Netflix has officially set Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew for a global theatrical release in February 2027, followed by its Netflix streaming debut in April, marking a major shift in the streamer’s movie release strategy.
TL;DR
- Netflix confirmed Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew will open in IMAX and theaters worldwide in February 2027.
- The film will arrive on Netflix in April 2027.
- Reuters reported the release includes a 45-day exclusive cinema window.
- The move marks one of Netflix’s biggest theatrical pushes for an original film.
Netflix has confirmed fresh release plans for Greta Gerwig’s long-awaited Narnia movie, giving the fantasy adaptation a major theatrical rollout before it reaches the streaming platform.
The film, officially titled Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, will open in IMAX and theaters worldwide in February 2027, according to Netflix’s Tudum announcement. The movie will then arrive on Netflix in April 2027.
Reuters reported that the film will receive a wide theatrical release with an exclusive 45-day cinema window, marking a first for Netflix. The move is notable because Netflix has traditionally prioritized streaming-first distribution, with theatrical runs often limited to select titles, awards campaigns, or special event releases.
The film is based on C.S. Lewis’ 1955 novel The Magician’s Nephew, which explores the origins of Narnia and is chronologically the first story in the beloved fantasy universe. Netflix first secured rights to develop films and series based on The Chronicles of Narnia through a multi-year deal with The C.S. Lewis Company in 2018.
Greta Gerwig is writing, directing, and producing the film. Her involvement has made the project one of Netflix’s most closely watched franchise bets, especially after the commercial success of Barbie and the critical recognition of films such as Lady Bird and Little Women.
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Netflix said the film will be presented as a global eventized release, showing that the company is positioning Narnia as a major audience title rather than a smaller streaming-first project. The strategy also gives the movie a broader cultural moment before it becomes available to Netflix subscribers.
The theatrical shift comes as streaming companies continue to rethink how big-budget films should reach audiences. For Netflix, a wide cinema window for Narnia could help test whether franchise-scale original movies can benefit from box office momentum before streaming availability.
The release plan also signals a more flexible approach from Netflix at a time when major studios are balancing theatrical revenue, streaming engagement, and long-term franchise value. Theater industry leaders welcomed the move, according to Reuters, as it gives cinemas another high-profile event title in 2027.
At this stage, the confirmed details are clear: Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled for a February 2027 global theatrical launch, followed by an April 2027 Netflix release. Claims beyond the announced title, release window, and theatrical strategy should still be treated carefully unless confirmed directly by Netflix or named stakeholders.
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