With nearly 150 million subscribers around the world, Netflix has a commanding lead in the streaming wars. But it’s also facing heavy competition from deep-pocketed conglomerates like Disney, Apple, and AT&T, and an ongoing wave of narrow, targeted streaming sites like CBS All Access and DC Universe, which can draw on popular existing franchises for original content. As fewer companies are willing to license out their films and shows to other streaming sites, Netflix is pouring billions of dollars annually into its own original content. Follow along with The Verge as we look at Netflix’s new films and shows, its evolving strategies against new entrants in the market, and how it’s leveraging its technological and marketing lead.
Director Matthew Charman’s sci-fi action thriller The Mother starring (executive producer) Halle Berry wrapped shooting months ago.
But despite the movie sounding the sort of Netflix release that people would definitely want to check out, the streamer’s made the all-too-familiar decision to simply not release it — reportedly because of its lengthy post-production process.
Obviously, Netflix’s new live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender is going to be one of the streamer’s bigger releases folks are talking about next month. But along with all the elemental bending, with movies like Ready Player One and Everything Everywhere All at Once are also headed to the platform.
It’s not clear how many people have downloaded the mobile GTA trilogy via Netflix, but in today’s earnings report it says the release is “...our most successful launch to date in terms of installs and engagement, with some consumers clearly signing up simply to play these games.”
That said, gaming remains a relatively minor part of Netflix’s business. Despite claiming that “engagement tripled last year,” the company said that games are still “small, and certainly not yet material relative to our film and series business.”
Scott Stuber, the chairman of Netflix film, is leaving the company to start his own media venture. If you’re not spending your days in the trades you likely won’t recognize his name, but Stuber is a big reason why Netflix has so many Academy Awards now.
His extensive relationships in Hollywood helped woo big filmmakers like Greta Gerwig and Martin Scorsese to Netflix, and his tenure as chairman led to Netflix being the most nominated studio at the Oscars for three years in a row.
Co-directors Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares’ new action drama is a masterclass in using near-futuristic, sci-fi storytelling to illustrate harsh realities about our present.
Echo star and Daredevil alum Vincent D’Onofrio says Netflix’s Marvel series are part of the MCU’s canon, which was obvious if you watched shows or listened to Kevin Feige.
First up in the “Milestone Movies” collection are some films from 1974, including Blazing Saddles, The Great Gatsby, and Chinatown.
Movies from 1984, 1994, 2004 will come to Netflix in April, July, and October, respectively, Netflix says in a press release.
Vince Staples is something of a renaissance man. He’s a rapper, an actor, and a lowkey, funny-ass comedian, but in the first trailer for Netflix’s The Vince Staples Show from executive producer Kenya Barris, Vince is really …just a dude trying to live, and get a little more culture in people’s diets.
The new project seems a bit like Staples’ old YouTube series, which you should probably check out before the new shop drops on February 15th.
We’re still very much living through an age of there being almost too much good TV to watch.
But considering the way The Bear, Succession, and Beef dominated at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards, it kinda seemed like the Television Academy might need to start watching outside its comfort zone a bit more.
The first teaser for Netflix’s Spaceman — a dramatic sci-fi film from director Johan Renck, starring Adam Sandler — didn’t give a lot away. But the latest trailer gives a much stronger feel for the movie, including a first glimpse at Paul Dano’s little alien character, described as “a mysterious creature from the beginning of time.” It looks intriguing to say the least — and starts streaming on March 1st.
It was a fine day when Netflix announced that PokémonHorizons’ English dub was finally set to hit Netflix this upcoming February, but it looks like we’re actually going to be waiting until March 7th to hang out with Liko and Sprigatito in Paldea.
When season four of Netflix’s The Witcher drops, folks are going to be tuning in to see what’s what about Geralt of Rivia’s new face.
But as curious as everyone is about the pseudo-new witcher, it feels safe to assume that Laurence Fishburne’s turn as the (presumably vampiric) barber surgeon Regis might be what keeps people watching.
Netflix’s last He-Man animated series from Powerhouse and producer Kevin Smith was more of a sword and sorcery sort of situation.
