Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman heads to Broadway after major cinemas refuse to screen it

Martin Scorsese’s crime epic The Irishman will be shown at a Broadway theatre after major cinemas refused to screen the film.

Netflix’s attempts to win over traditional Hollywood with the new movie, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, have not gone as expected, with large cinema chains balking at the company’s plan to stream it just three weeks after its theatrical debut.

The Irishman will therefore be shown at the Belasco Theatre in New York, marking the 112-year-old venue’s first ever film screening, from November 1 to December 1. 

Netflix plans to install modern screening equipment at the theatre and Scorsese’s drama will follow a standard Broadway schedule, meaning eight screenings per week between Tuesday and Sunday, with matinee showings on the weekends. According to sources, Netflix is also working with independent chains to screen the film.

Scorsese and Netflix are keen for The Irishman to show in theatres so that it qualifies for the Oscars, but standard cinema agreements usually dictate that producers must wait 90 days to screen a film on a streaming platform – not three weeks.