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.
We’re not far out from the next batch of Black Mirror episodes hitting Netflix on April 10th. And while we’ve already seen some of the new season, that latest trailer provides a more detailed rundown of the six episodes, including the direct sequel to “USS Callister.”
Dead Talents Society, Taiwanese director John Hsu’s supernatural comedy about ghosts who have to earn haunting permits and sometimes compete in reality competitions for the deceased, was one of the most fantastic movies out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. And now that it’s streaming on Netflix, you should do yourself a favor and give it a watch.
Though Velma Dinkley didn’t end up doing so well in Max’s recent animated series, Netflix is giving her and the rest of Mystery Inc. another go with a new live-action Scooby Doo series from writers / showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (who previously worked on the streamer’s live-action Cowboy Bebop adaptation).
HDR10 Plus streams have been added for “new releases and existing popular HDR titles,” with Netflix aiming to add it to all HDR content by the end of the year. This should help to address a visual quality gap on Samsung TVs, which don’t support Netflix’s Dolby Vision streams.
Netflix users will require a Premium subscription and a device that supports both AV1 and HDR10 Plus in order to benefit.
[netflixtechblog.com]
According to Deadline, Netflix has greenlit and is now looking to cast competitors for The Golden Ticket, Eureka Production’s new Willy Wonka-inspired reality series that “will challenge players not just physically, but mentally as they navigate games, tests, and temptations designed to probe their instincts, resilience, and ability to thrive in chaos.”
Netflix’s upcoming remake of Stephen King’s Cujo feels poised to tap into people’s newfound fondness of taking their dogs everywhere, and the film might wind up being directed by Darren Aronofsky according to The Hollywood Reporter.
[hollywoodreporter.com]
Netflix’s terrible adaptation of The Electric State is as soulless as it is uninspired.
Mike Verdu had Netflix’s been VP of generative AI for games, with Alain Tascan taking over as gaming boss, but Verdu has left the company, it confirmed to Game File.
Disney Plus’ new Daredevil series is an uneven reboot that’s fighting to leave its past behind.
But it’ll be a video game. Netflix is continuing to push its gaming efforts towards tie-ins with its streaming offerings, and the latest example is Kid Cosmo, a puzzle game that launches for subscribers on March 18th, just a few days after The Electric State premieres.
This new clip from Netflix’s Devil May Cry series definitely makes Dante (Johnny Yong Bosch) look like a demon-killing badass, but it seems like his social skills are going to need some work when the series debuts on April 3rd.
Netflix says that the show’s second season was its most viewed series in the second half of 2024 with 87 million views — this despite not releasing until late December. These mega franchises are a big deal for the streamer, and two of the biggest also happen to be ending this year.
Netflix’s slasher franchise continues, this time with the spinoff Prom Queen. While it may not be as inventive as a three-part movie event, the first teaser does look it could still be fun. It starts streaming way ahead of Halloween, too, with a May 23rd premiere date.
Netflix has “come aboard” the in-development live-action movie adaptation of Sifu and selected a screenwriter, Deadline says. The adaptation was initially announced in late 2022, but there’s still no indication of if or when it might be released.
Over the next four years, Netflix plans to spend $1 billion dollars to energize the production of new films and series out of Mexico according to The Hollywood Reporter. The investment is nowhere near the $2.5 billion Netflix committed to South Korean productions a few years ago. And a time when the studio has come under fire for platforming questionable depictions of Mexico (see: Emilia Pérez), the move definitely feels like some strategic damage control.
[hollywoodreporter.com]
Netflix is developing a live-action series based on Dungeons & Dragons called The Forgotten Realms, Deadline reports. Shawn Levy, the writer and director of Deadpool & Wolverine, is working on the series.
The project initially was a show set for Paramount Plus, but that fell through.
Ahead of the first two Netflix House venues opening in 2025, Netflix Bites has opened at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The restaurant features an extensive menu themed around Netflix shows and movies including a WWE Smashburger, a Beverly Hills Cobb salad, and The Hellfire Club sandwich.
Netflix Bites was previously a pop-up that opened in Los Angeles in 2023 for a limited time, but the MGM Grand location will operate for a year.
As of yesterday, all tiers are now more expensive: £5.99 per month for the ad-supported version (up from £4.99), £12.99 for Standard (previously £10.99), and £18.99 for the Premium subscription (previously £17.99). There are also changes to the Extra Member add-on Netflix introduced to crack down on password-sharing — now £4.99 with ads, or £5.99 without.
This aligns with increases Netflix rolled out in the US in January.
[cordbusters.co.uk]
While the rest of internet’s arguing over whether Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s theme song is a bop, Netflix’s Devil May Cry series is just rollin’ with Limp Bizkit.
