By Irshad Khan 
Netflix is reportedly planning a significant theatrical release for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, the highly anticipated sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. According to Variety, the streaming giant is eyeing a “robust rollout” for the Brad Pitt-starring film in summer 2026, marking a major shift in Netflix’s theatrical strategy. With David Fincher directing from a Tarantino screenplay and a production budget reportedly around $200 million, this reunion of the Fight Club and Se7en collaborators represents one of Netflix’s most prestigious projects to date.
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Netflix’s Evolving Theatrical Strategy
The potential wide theatrical release for The Adventures of Cliff Booth signals a significant shift in Netflix’s approach to cinema exhibition. According to Variety, Netflix and AMC Theatres—historically at odds over theatrical windows—have reached new common ground. AMC recently agreed to screen Netflix titles including KPop Demon Hunters and the Stranger Things finale, while Netflix gave limited theatrical runs to A House of Dynamite and Frankenstein earlier this year.
The streaming giant is now planning a “robust rollout” for several major 2026 releases, with The Adventures of Cliff Booth positioned as a flagship theatrical event targeting summer 2026. This marks a departure from Netflix’s typical model of limited two-week theatrical windows designed primarily for awards qualification. Industry observers note that the original Once Upon a Time in Hollywood earned $377 million worldwide, suggesting significant theatrical potential for this continuation of Cliff Booth’s story.
From Tarantino to Fincher: The Creative Handoff
Quentin Tarantino wrote the screenplay for The Adventures of Cliff Booth but made the surprising decision not to direct. Speaking on The Church of Tarantino podcast, the filmmaker explained: “I love this script, but I’m still walking down the same ground I’ve already walked. It just kind of unenthused me. This last movie, I’ve got to not know what I’m doing again. I’ve got to be in uncharted territory.”
Despite stepping away from the director’s chair, Tarantino expressed complete confidence in his replacement: “I think me and David Fincher are the two best directors. So the idea that David Fincher actually wants to adapt my work, to me, shows a level of seriousness towards my work that I think needs to be taken into account.” David Fincher reportedly approached Brad Pitt about directing the project after Pitt shared Tarantino’s script with him, leading to the reunion of the Fight Club, Se7en, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button collaborators.
Plot and Setting: 1977 Los Angeles
The Adventures of Cliff Booth takes place in 1977, eight years after the events of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (which was set in 1969). The film follows Oscar-winning stuntman Cliff Booth as he navigates a changing Hollywood landscape, transitioning into a new role as a Hollywood “fixer.” Plot details remain largely under wraps, but sources describe the tone as darker than its predecessor, exploring Cliff’s life beyond the fading glamour of 1960s Los Angeles.
Brad Pitt clarified to Deadline that the project is “not really a sequel” but rather “an episode” focusing specifically on his character: “This is something Quentin Tarantino wrote. It’s an episode, not really a sequel, of the character from ‘Once Upon A Time’. He didn’t want to direct it at this point.” The narrative reportedly showcases more of Cliff Booth’s backstory while establishing his new career path in the late-1970s film industry.
Cast and Production
Brad Pitt returns as Cliff Booth, the role that earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Timothy Olyphant reprises his role as James Stacy, with the ensemble cast expanding to include Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Carla Gugino, Holt McCallany, and JB Tadena. Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred alongside Pitt in the original film, will not return for this installment.
Production began in July 2025 in California, with filming continuing through fall 2025. The project carries a reported budget of approximately $200 million, making it both Tarantino’s and Fincher’s most expensive film to date. Tarantino himself acknowledged the unprecedented budget during his podcast appearance, noting: “So this movie I’m doing with Netflix, biggest budget I’ve ever done by far… it’s like $200 million. And box office doesn’t matter… They don’t care.”
Theatrical Plans and Release Window
While Netflix has not finalized theatrical plans, Variety reports that discussions are ongoing for a summer 2026 release, strategically positioned to avoid competition with Greta Gerwig’s The Chronicles of Narnia, scheduled for November 2026. The theatrical window remains under consideration, with industry sources suggesting anywhere from two weeks to potentially longer depending on performance and strategic considerations.
Tarantino addressed the theatrical question directly on his podcast: “Well, they might. It’s not their model, I don’t hold it against the company for following what is their business model… I wouldn’t be surprised if they put it out with a two-week release, at least limited release to some of the big cities. And then I think, at least as far as the big awards are concerned, they’ll do screenings because they’re probably going to want to do good at the Oscars. So there will be screenings for it around town and everything.”
Industry Implications and Oscar Prospects
The potential wide theatrical release for The Adventures of Cliff Booth could represent a watershed moment for Netflix’s relationship with traditional exhibition. Following years of resistance from major theater chains, this collaboration with AMC suggests evolving industry dynamics where streaming platforms and theatrical exhibitors find mutually beneficial arrangements. The film’s prestigious pedigree—Tarantino script, Fincher direction, Pitt starring—positions it as an ideal test case for this new model.
Oscar prospects appear strong given the creative team’s track record. Pitt won his first acting Oscar for the original Cliff Booth performance, while Tarantino has earned two writing Oscars and Fincher received Best Director nominations for The Social Network, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Mank. A significant theatrical release would strengthen awards eligibility and visibility, potentially making The Adventures of Cliff Booth a major contender for the 2027 Academy Awards.
What This Means for Netflix’s Future
The commitment to theatrical exhibition for The Adventures of Cliff Booth signals Netflix’s recognition that certain prestige projects benefit from big-screen exposure beyond limited awards-qualifying runs. With the $200 million budget and A-list talent, the film represents Netflix’s most significant theatrical gamble since its founding. Success could establish a new model where the streamer’s biggest films receive meaningful theatrical releases before streaming debuts, potentially reshaping the relationship between streaming platforms and cinema exhibition.
As production continues toward the summer 2026 target, industry observers will watch closely to see whether Netflix commits to a truly wide release or opts for a more conservative limited rollout. Either way, The Adventures of Cliff Booth stands as one of 2026’s most anticipated films—a rare collaboration between two of cinema’s most acclaimed filmmakers bringing back an Oscar-winning character in what promises to be a dark, stylish exploration of 1970s Hollywood’s underbelly.