Netflix and Sony confirm Zelda will stream after theaters – what the Pay-1 deal actually means

21 January 2026
General
11 min.
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Netflix and Sony confirm Zelda will stream after theaters – what the Pay-1 deal actually means

Summary:

Sony and Netflix have confirmed a new global Pay-1 licensing deal, and it brings one very simple promise for movie nights: after Sony’s films finish their theatrical run and complete the usual home entertainment phase, Netflix becomes the exclusive Pay-1 streaming home in participating territories. That includes Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda, along with other Sony releases highlighted in the announcement such as Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, The Nightingale, and Sam Mendes’ Beatles film project. The key idea is timing. We do not skip theaters, and we do not jump straight from premiere night to your Netflix queue. The order stays familiar: theaters first, then people who want to buy or rent at home get their turn, and only after that does the Netflix window begin.

What makes this announcement feel bigger than a single title is the scope. This is framed as a global arrangement that rolls out gradually as existing rights in different countries become available, with full worldwide availability on Netflix expected later. That detail matters if you have ever wondered why your friend in one country sees a movie on streaming months before you do. Licensing is messy, and this deal is basically Netflix and Sony trying to make it less messy over time by placing a consistent “next stop” after the home window. For viewers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: if you are the kind of person who likes watching big releases at home but can wait until the paid early window is done, Netflix is positioning itself as the reliable place where Sony’s theatrical films will land next.

Netflix and Sony confirm a new global Pay-1 deal

We are looking at a partnership update that is easy to misunderstand if we only read the headline and sprint away. Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced a multi-year Pay-1 licensing deal with global reach, meaning Netflix becomes the exclusive Pay-1 streaming home for Sony’s feature films after those movies finish their theatrical run and their home entertainment window. In plain terms, Sony keeps doing the movie theater thing, then the “rent it or buy it at home” thing, and then Netflix becomes the main streaming destination during the Pay-1 phase. The deal is also designed to roll out gradually as rights become available in each territory, which is licensing-speak for “some countries already had other contracts in place, and those have to expire first.” That is why the announcement can be global in intention while still feeling local in timing.

Why “Pay-1” is the phrase that matters

Pay-1 sounds like a robot term, but it is basically the first big paid subscription window after a film has had its time in theaters and its initial home release period. That “first window” is valuable because it is when a lot of people finally watch a movie for the first time at home without paying a separate rental or purchase price. So when Netflix says it is the exclusive Pay-1 streaming home for Sony’s films, it is staking a claim on the moment when curiosity and convenience collide. If you have ever thought, “I will watch it when it hits my subscription service,” Pay-1 is usually what you mean without realizing it. That is why this label matters more than the buzzwords around it. It describes when the movies arrive, not just where they arrive.

How exclusivity works – and what still comes first

“Exclusive” can make it sound like Netflix is grabbing movies away from theaters, but that is not what this is. The deal is explicit about the order: theatrical run first, then home entertainment, then Netflix in the Pay-1 streaming window. So exclusivity applies to that Pay-1 subscription phase, not to every possible way of watching. You can still see the movie in a cinema if you want the big-screen experience, and you can still buy or rent it during the home window if you are the type who hates waiting. Think of it like a restaurant that serves dinner first, then offers leftovers to take home, and only after that puts a tray in the office kitchen for everyone to share. Netflix is the office kitchen tray, except it is a premium tray that only one office gets during that first window.

How The Legend of Zelda fits into the Sony slate

The Legend of Zelda matters here because it is not just another studio release – it is a Nintendo property with a fanbase that treats release dates like national holidays. Sony is involved as a distributor and co-financier on the live-action film, and the new Pay-1 deal places Netflix as the eventual streaming home after the theatrical and home phases are done. That does not tell us the exact streaming date, because the timing depends on when the film releases in theaters and how long the home window lasts, but it does confirm the destination for the Pay-1 phase. It also puts Zelda in the same conversation as major franchise entries like Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. In other words, Zelda is being positioned as part of a premium theatrical slate, not a side project that quietly drifts onto streaming with no fanfare.

