ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the evolving European film distribution landscape under the growing influence of global streaming services, with particular attention to release window strategies. Drawing on desk research and interviews with industry distributors, it explores both the continuities and transformations shaping current practices. The findings reveal that, despite mounting competition from streaming services and increasing pressure to shorten release windows, the theatrical window continues to serve as a central financial and cultural pillar of the film ecosystem. Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated certain shifts—especially in audience behaviour—distributors continue to time releases strategically in relation to films’ specific attributes and contextual market conditions. The chapter concludes that, although streaming continues to redefine distribution logics, European distributors maintain cinema’s enduring relevance through adaptive strategies, targeted marketing, and collaborative partnerships across the value chain.
