Shrewd Netflix move to theatres Films to US theatres
Netflix has confirmed it will release 10 new movies exclusively in theatres later this year. The films include Martin Scorsese’s new film, The Irishman (starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino) and Speilberg’s latest flick, The Laundromat.
After the movies have completed a short spell at the cinemas, no more than a month, they will be made available on the streaming service.
Unfortunately, these films are unlikely to make it to New Zealand, or most of the world’s cinemas, and will likely be restricted to theatres in Los Angeles.
Major cinema chains are still unwilling to show Netflix content as it won’t budge on its threemonth minimum run for new releases.
Why is Netflix doing this? Awards. And the recognition they bring.
It’s no secret that Netflix is gearing up for the fight of its life as Disney, Amazon and Warner all launch streaming rivals. Disney and Warner have something Netflix doesn’t – industry recognition for the quality of their content.
■ The Laundromat In theatres now, October 18 (Netflix) Dolemite Is My Name Oct ■ 4 (theatres), Oct 25 (Netflix) ■ The King Oct 11 (theatres), November 1 (Netflix) ■ The Irishman Nov 1 (theatres), Nov 27 (Netflix) ■ Earthquake Bird Nov 1 (theatres), Nov 15 (Netflix) ■ Marriage Story Nov 6 (theatres), December 6 (Netflix) ■ Klaus Nov 11 (theatres), Nov 15 (Netflix) ■ I Lost My Body Nov 15 (theatres), Nov 29 (Netflix) ■ Atlantics Nov 15 (theatres), Nov 29 (Netflix) ■ The Two Popes Nov 27 (theatres), December 20 (Netflix)
More specifically, they have Oscars. Which, by the way, require pictures to have run for ‘‘at least seven days in an LA county theatre’’ to be considered for nomination.
Last year, Netflix trialled this new strategy with three films – Roma, Bird Box and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
And it went pretty well, winning
19 Oscar nominations for the pictures.
But none of the films brought home the golden statue. Roma ,it was later revealed, came second in the Best Picture category.
The maths is simple. More films mean more chances.
It’s a delicate move from Netflix, though. Risking a potential backlash from its users as they’re made to wait several weeks for eagerly anticipated new content.
But it’s a shrewd move ,too, from a company that has been making shrewd moves since it first disrupted the movie industry in
1997.
We’ll know if it’s a move that pays off for Netflix at the next Oscars.