Netflix deal to screen Crouching Tiger sequel slammed by theatre chains

Canada's largest movie theatre chain is joining with top American cinemas in a boycott of Netflix's first original featurefilm, asequel to the martial arts movieCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

The online streaming serviceannounced plans Monday to release the Weinstein Company's followup to the Oscar-winning hitsimultaneously on Netflix and inImax theatres next summer.

The landmark deal is drawingthe ire of major exhibitors, such as Regal Cinemas and Cinemark in the U.S.andCineplex Entertainment in Canada.

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"We believe the in-theatre experience is the best forum to experience a movie," wroteCineplexEntertainment's director of communications, MikeLangdon, in a statement to CBC News.

"As such, we will not play any movie 'day and date'in our theatres with any other windows."

"Day and date" is the industry term for movies that are released digitallyand in theatres on the same day.

Cineplex's comments came after Regal Cinemas, the biggest U.S. theatre chain with 86 Imax locations, said itwould refuse toscreen Netflix'sCrouching Tigersequel at any of its theatres.

"We will not participate in an experiment where you can see the same product on screens varying from three storeys tall to three inches wide on a smartphone," saidRegal spokesmanRuss Nunleyin a statement to Variety magazine.

"We believe the choice for truly enjoying a magnificent movie is clear."

Big blow to movie monopoly

Netflix and the Weinstein Company were sure to upset movie exhibitors when theyannounced theplan to circumvent movie theatres' traditionalstrangleholdon releases.

Netflix chief content officerTedSarandossaid the alliance is about giving audiencesflexibility to watch movies where and when they want to.

"Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty, Sarandossaid in joint statement.

Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Company, characterized the move as responding to a mediaindustry in flux:

"Themoviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement," the statement read.

Netflix and the Weinstein Company are also working on a dramaseries about Italian explorer Marco Polo.

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Digital's expanding domain

Netflix has given traditional television networks a run for their money with their original and Emmy-nominated programs such as Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.

Now, with its first of several feature films coming down the pipe, Netflix is in play for the film industries' coveted Academy Awards.

Crouching Tiger directorAng Leeis not signed to direct the long-awaited sequel to hisOscar-winning blockbuster.

The followup, titledCrouching TigerHidden Dragon: The Green Legend, will this time be directedby famed martial-arts choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping.

MichelleYeohis set toreprise her starring role as wisewarrior womanYuShuLien.

The Green Legendwill hit selectImaxtheatres and Netflix starting Aug. 28.

Netflix subscribers will be able to stream it at no additional cost.