Netflix does not usually do theatrical runs for their films, but their fall lineup is so stacked with awards contenders that they have decided to go the theatrical route this coming fall.
Yes, Netflix will be launching a theatrical campaign this October, November, and December (via Kristopher Tapley from Variety) for Paul Greengrass’ “22 July” (October 16), the highly-anticipated “Roma,” from Alfonso Cuaron (December 14), the Coen Brothers’“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” (released sometime in October or November) and, Orson Welles' “The Other Side of the Wind” (November 2).
Those are just the movies that were selected for Venice and Toronto, but the TIFF and Telluride lineup have still not been completed and there's still plenty of room for these other Netflix contenders:
David Mackenzie’s “Outlaw King,” Morgan Neville’s “They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead,” Jeremy Saulnier’s “Hold the Dark” and a new untitled Noah Baumbach film.
All of this before the grandaddy of all Netflix movies, maybe the most anticipated movie of the whole decade, Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel, is released next year. Although, I'm hearing whispers here and there that Netflix might even attempt to squeeze it in for a release this December, in order to qualify for Oscar consideration, their fall lineup is more than enough to launch an awards campaign.
Especially with Cuaron's "Roma" being the best-buzzed film of any this festival season.
"As IndieWire’s Anne Thompson noted earlier this week, Netflix’s theatrical plan for “Roma” is one of the big question marks of the upcoming Oscar season. Sources close to Netflix told IndieWire that a 70mm theatrical rollout for the movie has not been finalized yet, and its festival screenings are an open question as well. Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey told IndieWire this week that “Roma” would most likely screen at the festival in 4K, though its Bell Lighthouse would be equipped to utilize the Dolby Atmos sound mix."