So THAT's Why Netflix Often Shows Its Original Movies In Cinemas First

Netflix's Oscar-winning The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, which premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival and had a limited theatrical releaseEven when Netflix was a simple DVD rental service, the premise was roughly as it is today: the company offered the best TV shows and movies for customers to view in the comfort of their own home.And now that the streamer is online-first, their site still boasts that viewers can “watch anywhere, anytime”. So why do so many of their original movies, including Oscar winners like All Quiet On The Western Front, Glass Onion and, right now, The Thursday Murder Club enjoy a limited theatrical release too (meaning they exclusively show in a few cinemas before making their way online)? After all, these rollouts are not always big box office earners for the streamer.Take 2018′s The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, directed by the famous Coen brothers and starring the likes of Liam Neeson and James Franco, which was “barely” shown in UK theatres – it only appeared in a tiny smattering of Curzon cinemas.And recently, the brand’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, described the traditional model of releasing movies to cinemas as “outdated.” So what’s going on?Netflix's original film 'Pinocchio,' which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival before being shown in select cinemasWell, to qualify for some prestigious awards – notably including the Oscars – movies have to follow certain rules. These often include a theatrical run. To be considered for an Oscar, for instance, a film has to be “feature length” (over 40 minutes) and have had a “theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days in the same commercial motion picture theatre, during which period screenings must occur at least three times daily, with at least one screening beginning between 6pm and 10pm daily.” Some believe this is the primary reason for Netflix’s tiny theatrical releases.Additionally, a theatrical release, and certainly a film festival premiere, can help to build buzz and a sense of prestige for upcoming titles, too. But the usually tiny cinema releases are not without their critics.Helen MirrenWhen Netflix original Roma became the top nominee at the Oscars, for instance, actor Helen Mirren (currently starring in Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club)outright said “I love Netflix, but fuck Netflix,” adding that there’s “nothing like sitting in the cinema”.Director Stephen Spielberg reportedly proposed a rule change that would make streaming giants ineligible for Academy Award nominations, too.At the time (2019), Netflix posted on X: “We love cinema. Here are some things we also love…“Access for people who can’t always afford, or live in towns without, theatres… letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time… giving filmmakers more ways to share art. These things are not mutually exclusive.”We love cinema. Here are some things we also love:-Access for people who can't always afford, or live in towns without, theaters -Letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time-Giving filmmakers more ways to share art These things are not mutually exclusive.— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) March 4, 2019This year, Netflix received 18 Oscar nominations, leading the way with the polarising musical Emilia Perez, and won three.Related...Netflix Has Finally Made An Announcement About The Future Of Dept. QOne Piece Fans Just Got 2 Exciting Updates About The Future Of The ShowLove It Or Hate It – Meghan Markle's Netflix Show Is Back With New Celebrity Guests

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So THAT's Why Netflix Often Shows Its Original Movies In Cinemas First

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