Due to the media chronology, the film directed by Guillaume Canet may not be released before 2026 on the streaming platform, which nevertheless co-financed it.
The French who missed Asterix and Obelix: Middle Kingdom in the cinema will have to be patient before they can watch it at home. At least, on Netflix. The latest title in the popular comic book franchise won’t hit the platform for at least a year. However, the film, which has made more than 4.6 million admissions in France, is now scheduled on the platform for an arrival on May 19, 2023. Almost everywhere… except in France, remind our colleagues from Numerama.
Media timeline
Netflix subscribers residing in France still have to deal with the media chronology, a calendar very specific to the territory. After its cinema release, a film is available four months later on video-on-demand services, then six months later on Canal+.
It is only 15 months after the platform is authorized to offer it in its catalog – and this deadline only concerns Netflix, the other platforms having to wait 17 months. Deadlines which therefore set May 2023 for the possible release of the film on the streaming platform.
A blur of the calendar
However, Netflix took the lead in financing part ofAsterix and Obelix: Middle Kingdom. If this gives him rights on the date of availability of the film, these are not the same everywhere. In effect, with NumeramaNetflix said it had “signed its pre-financing contract before the entry into force of the new media chronology”, which complicates the situation.
The latter was actually changed in early 2022. According to law enforcement, the film’s availability on the platform is located within a window of 15 to 36 months since its cinema release, and could therefore be set for February 2026. encourage some impatient people to use a VPN, in order to take advantage of the platform’s foreign catalog.
Indeed, apart from a few countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Poland or Greece, most Netflix subscribers in the world will be able to enjoy the film. Good news, since the latter has greatly appealed to the public internationally.
