Ted Sarandos Attends First Major Movie Theater Conference

Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, attended CinemaCon on April 12, 2026, marking his first appearance at the major movie theater conference. According to reports from The New York Times and The Wrap, Sarandos used the event to meet with both domestic and international cinema owners to discuss the possibility of expanding the theatrical presence of Netflix films.

During the conference in Las Vegas, Sarandos held meetings with several leaders of major exhibition chains. These included AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron, Regal CEO Eduardo Acuna, and Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble. Sarandos conducted separate meetings with international exhibitors and members of Cinema United, the lobby group representing exhibitors in the United States.

Shift in Theatrical Strategy

The outreach represents a potential departure from Sarandos’s previous stance on theatrical distribution. In the past, the Netflix co-CEO had been opposed to expanding the theatrical window for the company’s films. Netflix typically utilized windows of two to three weeks, which often limited its films to smaller, awards-qualifying runs in key markets rather than wide releases.

While no firm plans were established during the CinemaCon meetings, sources described the tone of the discussions as hopeful. Sarandos continued to acknowledge that some films perform more effectively on streaming platforms than in traditional theaters.

Influence of Warner Bros. Deal

The change in approach follows Netflix’s efforts to court Warner Bros. During a fourth-quarter earnings call earlier in 2026, Sarandos addressed his previous skepticism regarding the theater business in the context of this potential deal.

I have in the past made observations about the theatrical business. We were not in the theatrical business when I made those observations. When this deal closes, we will be in the theatrical business.

Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO

Previous Stance on Cinema Models

This recent overture contrasts with several statements Sarandos made in 2025 regarding the viability of the movie theater model. On April 25, 2025, Sarandos stated that the movie theater model was outdated, arguing that most of the country cannot walk to a multiplex.

Later, on December 9, 2025, during the Time100 Summit, Sarandos was asked if the desire of filmmakers to produce movies specifically for theatrical release was an outmoded idea.

Netflix’s historically streaming-first ethos has previously impacted its ability to attract certain talent. For example, filmmaker Emerald Fennell declined a more lucrative offer from Netflix for the film Wuthering Heights. Fennell opted to produce the movie at Warner Bros. Because of the studio’s support for theatrical exhibition.