At long last, Netflix will be releasing in cinemas across the Middle East before they hit the streaming service, Esquire Middle East has confirmed.
The world’s biggest streaming service has over the past several years produced what are likely the most watched movies in the world including Extraction, Bird Box and 6 Underground, the latter of which was filmed in Abu Dhabi.
For the last several years, it been screening its biggest and most acclaimed films to cinemas on a limited basis in the US, UK and other markets, but had yet to bring its films to the Middle East, despite fan clamouring.
But that is set to change, starting with The Gray Man, the upcoming blockbuster starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans and directed by Avengers: Infinity War filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo, to hit Middle East cinemas on June 14.
The films will be distributed by Middle East-based distribution company Italia Film, which also distributes Disney films, and posted the film’s trailer yesterday, also confirming its Middle East release date.
Netflix’s long-term Middle East cinema plan
This however, is not a one off, we can confirm. Netflix met with numerous potential distribution partners in recent months, according to sources, and Toni El Massih, Managing Director, Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, the owners of Vox Cinemas, said this morning at the announcement of the upcoming Meta Film Festival that the streamer has been courting both exhibitors (cinemas) and distributors about showing films in the Middle East and worldwide, with an exclusive cinema window.
“Netflix want to release their movies in cinemas worldwide before they go to the streaming service. We just had a meeting with Netflix a few weeks back and they reach out to exhibitors not only regionally, but globally. The new approach of Netflix is that Netflix Originals will be launched in cinemas and a month or two later they will be released on the platform,” said El Massih.
While there hasn’t been an official announcement over exclusivity windows and this is likely subject to change, the Gray Man will be hitting cinemas July 14 in the UAE and the rest of the Middle East, and hitting the streaming platform on July 22, so the Middle East will be getting a cinema exclusive for more than one week starting with the first title.
Netflix has produced far more than blockbusters. In nine ceremonies, Netflix has won 16 Academy Awards in eleven categories from 116 nominations in twenty-four categories. At this most recent two Oscar ceremonies, Netflix had two films nominated for Best Picture each year, with 2021’s Mank and Trial of the Chicago 7 nominated, and 2022’s The Power of the Dog and Don’t Look Up both scoring top nominations.
Netflix’s upcoming original film slate features numerous films both favoured for awards and of blockbuster calibre, including Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out 2, and Noah Baumbach’s White Noise, among many, many, many more.
Stay tuned and stay on esquireme.com for many more updates to come.
We’ve reached out to Netflix for an official comment on their cinema plans in the Middle East and will update accordingly.