The New York Times reports that Universal Pictures has guaranteed a minimum five-week theatrical exclusivity window for the remainder of their 2026 releases, to be followed by a seven-week minimum theatrical exclusivity window starting in 2027.
The exception is Universal’s specialty division, Focus Features, which will maintain its current windowing strategy, typically keeping releases in theaters for around 17 days before making them available on home video.
“Our windowing strategy has always been designed to evolve with the marketplace, but we firmly believe in the primacy of theatrical exclusivity and working closely with our exhibition partners to support a healthy, sustainable theatrical ecosystem,” NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairwoman Donna Langley told The New York Times.
The last few years have been turbulent in terms of the debate over theatrical exclusivity windows, with Universal often standing in the crosshairs. In 2020, shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic brought the global cinema industry to a virtual standstill, the studio moved their animated sequel Trolls: World Tour to a simultaneous theatrical and PVOD release, drawing ire from several key players in the exhibition industry. In 2023, Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy‘s was released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming platform Peacock, which didn’t stop it from massively overperforming during its opening weekend to the tune of $80M. The effect of FNAF‘s day-and-date release strategy could best be seen in the film’s second weekend, which saw a -76 percent drop in box office. Last year’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 was released exclusively in theaters, debuting on home video just under three weeks later.
Universal’s highest-grossing titles from 2025 received theatrical exclusivity windows of five (Jurassic World: Rebirth, How to Train Your Dragon) or even six weekends (Wicked: For Good), with more modest titles like Dog Man, The Bad Guys 2, and Black Phone 2 receiving three weeks in theaters before being made available on home video.
Responding to the news, AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron said on X.com that “I cannot say enough good things about Donna Langley’s leadership of Universal. First and foremost, she is a superb film maker. Add to that her grace, business acumen and courage in making important decisions that have real ramifications supporting the entire movie ecosystem.”
Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of exhibition trade organization Cinema United, called this shift in windows policy “a positive and welcome step by Universal. There is a growing recognition that a meaningful theatrical window remains foundational to the cultural and financial success of our entire industry. We remain committed to working closely with Universal and all of distribution to strengthen the moviegoing experience for fans the world over.”
Universal’s move to a minimum five weeks of theatrical exclusivity is the second bit of major news about windows to hit over the last month. Paramount Pictures, which is in the process of acquiring Warner Bros., has promised a 45-day minimum window for titles released by the combined Warner Bros./Paramount, with the intention of giving its most successful titles a 60-to-90-day exclusive run in theaters.
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