The release path: theaters, home, then Netflix

If we want to understand what we actually get from this deal, we have to follow the sequence like it is a set of footprints in fresh snow. The films arrive in theaters first, because that is where studios still chase the biggest single burst of revenue and attention. After that, the movies move into home entertainment, which covers digital rental, digital purchase, and physical formats depending on the market. Only after those phases does Netflix become the streaming home in the Pay-1 window. This order is important because it resets expectations. We are not waiting for a surprise drop. We are waiting for a scheduled handoff. The deal is less like a magic teleport and more like a relay race where the baton changes hands at predictable checkpoints.

The theatrical window comes first

The theatrical window is the part everyone understands instinctively, even if we do not call it a “window” out loud. It is the stretch of time when the movie is meant to be seen in cinemas, with premium formats, big screens, and that shared crowd reaction that can make a good scene feel even better. Sony’s strategy still treats theaters as the opening act, and Netflix is not trying to replace that. For a film like The Legend of Zelda, this matters because theatrical exclusivity builds momentum, shapes public perception, and creates the kind of cultural moment that streaming alone often struggles to replicate. If you go opening weekend, you are participating in the loudest version of the conversation. If you wait, you are choosing comfort over the crowd, which is also valid. The deal simply makes the waiting plan easier to predict.

The home entertainment phase: digital and physical

After theaters, most big films enter a phase where you can buy or rent them at home before they land on a subscription service. This is where people pay for convenience and impatience, and yes, we say that with love because impatience is basically a modern survival skill. Home entertainment can include digital storefronts, premium rental periods, and physical releases, and the exact cadence can vary by region and by title. The important point is that this phase is not a loophole – it is a deliberate part of the business model, and the Netflix deal is built around respecting it. So if you are the person who wants Zelda at home as soon as possible, you will likely be looking at this phase first. If you are the person who is happy to wait until it is folded into your subscription, this phase is the buffer you sit through.

Pay-1 window in plain language

Here is the simplest way to describe Pay-1 without turning it into homework. Pay-1 is the first major subscription streaming stop after a movie has already had its chance to earn in theaters and through direct home sales or rentals. In this new agreement, Netflix is positioned to be that first subscription stop for Sony’s films in the territories covered as the rollout completes. Reuters has described the arrangement as giving Netflix exclusive access for a set period after the theatrical and video-on-demand stages, which underlines the idea that Pay-1 is about the timing of that first subscription arrival. If we imagine the movie’s life as a road trip, theaters are the opening city, home entertainment is the stretch of paid toll roads, and Pay-1 is the first free highway that most subscribers finally take. Netflix is claiming that first free highway lane for Sony’s slate.

Why this matters for Netflix members worldwide

For Netflix members, the appeal is not only that a specific film like Zelda will end up there, but that the destination becomes more consistent over time. A global Pay-1 deal is basically Netflix saying, “We want to be the dependable place where these theatrical Sony films arrive next,” rather than leaving viewers to guess which service wins each title in each country. The gradual rollout still means there will be a transition period where some regions get titles on different timelines, but the direction is clear. Netflix is strengthening its value by adding a predictable flow of theatrical films without needing to produce every single one internally. For viewers, that is like subscribing to a buffet where the chef keeps adding recognizable dishes from a famous restaurant down the street. You still do not get them the second they come out of the oven, but you do get them as part of your regular meal plan.

A bigger slate than one movie

The deal is framed around a slate, not a single headline-grabber, and that is the part that changes day-to-day streaming habits. Even if you do not care about Zelda, there is a decent chance you care about something else Sony has in motion, whether that is animation, franchise films, or prestige projects. Sony and Netflix also point to library licensing as part of the arrangement, which means the relationship can affect what fills out the catalogue beyond brand-new releases. That matters because people do not subscribe for one evening. We subscribe for the rhythm of having something to watch every week. A steady pipeline of recognizable theatrical films can be the difference between scrolling forever and actually pressing play. And yes, pressing play is the hardest workout Netflix has ever asked us to do.

Territory rollout and why timing can differ by country

We have all seen it: someone online says a movie is “on Netflix,” and then we check and it is not there for us. That confusion usually comes down to territory rights. This deal is designed to become global, but it is rolling out gradually as existing agreements in different countries expire. Netflix and Sony have both described that phased approach, and reporting has reinforced that full global availability is expected later rather than immediately. So the best expectation we can set is not “everyone gets it at the same time,” but “more countries will align over time.” If you are in a country where another service still holds a window for Sony films, that contract does not vanish overnight. It runs its course, and then Netflix steps in. It is less like flipping a switch and more like changing trains at different stations until everyone ends up on the same line.

