Could the ultimate streaming powerhouse be simultaneously embracing the theatrical experience while fundamentally disrupting its foundational rules? Netflix’s $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. has not just redrawn the corporate landscape; it has fired the opening salvo in a renewed war over how and when audiences in France can see Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.

France, a critical and combative international market for Netflix, now faces an unprecedented challenge to its established cinematic ecosystem. A seismic shift in ownership now focuses the fight on France’s deeply entrenched release regulations.

Netflix is already pushing to shorten the required 15-month wait before it can stream movies released in French theatres. Now, holding the keys to Warner Bros.’ extensive library and future tentpoles gives that appeal far greater leverage.

Richard Patry, president of France’s National Exhibitors Association (FNCF), immediately recognised the danger and promised a vigorous defence. The guild, he made clear, “will fight back” to protect the current structure in an interview with Variety.

Patry was among the first to discuss the takeover’s potential impact on France’s theatrical ecosystem. Although Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos stated the company has “no opposition to movies in theaters,” Patry expressed widespread sector anxiety, saying they are "hopeful that the antitrust boards in the US and in Europe will examine the whole situation very carefully.

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Beyond the release windows, the impact on cultural preservation and market competition is also raising major red flags.

The competitive landscape today makes this merger different from previous media acquisitions. Marc-Olivier Sebbag, the FNCF’s general delegate, noted, as per Variety, that the consolidation risks are amplified because Netflix has a big streaming market and Warner Bros. Discovery is already a giant.

Patry, who played a major role in the 2017 rule that pushed Netflix films without a theatrical commitment out of the Cannes competition, affirmed that protecting exhibition is a shared concern.

Warner Bros. has always been viewed as a uniquely European studio in France, not only for its blockbusters but also for its cultural role. Its library of classics is a crucial resource for youth education and heritage screenings.

However, not all are sounding the alarm. Pathé Cinéma managing director Laure de Boissard offered an optimistic counterpoint. She told Variety that “Netflix is a financially disciplined company” that will see the economic sense in maintaining the theatrical window, even hoping that some films currently going straight to the platform might now benefit from theatrical exposure.

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What are your opinions on the reaction of French exhibitors in context to the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal? Let us know in the comments below.