Brad Pitt and David Fincher Are Back: Cliff Booth Debuts in IMAX Before Netflix
Brad Pitt’s next film will bow exclusively in theaters before hitting Netflix, signaling a big-screen-first push for the star’s latest release.
Netflix is about to do something it almost never does: give one of its own movies a real theatrical head start. And not just any movie. David Fincher is directing a Brad Pitt-led sequel to Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, ' and it is getting a two-week exclusive IMAX run before it ever hits your couch. Yes, that sentence had a lot going on. Let’s unpack it.
What Netflix is doing (and why it is a big swing)
The streamer announced a limited IMAX rollout for the new film starting Wednesday, November 25, 2026, with a global two-week exclusive run before the movie lands on Netflix on Wednesday, December 23, 2026. Per Variety, this IMAX-first window is Netflix’s big move into a true theatrical-first release for one of its own titles. The date also slides the film into the coveted Thanksgiving corridor.
There is some calendar Tetris behind that: the film is taking the slot that had been earmarked for Greta Gerwig’s 'The Magician’s Nephew' (part of her Narnia plans), which is now pushed to 2027.
The movie itself: Cliff Booth is back
Brad Pitt (yes, the 'Babylon' guy among many other things) returns as stuntman Cliff Booth in a follow-up that is, for now, unofficially titled 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth.' The setup is unusual in a fun way: Quentin Tarantino wrote the script, but it is David Fincher in the director ’s chair. File that combo under: did not have it on my 2026 bingo card, but I’m in.
Story-wise, expect a very different version of Hollywood. The film jumps forward to 1977, moving past the 1969 moment captured in the original 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.'
'Brad Pitt returns as Cliff Booth in a new film directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino. Coming to IMAX theaters globally November 25 for an exclusive two-week run. Coming to Netflix December 23. With Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya…'
Who is in it
Alongside Pitt, the cast is stacked with names that suggest a slick, throwback vibe:
- Elizabeth Debicki
- Scott Caan
- Carla Gugino
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
- Peter Weller
- Matt Grove
- JB Tadena
- Corey Fogelmanis
Why this theatrical window matters for Netflix
Netflix has been getting cozier with theaters lately. You might have noticed earlier attempts, from 'K-pop Demon Hunters' showing up on the big screen to a theatrical run for the 'Stranger Things ' finale. This Fincher/Pitt two-week IMAX exclusive is the boldest version of that strategy yet: put a premium title on premium screens first, then drop it on the service four weeks later, right before the holidays. If you are wondering whether that is a test case for future tentpoles, you are not alone.
Quick refresher: the first movie and where to stream it
The original 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' followed aging TV cowboy Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio ) and his stunt double/best friend Cliff Booth (Pitt) as they navigated a 1969 Hollywood in flux, while their neighbor Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) was drawn into the orbit of the Manson Family. If you want to catch up: you can rent it on Amazon Prime Video, and it is also streaming on Hulu.
Part of why that movie keeps getting rewatched is the absurdly deep cast: DiCaprio, Pitt, Robbie, Rafal Zawierucha, Costa Ronin, Dakota Fanning, Damian Lewis, Mike Moh, Austin Butler, Bruce Dern, Luke Perry, Dreama Walker, Damon Herriman, Al Pacino, Margaret Qualley, and Mikey Madison, among others. No shortage of star power there.
The dates one more time (because they matter)
IMAX exclusive starts November 25, 2026, and runs for two weeks globally. It hits Netflix on December 23, 2026. The project is directed by David Fincher, written by Quentin Tarantino, set in 1977, and (as of now) is unofficially called 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth.' Also notable: it inherits Thanksgiving from Gerwig’s 'Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,' which shifts to 2027.
Curious if you prefer to see this one in IMAX first or wait for the couch drop on December 23? Tell me how you are playing it in the comments.