What Sony titles are named as early highlights

The announcement does not only gesture vaguely at “future movies.” It names specific projects to show the kind of scale Sony is promising and the kind of variety Netflix is buying into. The highlighted list includes Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, The Nightingale, and Sam Mendes’ Beatles film project, which is a blend of franchise power and prestige ambition. That mix is intentional. It tells us this is not only about one genre or one audience. It is about anchoring Netflix’s catalogue with films people already recognize and films that could become awards-season talking points. If you are the viewer who loves popcorn spectacle, you have your hook. If you are the viewer who wants drama and big-name talent, you have your hook too. The deal is aiming to make Netflix feel like a destination for theatrical movies again, not just a home for originals and reruns.

What this means for Nintendo and the Zelda movie’s reach

For Nintendo, placing the Pay-1 streaming destination with Netflix adds a layer of mainstream accessibility after the theatrical and home phases are done. Zelda is a franchise with decades of fans, but a live-action film is also an invitation to people who have never picked up a controller. Streaming helps with that second audience, the “I have heard of it, I might try it” crowd. The deal also keeps the film’s release strategy in a traditional shape: theaters build the event, home entertainment captures the early at-home audience, and Netflix captures the massive subscription audience afterward. That sequence can extend the conversation around the movie rather than letting it burn bright and disappear. In a world where attention spans evaporate faster than a rupee wallet in a JRPG shop, extending the runway matters. Netflix being the confirmed Pay-1 home gives Nintendo a clearer path for how the film keeps finding new viewers.

What to watch for next as dates and windows become clearer

The big thing we do not have from the Pay-1 announcement is a specific Netflix streaming date for The Legend of Zelda, because the deal is structured around windows rather than a calendar day. What we can watch for next are the concrete milestones: theatrical release date confirmations, home entertainment timing announcements, and regional availability updates as territory rights shift. If you want to plan, the most realistic mindset is to treat Netflix as the later stop, not the immediate one. We can also keep an eye on how Netflix and Sony communicate rollout territory by territory, because that is where the real viewer frustration usually lives. When does your country move onto the new arrangement? Which older contracts still apply? Those details decide whether you are waiting a normal amount of time or an annoying amount of time. The deal sets the direction. The next announcements will fill in the day-to-day reality.

Conclusion

Netflix and Sony’s global Pay-1 deal is a clarity move more than a surprise move. It confirms that Sony’s theatrical films, including Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda, are headed to Netflix after theaters and after the home entertainment phase, with Netflix serving as the exclusive Pay-1 streaming destination as territories roll into the new arrangement. That order matters because it keeps expectations grounded: we still get the cinema moment first, then the paid at-home option, and only after that the subscription arrival that most people are waiting for. The global rollout also explains why timing will not be identical everywhere right away, since existing regional rights have to expire before Netflix can take over. If we want a single takeaway, it is this: Netflix is becoming the predictable “next stop” for Sony’s biggest films once the early windows are done. For anyone who loves big releases but prefers watching from the couch with snacks that would never survive a theater seat, that predictability is the real win.

FAQs
  • Will The Legend of Zelda be on Netflix the day it releases?
    • No. The deal places Netflix after the theatrical run and after the home entertainment phase, so Netflix is the later stop in the release path.
  • What does Pay-1 mean for regular viewers?
    • It means Netflix is the first major subscription streaming home for Sony’s films after the early windows, so the movies land on Netflix before other subscription services in that phase.
  • Can we still buy or rent the movie before it hits Netflix?
    • Yes. The home entertainment phase happens before the Pay-1 streaming window, so people who want it earlier can usually rent or buy it first.
  • Will every country get Sony films on Netflix at the same time?
    • Not at first. The rollout is gradual as existing territory rights become available, so timing can differ by country until the global rollout completes.
  • Which other Sony films were mentioned alongside Zelda?
    • Examples named in the announcement include Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, The Nightingale, and Sam Mendes’ Beatles film project, among others.
Sources
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