Netflix’s plans for a theatrical release of The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth have hit a snag, with two of the nation’s largest movie theater chains declining to screen the upcoming Brad Pitt film. Regal Cinemas and Cinemark have reportedly rejected the film’s planned IMAX engagement, citing concerns over Netflix’s limited theatrical release window.
Directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, the film serves as a follow-up to 2019’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, with Pitt reprising his Academy Award-winning role as stuntman Cliff Booth. Netflix originally announced plans to release the film exclusively in IMAX theaters for two weeks beginning November 25, ahead of its streaming debut on December 23. However, the decision by Regal and Cinemark will significantly reduce the number of theaters participating in the release.
According to TheWrap, AMC theaters will remain the film’s primary theatrical partner, with approximately 200 IMAX screens in the United States. The movie is now expected to play on roughly 550 screens worldwide, including select independent theaters.
The dispute centers on Netflix’s approach to theatrical distribution, which has frequently put the streaming giant at odds with traditional movie theater operators. Unlike major Hollywood studios that typically allow films to remain exclusive to theaters for several weeks before making them available for home viewing, Netflix has generally favored shorter theatrical engagements designed to support its streaming business.
Regal’s senior vice president of U.S. content, Brooks LeBoeuf, explained that the chain considers a distributor’s commitment to theatrical exclusivity when determining which films receive premium screen space. Shorter theatrical windows can influence those decisions, particularly when competing releases offer longer periods of exclusivity.
Regal has instead pledged its IMAX support to Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which opens November 20, just five days before The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth. The latest installment in the popular franchise is expected to be a major Thanksgiving box office attraction, making it a potentially more lucrative choice for theater operators.
The situation highlights the continuing tensions between Netflix and the theatrical exhibition industry. Although the company has gradually expanded its theatrical ambitions, its reluctance to embrace traditional release windows remains a sticking point for some exhibitors. AMC, meanwhile, has demonstrated a greater willingness to work with Netflix, including hosting theatrical screenings of the Stranger Things series finale.
Despite the reduced IMAX footprint, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth remains one of Netflix’s most prominent releases of the year. The film reunites Pitt with Fincher, who previously directed the actor in Se7en (1995), Fight Club (1999), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).
Set in 1977, eight years after the events of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, the story follows Cliff Booth as he navigates a changing entertainment industry. No longer working as Rick Dalton’s stunt double, Cliff now earns a living through various jobs, including bartending, operating a movie projector, and handling discreet problems for Hollywood figures.
His latest assignment brings him into the orbit of talent agent Karen Crosby, played by Elizabeth Debicki, and television star Charlie Peters, portrayed by Scott Caan. The supporting cast includes Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Corey Fogelmanis, and Karren Karagulian.
The film also represents an unusual creative collaboration between two acclaimed filmmakers. Although Tarantino wrote the screenplay and created the character, he handed directing responsibilities to Fincher, marking a rare occasion in which another filmmaker has directed one of his original screenplays.
For Netflix, the controversy surrounding the film’s release underscores the challenges of balancing theatrical distribution with its streaming-first business model. While AMC’s participation ensures that audiences in select markets will have an opportunity to see Pitt’s return on the big screen, the absence of Regal and Cinemark will limit that opportunity considerably.
The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is scheduled to begin its limited IMAX theatrical engagement on November 25, 2026, before arriving on Netflix on December 23.