Netflix is reportedly pushing more in theatrical releases but they’ve already been in the theatrical game for a while. Below, we’ll walk you through every single Netflix Original movie to have received a theatrical release or to have debuted at a film festival throughout Netflix’s history. Note: special thanks to FilmsDeLover on Twitter for help with fleshing out this list. This list is a work-in-progress. If we’ve missed any please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments or on social media. This list currently only includes global Netflix Original movie releases. Why does Netflix release movies theatrically? Going forward, it’s been suggested that Netflix may put more movies out theatrically to give them more “cultural impact”.
Are there box office figures for Netflix movies? In short, no. Netflix does not release its box office figures as other studios do. There are instances where either international figures or other figures get released in the press but how accurate they are is unclear. We’ll include them in the notes below where we can. Many documentaries also premiered at film festivals but we’re going to put those in a separate list further down the line for the sake of brevity.
Every Netflix Theatrical/Festival Debut Release by Year 2021 Theatrical Releases
2021 will see a heavily stacked second half of the year with the majority of theatrical releases coming out during the fall. Given the pandemic was still at large in the first half of 2021, that should hardly be surprising. Army of the Dead reportedly scored $1 million in the US box office which goes against its reported $90 million budget. Movie NameTheatrical Release TypeTheatrical Release DateNetflix Release DateThe White TigerLimited Theatrical ReleaseJanuary 13thJanuary 22ndThe DigLimited Theatrical ReleaseJanuary 15thJanuary 29th Malcolm & MarieLimited Theatrical ReleaseJanuary 29thFebruary 5thArmy of the DeadLimited Theatrical ReleaseMay 14thMay 21stBeckettLocarnoAugust 4thAugust 13thKateLimited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 15thSeptember 15thThe StarlingLimited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 19thSeptember 24thThe GuiltyLimited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 24thOctober 1stFever DreamLimited Theatrical ReleaseOctober TBDOctober TBDThe Harder They FallLimited Theatrical ReleaseOctober 22ndNovember 3rdPassingLimited Theatrical ReleaseOctober 27thNovember 10thtick, tick…BOOM!Limited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 12thNovember 19thBruisedLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 17thNovember 24th7 PrisonersLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember TBDNovember TBDThe Power of the DogLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 17thDecember 1stThe UnforgivableLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 24thDecember 10thThe Hand of GodLimited Theatrical ReleaseDecember 3rdDecember 15thDon’t Look UpLimited Theatrical ReleaseDecember 10thDecember 24thThe Lost DaughterLimited Theatrical ReleaseDecember 17thDecember 31st
2020 Netflix Theatrical Releases
The Trial of the Chicago 7 reportedly opened in 100 theaters with reports that the movie only averaged 10 people a showing. It’s worth noting too that Da 5 Bloods was originally slated for a theatrical release. Movie NameTheatrical Release TypeTheatrical ReleaseNetflix Release DateThe Forty-Year-Old VersionSundance + Showed in Netflix’s The ParisJanuary 25thOctober 9th, 2020Horse Girl SundanceJanuary 27thFebruary 7thHis HouseSundanceJanuary 27thOctober 30thLost GirlSundanceJanuary 28thMarch 13thSergioSundance January 28thApril 17thTaylor Swift: Miss AmericanaLimited Theatrical ReleaseJanuary 31stJanuary 31stThe DeclineLimited Theatrical ReleaseFebruary 2020March 27thTigertailLimited Theatrical ReleaseApril 10thApril 10thThe Half of ItTribeca Film FestivalApril 18thMay 1stThe Last Thing He WantedSundanceJanuary 27thFebruary 21stI’m Thinking of Ending ThingsLimited Theatrical Release August 28thSeptember 4thPieces of HerTIFF + Limited Theatrical Release September 4th / December 30thJanuary 7th, 2021The Devil All the TimeLimited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 11thSeptember 16thConcrete CowboyTIFF September 13thApril 2, 2021The Trial of the Chicago 7Limited Theatrical Release September 25thOctober 16thRebecca Select British TheatersOctober 16thOctober 21stOver the MoonMFF + Limited Theatrical Release October 17th / October 23rdOctober 23rd The Life AheadLimited ReleaseNovember 6thNovember 13thHillbilly ElegyLimited Theatrical Release November 11thNovember 24thMANKLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 13thDecember 4thMa Rainey’s Black BottomLimited Theatrical Release November 25thDecember 18thThe PromLimited Theatrical Release December 4thDecember 11th The Midnight SkyLimited Theatrical ReleaseDecember 11thDecember 23rd
