if its Warner deal moved forward, telling interviewers he wanted to “win opening weekend” and compete at the box office. Narnia now offers a live test of that posture under Netflix’s own label.
Theater owners welcomed the move. Cinema United president Michael O’Leary called the release plan “welcome news” and said Gerwig’s film belongs on the big screen. The response reflects a larger push by exhibitors for longer exclusive windows after years of streaming-first releases and shortened runs.
For Netflix, the bet carries commercial logic. Lewis’ seven-book series has sold over 120 million copies across 70 countries, giving the film a global family audience that can support theaters before streaming. The company acquired the rights to the full Chronicles of Narnia book series in 2018, and Gerwig’s film now becomes the clearest sign of how far Netflix will go to treat one of its franchise plays as a theatrical event.
