The end of big-screen cinema? What Netflix hopes to achieve by buying Warner Bros | Andrew Pulver

Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros marks a seismic shift in the entertainment industry, one that raises questions about the future of big-screen cinema. What's driving this move? For Netflix, it's not just about acquiring valuable intellectual property like DC Universe movies, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones – although these assets are undoubtedly significant. Rather, it's about gaining access to the machinery of creating blockbuster films.

The streaming giant has long struggled to replicate its success in television on the big screen. Individual film results have never been the primary concern for Netflix; their focus has always been on attracting subscribers and rewarding talent with performance-related deals. However, as the company begins to show ads and potentially shifts towards a more traditional studio model, they're now recognizing the importance of individual film performance.

The acquisition also marks a departure from Netflix's previous business model, where films were released simultaneously on streaming platforms and in cinemas. The "window" – the period of exclusivity physical theaters have for showing a film before it heads to home entertainment formats – will likely evolve, with Warner Bros' current slate of films still receiving big-screen releases. But what this means is that Netflix now has control over how its content is distributed.

The stakes are high, and the outcome could be the end of big-screen cinema as we know it. Will Netflix succeed where others have failed? The answer lies in its ability to create blockbuster films on a massive scale. With Warner Bros' resources and expertise, Netflix will attempt to produce high-quality, Oscar-worthy movies that appeal to mainstream audiences.

The question remains: can Netflix overcome its previous failures and become a major player in big-screen entertainment? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – this acquisition marks a significant turning point in the industry's evolution.

omg I'm so curious about what's gonna happen next like how's Netflix gonna balance their ad strategy with creating these big-budget movies? I feel like they're taking a huge risk by trying to replicate success on the big screen, but at the same time, it could pay off big time if they can pull it off . The fact that they're getting access to Warner Bros' machinery is definitely a game-changer . I hope we get to see some amazing movies from Netflix in the future!

ads are coming , what's next, subscription-only theaters?

I think this move by Netflix is all about diversifying their revenue streams They've been relying too much on subscribers for too long and now they wanna get into the film game Big-screen cinema is all about spectacle and buzz, you know? It's hard to replicate that in a streaming environment Plus, with Warner Bros' resources at their disposal, Netflix has a good chance of producing some serious blockbusters Let's hope they don't mess it up What do you guys think? Should Netflix be making movies or sticking to TV shows? #NetflixTakesOver #BigScreenRevolution #FilmVsStreaming

I mean, it's not like we've seen this coming... The streaming giant just buys up another huge franchise library and suddenly thinks it can make blockbuster films? It's like they're trying to play catch-up on their last 10 years of struggling with individual film performance . And let's be real, the "window" thing is basically just a fancy way of saying they want control over how their content gets released . But hey, who knows, maybe this time will be different? Maybe Netflix will finally figure out how to make a decent film that doesn't get panned by critics . I mean, it's not like the whole industry is built around their success or anything...

Netflix just bought Warner Bros... I mean, what's next? They'll be making their own movies and trying to make theaters obsolete like they didn't already struggle with individual film performance on big screens. But seriously, it's crazy how much power they're gaining. This could lead to some game-changing (or is that doom-scroller-worthy?) changes in the entertainment industry...

I think this is going to be a wild ride! With Warner Bros under their belt, Netflix is essentially getting the blueprints for making hit movies. But let's be real, they've still got a lot of work to do if they wanna create something that'll actually make you go to the cinema vs just watching it at home Their focus on streaming is so different from traditional studios, and I'm curious to see how they'll adapt. Will they stick to making smaller indie flicks or try to go big with blockbusters? Either way, it's gonna be interesting to watch

I'm not sure how I feel about this ... on one hand, it's cool to see Netflix try something new and get more control over its content distribution , but on the other hand, I worry that big-screen cinemas might become a thing of the past . As a parent, I love going to the movies with my kids, and I hope they can still find ways to make those experiences special without relying solely on Netflix's content . Plus, I'm curious if Netflix will be able to balance its focus on producing blockbuster films with its core goal of attracting subscribers... fingers crossed!

This acquisition feels like a big risk for both parties involved. I'm not sure how well Netflix will be able to utilize Warner Bros' resources and expertise to produce successful films . They've struggled with individual film performance before, so it'll be interesting to see if they can turn things around. The idea of Netflix having control over content distribution is a bit unsettling too - does that mean they'll start pushing more of their own brand of content? I'm curious to see how the "window" system evolves and what impact it has on the film industry as a whole . Can't wait to see what happens next!

