Quentin Tarantino’s first movie sequel officially arrives next month, and it comes with a twist: David Fincher is directing it. The film, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, picks up seven years after Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood and follows Brad Pitt’s stuntman character, Cliff Booth, through a very different Hollywood in 1977.
The movie made its first appearance in February, when Netflix released a teaser trailer for the sequel. Now the release dates are locked in, and audiences have a few ways to see it depending on where they live.
Pitt Returns as Booth
Pitt won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role as Cliff Booth in the original film. He reprises that part in the sequel, which Netflix says takes place in “a very different Hollywood” in 1977. The shift moves the story from the late 1960s of the first film to a period when the industry had changed shape.
The film also stars Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, Matt Groove, JB Tadena, Corey Fogelmanis, and Karren Karagulian. Fincher directed from a script written by Tarantino, who has not yet revealed his 10th and final film-directing project.
The IMAX Run
Fincher and Tarantino fans get an early look at the film in November. Netflix has arranged an exclusive two-week run in IMAX theaters starting Nov. 25. That means anyone who wants to see the sequel on the biggest possible screen has a limited window.
The IMAX run is a clever move. It gives theaters a reason to host the film before it lands on Netflix, and it lets audiences who want to see it big-screen get that chance without waiting for the streaming debut. The arrangement also locks theaters into the streamer’s content during those two weeks, since the engagement is exclusive to Netflix.
The Netflix Debut
The full film debuts on Netflix on Dec. 23. That is the day the movie becomes available to stream worldwide. For subscribers, it is a simple matter of logging in and watching.
The theatrical run ends before the streaming premiere. Anyone who misses the IMAX window can still catch it on the platform later.
The HarperCollins Novel
Tarantino has a novelization of Cliff Booth’s further adventures coming as well. The book, titled The Adventures of Cliff Booth, will be released by HarperCollins on Tuesday, Dec. 8. It arrives ahead of the film’s Netflix debut.
The book title is slightly different from the film’s. The movie is now called The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, while the novel sticks with the shorter The Adventures of Cliff Booth. Both share the same story.
A Quiet Film With A Soft Ending
When the original film was praised in 2019, we wrote about it in an unusual two-part movie series. Critic Karen Han said at the time, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood is easily the quietest and most meditative of [Tarantino’s] works, ending with a startlingly soft and sweet moment that contextualizes everything that came before it as, ultimately, a love letter.”
The sequel continues that character’s story. Booth, a stuntman who appeared in the original film, now navigates a changed industry in 1977.
What The Dates Mean
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb | Teaser trailer released |
| Nov 25 | IMAX theatrical run begins |
| Dec 8 | Book The Adventures of Cliff Booth released |
| Dec 23 | Netflix debut |
The schedule is tight. The IMAX run starts Nov. 25, the book lands Dec. 8, and the film streams Dec. 23. That means the book arrives before the film is even available to watch.
A Sequel Worth Watching
This is a rare moment for Tarantino. His films rarely get sequels, and when they do, they often come from other directors. Fincher stepping in to direct Cliff Booth is a bold choice.
The pairing makes sense. Fincher is known for precise, controlled filmmaking, while Tarantino’s scripts tend to be loose and dialogue-heavy. The two working together could produce something distinct from either director’s usual style.
“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood is easily the quietest and most meditative of [Tarantino’s] works, ending with a startlingly soft and sweet moment that contextualizes everything that came before it as, ultimately, a love letter.”
The film is also notable for its cast. Debicki, Caan, Gugino, Abdul-Mateen II, Weller, Groove, Tadena, Fogelmanis, and Karagulian join Pitt in the story. That group gives the film a wide range of talent across its runtime.
A Limited Window
The IMAX run is a limited engagement. It lasts only two weeks, and it is exclusive to Netflix. That means theaters showing it are committed to the streamer’s content, not to their own slate.
For viewers, the choice is simple. See it big if you can, or wait for the comfort of your own couch.
The Final Word
The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth is a sequel worth watching. It brings back a beloved character, pairs Tarantino’s writing with Fincher’s direction, and offers a glimpse of a changing Hollywood.
The release strategy is smart. The IMAX run builds buzz, the book gives fans extra material, and the Netflix debut ensures everyone gets to see it eventually.
The result is a sequel that respects its predecessor while moving forward. Cliff Booth’s further adventures continue, and audiences have multiple paths to see them.
See the video the story is built around at Polygon.
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