Quentin Tarantino's return to the big screen just hit a major speed bump. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, the highly anticipated spin-off of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is facing a theatrical setback as two of the biggest cinema chains in the U.S. have reportedly refused to carry the film.
According to recent reports, Regal and Cinemark have both declined to screen the movie, which is set to star Brad Pitt in the title role and be directed by David Fincher from a Tarantino script. That leaves AMC as the only major exhibitor on board, a significant blow for a project that was already generating buzz as one of Netflix's most ambitious theatrical releases to date.
The news comes as something of a surprise, given that Netflix has been making a concerted effort to embrace theaters more fully. After years of prioritizing streaming over cinema, the company has shifted gears, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos previously declaring that going to the movies was obsolete. But following a failed bid to acquire Warner Bros. and a series of layoffs, the streamer has seemingly warmed to the idea of giving some of its biggest titles a proper theatrical run.
That new approach kicked off with La Bola Negra, which became a major Oscar contender, and continued with Peter Berg's World War II drama The Mosquito Bowl in limited release. Now, Cliff Booth was supposed to be the crown jewel of this strategy, with a two-week IMAX run scheduled to begin on November 25 before hitting Netflix on December 23.
But the refusal of Regal and Cinemark to participate throws a wrench into those plans. The chains have historically been at odds with Netflix over its short theatrical windows, which they argue undermine the traditional cinema experience. AMC, on the other hand, has been more willing to work with the streamer, despite past clashes over films like Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and The Irishman.
The stakes are high for Netflix, which reportedly shelled out $200 million to produce Cliff Booth, with a significant chunk of that budget going to top-tier talent. The film also underwent extensive reshoots, which reportedly raised eyebrows in the Netflix boardroom over ballooning costs. With such a hefty investment, the streamer is clearly hoping for a box-office return that justifies the expense.
For Tarantino fans, this is just the latest chapter in the filmmaker's complicated relationship with the industry. The director has been vocal about his love for cinema and his disdain for streaming, even as he's partnered with Netflix on this project. It's a curious juxtaposition, and one that has sparked plenty of debate among fans and critics alike.
Despite the setback, Netflix remains committed to giving its upcoming slate a theatrical presence. The streamer has already announced plans for proper theatrical rollouts for Narnia: The Magician's Nephew and Charlie vs the Chocolate Factory next year. Whether those films will face similar pushback from exhibitors remains to be seen.
For now, all eyes are on Cliff Booth and whether AMC alone can deliver the kind of box-office numbers that justify the film's massive budget. With the release date fast approaching, fans will be watching closely to see how this drama unfolds. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
