​Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' Is Not Getting a Wide Theatrical Release

Photo courtesy of Netflix

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Aug 27, 2019

Martin Scorsese's next film, The Irishman, probably won't be coming to a theatre near you.
 
It's been revealed that the movie will only screen at select indie theatres for a few weeks this fall, before arriving on Netflix less than a month later.
 
The decision comes after streaming giant Netflix was unable to reach a deal with major cinema chains like AMC and Cineplex.
 
The Irishman will make its world premiere on September 27 at the New York Film Festival and will then hit select theatres on November 1. The movie will arrive on Netflix just a few weeks later on November 27.
 
The rollout is similar to that of Roma, which last year had a short 23-day run in theatres in an attempt to garner additional Oscar buzz before streaming on Netflix. The streamer acknowledged the importance of the big-screen experience, but the three-week screening window Netflix offered to theatre chains wasn't enticing enough, and Roma didn't see a wide theatrical release.
 
Last year, Academy members debated introducing a rule requiring films to screen for at least four weeks in order to be eligible for Oscars. Ultimately, it was not formally proposed, though the debate clearly still seems to be up in the air.
 
As per rules passed in 2012, a film does not need to have an exclusive theatrical window in order to compete.
 
 

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