2019 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Movie Name Theatrical Release Type Theatrical ReleaseNetflix Release DateVelvet BuzzsawSundance + Limited Theatrical ReleaseJanuary 27thFebruary 1stHigh Flying BirdSlamdanceJanuary 27thFebruary 8thPaddletonSundanceFebruary 1stFebruary 22ndTriple FrontierLimited Theatrical ReleaseMarch 6thMarch 13thThe HighwaymenSXSW + Limited Theatrical ReleaseMarch 10th / March 15thMarch 29thWine CountryLimited Theatrical ReleaseMay 8thMay 10thRolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan StoryLimited Theatrical Release June 12thJune 12thThe Red Sea Diving ResortSFJFFJuly 28thJuly 31stMarriage StoryVenice + Limited Theatrical ReleaseAugust 29th / November 6thNovember 15thThe Two Popes Telluride + TIFF + Limited Theatrical ReleaseAugust 31st / September 9th / Nomveber 27thDecember 20thThe LaundromatVenice + Limited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 1st / September 27thOctober 18thThe KingVeince + Limited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 2ndOctober 11thDolemite Is My NameTIFF + Limited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 7th / October 4thOctober 25thAmerican SonTIFF September 12thNovember 1stIn the Tall GrassFantastic Fest September 20thOctober 4thIn the Shadow of the MoonFantastic FestSeptember 21stSeptember 27thFracturedFantastic FestSeptember 22ndOctober 11thSeventeenSan Sebastián + Limited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 27thOctober 18thThe IrishmanNYFF + Limited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 27th / November 1st (Nov 15 – International)November 27thEarthquake BirdLFF + Limited Theatrical ReleaseOctober 10th / November 1stNovember 15thEl Camino: A Breaking Bad MovieLimited Theatrical ReleaseOctober 11th October 11thKlausLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 8thNovember 15th6 UndergroundLimited Theatrical Release December 13th December 13th
2018 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Movie Name Theatrical Release Type Theatrical ReleaseNetflix Release DatePrivate LifeSundanceJanuary 18thOctober 5thCome SundaySundanceJanuary 21stApril 13thRoxanne RoxanneSundanceJanuary 22ndMarch 23rdMonsterSundanceJanuary 22ndMay 7th, 2021A Futile and Stupid GestureSundanceJanuary 24thJanuary 26thThe Legacy of a Whitetail Deer HunterSXSWMarch 10thJuly 6thFirst MatchSXSWMarch 12thMarch 30th6 BalloonsSXSWMarch 12thApril 6thParadoxSXSWMarch 15thMarch 23rdAlex StrangeloveSFFApril 14thJune 8thCalibreEdinburgh International Film Festival+ Limited Theatrical Release June 22ndJune 29thThe Most Assassinated Woman in the WorldBIFFF–September 7thCamFIFFJuly 18thNovember 16thThe Other Side of the Wind Venice August 31stNovember 2ndOn My SkinVeniceAugust 29thSeptember 12thROMAVenice + Limited Theatrical ReleaseAugust 30th / November 23rdDecember 14thThe Ballad of Buster ScruggsVenice + Limited Theatrical ReleaseAugust 31stNovember 9th22 JulyVenice + Limited Theatrical ReleaseSeptember 5th / October 10th October 10th Outlaw KingTIFFSeptember 6thNovember 9thLionheartTIFFSeptember 7thJanuary 4th, 2019SoniVeniceSeptember 8thJanuary 18th, 2019The Land of Steady HabitsTIFFSeptember 12thSeptember 14thHold the DarkTIFFSeptember 12thSeptember 28thThe PerfectionFantastic FestSeptember 20thMay 24th, 2019ApostleFantastic FestSeptember 21stOctober 12thThe Night Comes for UsFantastic Fest September 21st October 19thBird BoxAFI Fest + Limited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 12thDecember 14thMowgli: Legend of the JungleLimited Theatrical ReleaseNovember 29thDecember 7thBenjiLimited International ReleaseDecember 28thMarch 16th
2017 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Netflix released 40 movies globally in 2017.
Notably, in 2017, Okja was the first movie from Netflix to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival although it wasn’t without controversy.