But everything about Masters of the Universe: Revolution’s new trailer from the arrival of Hordak (Keith David) to Skeletor’s (Mark Hamill) cybernetic body makes it look like the new show’s going center a war between magic and technology when it drops on January 25th.
It has more than 23 million global active monthly users, Netflix advertising head Amy Reinhard said at a Variety conference; that’s up from the 15 million figure the company revealed in November.
Given the Netflix standard tier costs $15.49 per month (and that the Basic tier, for those who still have it, recently got a price bump), I can see why people are opting for the more affordable $6.99 ads plan.
Netflix’s adaptation of 3 Body Problem from David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo is going to feature more than a few major differences from Cixin Liu’s original sci-fi novel.
But in a new piece from The Hollywood Reporter, Woo says he and his collaborators received Liu’s blessing to adapt the show for an international audience “in the way that we saw fit,” which could be a sign of interesting things to come.
[The Hollywood Reporter]
Not every Netflix original gets the privilege of a release on DVD and Blu-ray, but Wednesday is one of them. A physical copy of the show’s first season will be available on March 26th, 2024. It’s currently up for preorder on Amazon for $19.99.
The Athletic is reporting that Netflix is working on another sports docuseries like Quarterback, this one focused on a quintet of NBA stars. That includes LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis, and Jimmy Butler — and I can only hope that we’ll learn more about Butler’s unforgettable media day. No word on when it might stream, but the show is reportedly being filmed now.
While Netflix is starting to do live sports, this isn’t that (at least not yet, anyway). While the Drive to Survive series that boosted F1’s popularity in the US won’t be back until February, NASCAR and Netflix have released a trailer for Full Speed, a very similar behind-the-scenes docuseries following stock car drivers.
It promises access to 16 drivers and teams through last year’s playoffs across five 45-minute episodes, including Ryan Blaney, known gamer Ross Chastain, known gamer moment haver Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, and others.
Disney Plus’ Echo limited miniseries feels like the studio’s first successful attempt at matching the energy that made Netflix’s Marvel shows great.
As delightful as all of Pokémon Concierge’s minute background details are, Dwarf Animation could probably get away with a series that was nothing but these run cycle animations playing on repeat.
It looks like we’re getting more info on Netflix’s adaptation of 3 Body Problem tomorrow, and as part of the tease, the streamer released a short video highlighting the VR headset that’s so integral to the story. I know it’s not real, but I’m also pretty confident the sleek device would cost a lot more than an Apple Vision Pro.
The fifth (and final) chapter of the Stranger Things saga is officially underway. Netflix confirmed that season 5 of the retro sci-fi series is in production starting today, though that’s about all we know about it right now (aside from the casting of Linda Hamilton). In the meantime, you can stare at this cast photo in hopes of sussing out some clues.
The new teaser for the second season of Netflix’s Arcane doesn’t really say all that much about what we can expect when the show returns this November. But it definitely makes it seem like League of Legends’ Warwick will finally make his small screen debut, which could mean some very interesting things are in store for Vander.
but it would only be for those subscribed to Netflix’s ad-supported plan, according to a report from the WSJ.
The streamer’s executives have also reportedly tossed around the idea of adding in-app purchases to games and charging extra for its more “sophisticated” titles. However, the WSJ notes “Netflix encourages open debate internally on its strategy,” which means these discussions may not come to fruition.
Netflix’s new stop-motion Pokémon series from Dwarf Animation Studio is on the shorter side of things, but each episode is a gorgeous testament to the power of relaxation.
Rockstar’s attempt at launching Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — Definitive Edition in 2021 went so poorly that the PC version was removed from sale for a while. Now, the bundle (GTA III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas) is available on mobile devices and for no extra cost if you have Netflix.
So how does it run? Digital Foundry’s iOS analysis is here, finding that despite an uneven framerate and iffy gamepad support, it “probably offers the best portable experience at the moment.”
With shows like Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Blue Eye Samurai, and a wild new Castlevania spinoff, Netflix is still holding its own in the streaming wars.
