Thanks to a Sony Pictures deal, almost everyone will get to watch the new movie on Netflix but it won’t be exclusive forever.
Picture Credit: Sony Pictures
Following the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nintendo is diving deeper into the cinematic realm with a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. But after its theatrical run, will the journey to Hyrule find its streaming home on Netflix? We’ve seen some confusion about whether the movie is heading exclusively and/or globally. Thanks to a massive new Sony deal, the answer isn’t quite as complicated as it was a few months ago.
Here is your comprehensive preview for The Legend of Zelda movie, including the latest 2026 production updates, cast announcements, and a detailed look at its eventual global streaming release.
What is The Legend of Zelda movie?
For the uninitiated, The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most critically acclaimed and enduring video game franchises, having launched in 1986. The games typically follow a courageous Hylian hero named Link as he quests to rescue Princess Zelda and save the magical kingdom of Hyrule from the dark lord Ganon.
Unlike Illumination’s animated take on Mario, Nintendo is treating Zelda to a full-scale, live-action epic. The project is a co-production between Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment, heavily guided by the game’s legendary creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, alongside veteran Hollywood producer Avi Arad.
Directing the live-action adventure is Wes Ball (Maze Runner, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor) donning the green tunic as Link and Bo Bragason (Renegade Nell) starring as Princess Zelda.
Production kicked off in late 2025 and wrapped just recently, with most of the filming taking place in New Zealand.
When is The Legend of Zelda releasing in theaters?
Sony Pictures, the actual distributor and studio behind the film, has officially locked in May 7, 2027, for the film’s worldwide theatrical premiere.
Will The Legend of Zelda be coming to Netflix?
Now for the big question: When and where will you be able to stream it?
Yes, The Legend of Zelda will absolutely be coming to Netflix—and it will be a (mostly) global release.
Historically, Netflix’s massive “Pay-1 window” deal with Sony Pictures was strictly a United States agreement (with a few exceptions like Germany and Southeast Asia). If you lived outside those regions, streaming rights were wildly fractured and you’d sometimes have to wait years.
However, as we reported earlier this year, Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have expanded their partnership into a worldwide exclusive agreement. Running from 2027 through 2032, this multi-year deal dictates that once a Sony movie finishes its run in cinemas and VOD, Netflix will become its exclusive first streaming home globally.
When will it stream on Netflix?
Under this new global Pay-1 deal, Sony movies take roughly 100 days to drop on Netflix after their initial theatrical debut.
Assuming The Legend of Zelda sticks to its current May 7, 2027 release date, you can expect the film to land on Netflix in the US and worldwide in mid-to-late August 2027 or early September 2027. (Note: The rollout might vary slightly depending on pre-existing deals in a handful of localized territories, but it’s expected that Netflix will have full global availability in effect well before Zelda drops.
The pay-1 window lasts 18 months before the movie rotates to other services.
Yes! Previously, major Sony theatrical releases were locked behind a paywall, available exclusively to Premium and Standard ad-free subscribers. We initially thought this restriction wouldn’t lift until 2027, but in a massive Easter surprise this April, Netflix quietly unlocked all Sony Pictures movies for Standard with Ads subscribers early.
This means that when The Legend of Zelda arrives on Netflix, you will not be prompted to upgrade your plan. You can stream it day one on the ad-supported tier.
What other Sony movies are coming to Netflix?
The Legend of Zelda is just one piece of a massive pipeline of Sony blockbusters heading to Netflix globally over the next few years.
As we’ve outlined in our 2026 and beyond preview, subscribers have a lot to look forward to under this expanded streaming pact. Some of the biggest upcoming titles include:
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Estimated Netflix US Release: November 2026)
- Resident Evil (Estimated Netflix US Release: January 2027)
- Jumanji: The Next Level Sequel (Estimated Netflix US Release: April 2027)
- The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event (Estimated Netflix Global Release: August 2028)
Are you excited to stream The Legend of Zelda globally on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below!