I'm worried about the future of movie nights with my family . I love how immersive big screen cinema is! If Netflix starts churning out Oscar-worthy movies and we can only watch them on our screens, it'll be a huge letdown for me . What's the point of going to the cinema if you're just gonna watch a movie at home too?

[Image of a movie camera with a red "X" through it]
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[Animated GIF of a bomb going off, followed by a Netflix logo]
[Image of a film strip being pulled apart, with the pieces reassembled as a giant Netflix logo]
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I'm low-key excited about this move , but also kinda worried about what it means for independent filmmakers and smaller studios. I mean, Netflix already has so much power with its ad revenue shift... now they're adding Warner Bros' massive resources to the mix . It's like, can they still create content that's truly original and not just trying to replicate what Hollywood's already doing? Also, what about the streaming window thing? Are we gonna see more movies on Netflix before they hit theaters or something? That would be kinda weird . One thing's for sure tho - it's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out

this feels like the end of an era... been following netflix's growth and they've always been about more than just movies their focus has always been on subscriber numbers and talent now it seems like they're trying to keep up with the big studios we'll have to wait and see if they can pull off a blockbuster film that actually makes some cash

I mean, think about it... Netflix has been trying to make movies for ages, but they've just been okay, you know? They never really tried to go big or go home like the studios do. But now with Warner Bros, they're like "oh wait, we can be Hollywood too" . It's all about getting that Oscar buzz and making bank on merch and whatnot. I'm low-key hyped for some possible Marvel movies from Netflix, but also kinda worried it'll just be another thing where the movies are meh and the studio just tries to cash in . Either way, it's gonna be wild to see how this plays out!

omg like what even is happening with netflix now they're basically trying to become a real movie studio and not just a streaming platform anymore. it's wild that they're gonna try to compete with actual studios on the big screen, but hey at least they'll have some decent movies to stream afterwards i mean who doesn't love watching movies from home after waiting like 2 months for them to come out in theaters? anyway, we'll just have to wait and see if netflix can actually pull this off

omg, this is like, crazy! I mean, I get why they're making this move - it makes total sense for Netflix to want control over how their content is distributed. They've been trying to make movies work on streaming for ages, and now with Warner Bros' help, they might finally be able to nail it. But, like, what about the big-screen experience? Will we still get to go to the cinema and see these movies on the massive screen? I hope so!

And, honestly, I'm a bit concerned about this whole "shift towards a more traditional studio model" thing... will Netflix become just like all the other studios? It's like, they've been trying to be different all along, and now it seems like they're just copying everyone else.

But, you know, I do think this acquisition is a big deal - it's like, a seismic shift in the industry, for sure! And only time will tell if Netflix can pull off this whole movie-making thing on a big scale...

This move by Netflix is like a whole new level of game changing for the entertainment industry . I mean think about it, they're not just buying up some cool IPs and franchises, they're actually trying to become a studio themselves. It's like they're saying we can do this, we can make these big budget movies that everyone will want to see in theaters and at home.

But the thing is, Netflix has been doing TV shows for years and it's worked out pretty well for them. They've got some amazing talent under contract and their algorithms are on point when it comes to what people want to watch. So if they can just translate that success to the big screen, I think they could be a force to be reckoned with.

The thing that's got me curious is how this will all play out. Will they keep releasing movies in theaters or try to stream them as soon as possible? And what does this mean for the whole window system? It's like they're trying to create their own rules here and I'm not sure if it's going to work.

But you know what, I think Netflix is a smart company. They've been watching what's working and what's not and they're making some bold moves. And who knows, maybe this is the start of something new and exciting for the entertainment industry. Maybe we'll see more streaming services trying to make movies too. The possibilities are endless!

omg like what's going on here!! so netflix is trying to take over warner bros and i'm low-key living for it like can you imagine ntflix making some epic blockbuster films that'll actually get people talking at the cinema?! but at the same time, i'm also a bit worried because what if they mess up?! will we still be able to go to the movies and watch them in theaters before they come out on netflix?!

I'm not sure about all these changes . I mean, I know Netflix needs to make some adjustments, but do they really need to get into film production like that? They're already making tons of great content for TV and streaming... couldn't they just keep doing that instead of trying to take over the big screen too?

I'm also a bit worried about what this means for all the other studios out there. Will they be left in the dust if Netflix starts churning out blockbuster films like they're going out of style? It's not like it's gonna make things easier for them or anything...