Movie NameTheatrical Release TypeTheatrical ReleaseNetflix Release DateImperial DreamsSundanceJanuary 20thFebruary 3rdI Don’t Feel at Home in This World AnymoreSundanceJanuary 19thFebruary 24thMudboundSundance + Limited TheatricalJanuary 21stNovember 17thBurning SandsSundanceJanuary 24thMarch 10thDeidra & Laney Rob a TrainSundanceJanuary 23rdMarch 17thThe DiscoverySundanceJanuary 20thMarch 31stTo the BoneSundanceJanuary 22ndJuly 14thThe Polka KingSundanceJanuary 22ndJanuary 12th, 2018The Incredible Jessica JamesSundanceJanuary 27thJuly 28thThe Most Hated Woman in AmericaSXSWMarch 14thMarch 24thWin It AllSXSWMarch 11thApril 7thSmall CrimesSXSWMarch 11thApril 28thOkjaCannesMay 18thJune 28thDeath NoteFrightFestAugust 24thAugust 25thFirst They Killed My FatherTelluride + TIFF–September 15thOur Souls at NightVenice Film FestivalSeptember 1stSeptember 27thUnicorn StoreTIFFSeptember 11thApril 5th, 2019CargoAdelaide Film FestivalOctober 6thMay 18th, 2018The Meyerowitz StoriesCannes + Limited ReleaseMay 21st / October 13th October 13th 1922Fantastic FestSeptember 23rdOctober 20th
2016 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Netflix released 17 movies globally in 2016 with the vast majority debuting at a film festival. Only one movie got a somewhat limited theatrical release with XOXO playing in one theater for a week. Movie NameTheatrical Release TypeTheatrical ReleaseNetflix Release DateTallulahSundanceJanuary 23rdJuly 29thBrahman NamanSundanceJanuary 24thJuly 7thThe Fundamentals of CaringSundanceJanuary 29thJune 24thPee-Wee’s Big HolidaySXSWMarch 17thMarch 18thRebirthTribecaApril 17thJuly 15thMercyLA Film FestJune 4thNovember 22ndThe Siege of JadotvilleGalway Film Festival + Limited ReleaseJuly 10th / September 19thOctober 7thXOXOLimited (Laemmle Royal Theater)August 24thAugust 26thBarryTIFFSeptember 10thDecember 16thARQTIFFSeptember 9thSeptember 16thMascotsTIFFSeptember 10thOctober 13thI Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the HouseTIFFSeptember 10thOctober 28thTrampsTIFFSeptember 10thApril 21st, 2017
2015 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Beasts of No Nation was the first movie that got Netflix into the movie business. It debuted at the Toronto Film Festival while also getting a limited theatrical release from Bleecker Street day and date with the Netflix launch. The Numbers suggest the movie grossed just shy of $100,000. Netflix only released two movies for the entirety of 2015 with the other being Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous 6. Movie Name Theatrical Release Type Theatrical ReleaseNetflix Release DateBeasts of No NationSundance + Limited ReleaseOctober 16thOctober 16th
Netflix is reportedly pushing more in theatrical releases but they’ve already been in the theatrical game for a while. Below, we’ll walk you through every single Netflix Original movie to have received a theatrical release or to have debuted at a film festival throughout Netflix’s history.
Note: special thanks to FilmsDeLover on Twitter for help with fleshing out this list. This list is a work-in-progress. If we’ve missed any please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments or on social media. This list currently only includes global Netflix Original movie releases.
Why does Netflix release movies theatrically?
Going forward, it’s been suggested that Netflix may put more movies out theatrically to give them more “cultural impact”.
Are there box office figures for Netflix movies?
In short, no. Netflix does not release its box office figures as other studios do. There are instances where either international figures or other figures get released in the press but how accurate they are is unclear. We’ll include them in the notes below where we can.
Many documentaries also premiered at film festivals but we’re going to put those in a separate list further down the line for the sake of brevity.
Every Netflix Theatrical/Festival Debut Release by Year
2021 Theatrical Releases
2021 will see a heavily stacked second half of the year with the majority of theatrical releases coming out during the fall. Given the pandemic was still at large in the first half of 2021, that should hardly be surprising.
Army of the Dead reportedly scored $1 million in the US box office which goes against its reported $90 million budget.
2020 Netflix Theatrical Releases
The Trial of the Chicago 7 reportedly opened in 100 theaters with reports that the movie only averaged 10 people a showing.
It’s worth noting too that Da 5 Bloods was originally slated for a theatrical release.
2019 Netflix Theatrical Releases
2018 Netflix Theatrical Releases
2017 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Netflix released 40 movies globally in 2017.
Notably, in 2017, Okja was the first movie from Netflix to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival although it wasn’t without controversy.
2016 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Netflix released 17 movies globally in 2016 with the vast majority debuting at a film festival. Only one movie got a somewhat limited theatrical release with XOXO playing in one theater for a week.
2015 Netflix Theatrical Releases
Beasts of No Nation was the first movie that got Netflix into the movie business. It debuted at the Toronto Film Festival while also getting a limited theatrical release from Bleecker Street day and date with the Netflix launch.
The Numbers suggest the movie grossed just shy of $100,000.
Netflix only released two movies for the entirety of 2015 with the other being Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous 6.
