Universal Pictures signals a major industry reset, expanding theatrical windows and dialing back pandemic-era streaming tactics in a shift welcomed by cinema chains.

Hint: It was already doing exactly that.

Universal is dropping the 17-day release minimum that was implemented during Covid in favor of a five-week release window, which will increase to seven weekends in 2027. According ...

Theaters will get a minimum of five weekends of exclusive play and then, starting next year, seven. A pandemic-era policy was guaranteeing only three.

In a bold move to rescue the cinema experience, Universal Pictures is ditching its pandemic-era speed and doubling down on theaters—forcing audiences to wait longer before streaming at home. For the ...