Upcoming movies from Sony Pictures like Uncharted and Ghost of Tsushima will stream on Netflix once their theatrical releases have concluded, as the film distributor has inked a lucrative long-term deal with the juggernaut streaming service. It’s important to note that this contract will not entitle subscribers to watch the films at launch – they’ll still debut in cinemas, assuming they’re open – but Netflix will be able to broadcast the flicks thereafter.
The deal will go into effect next year, with movies like Morbius and Bullet Train on the docket. Netflix has also signed a “first look” agreement with Sony Pictures when it comes to original movies produced for the direct-to-streaming market, and while it’s committed to a set number of titles, the distributor will still be able to sell content elsewhere. Finally, the streaming giant has also confirmed that it will license an unspecified number of titles from the Sony Pictures’ vault.
The contract only covers the United States right now, but is expected to run five years and be worth “hundreds of millions of dollars”. In fact, sources told Variety that this deal could be a record breaker, although it’s worth noting that with companies like Disney deciding to launch their own streaming services, the arrangements are getting rarer. “Netflix has been a terrific partner as we continue to expand our relationship,” a spokesperson said.
With the recently established PlayStation Productions committed to creating more and more content based on video game properties, this news all but ensures those franchises will end up on Netflix eventually. Sony Pictures, of course, will see this as a win for its bottom-line, but with around 74 million Netflix subscribers in the United States alone, this will also expose more people to the organisation’s gaming brands as well.
[source variety.com]
Comments (55)
Let’s be honest these movies are going to flop hard in theaters, regardless of quality... this was a smart move!
Not too different from Microsoft starting a streaming service for their games because they flopped hard when trying to sell em traditionally, creating a false sense of savings, a subscription price is much easier to swallow!
Moderated for potentially offensive and also off-topic commentary - get2sammyb
Sony better choose one platform, can’t be hopping between Netflix and HBO Max 😕
Good. Cinemas are still closed here in Ireland so this was a wise decision like the top commenter said.
@theMEGAniggle. It clearly says Netflix.i dont know where you get hbo max from🤔.word up son
@playstation1995 Sony's making The Last of Us for HBO Max.
To be honest, I don't blame Sony here. They had two options: a) Create their own streaming service, or b) Play the field.
Considering everyone's keeping their content in-house now, Sony's stuff becomes very valuable to companies looking to bolster their services.
Sounds like they're taking a big pay cheque on this.
Wonder how Disney feels about the MCU Spider-Man movies going to Netflix and not Disney Plus!
I completely forgot there was a Morbius movie coming out. Apparently Venom 2 comes out in a couple of months too?!
Cool, I don't want to go to cinema this year.
@nessisonett It got delayed to September 24th from June but still this year
@2cents Honestly Game Pass is still dope
It may be subscription based but it's cool for sampling games I have no intention of paying full price for. Played The Medium on Game Pass PC recently and I'm so glad I didn't just buy it full price
EDIT: Also are you seriously going to say "Xbox fans are gay"? Really?
I sometimes forget Morbius is still happening
Makes sense given he was the villain for the most forgettable episodes of the 1994 Spider-Man cartoon when he isn't fighting Blade
@get2sammyb "To be honest, I don't blame Sony here. They had two options: a) Create their own streaming service, or b) Play the field."
Surprised you didn't mention the store news in the article. Between this news, the death of PS Vue years back and Sony selling all of Crackle to Chicken Soup for the Soul Sony apparently wants nothing to do w/ video. They're done.
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/03/ps_store_discontinues_movie_tv_rentals_and_purchases_in_august
https://deadline.com/2020/12/sony-exits-crackle-streaming-full-control-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-1234656734/
@get2sammyb. Understand.i know that.but i believe both will come to Netflix.i dont blame sony also.they will definitely profit morw from the movies.whether they goid or not so good.that sony ip is a goldmine.haha.and disney is probably a little upset about the Netflix situation.but aint they profiting from these also.and Sammy what do you think sony is taking too long to aquire bluepoint games.and about the ps3 psp and vita being pullwd off from psn.i believe sony got a plan.for ps3.ps1.ps2 games on psn.word up son
@nessisonett Morbius looked so bad I wrote it off, despite being a fan of the Spirits of Vengeance comics back in the 90s. Also wrote off Venom. Then I watched Venom. Venom was really good. Not sure how or why, but it got me really excited for Venom 2. And I'll watch Mobius b/c the more people who watch it the more likely we are to get a good Sinister 6 movie.
Apologies if we already had this conversation, I kinda feel like we did but maybe w/ Marvel?
@2cents Your needlessly inflammatory and tribalistic comment just comes off as sexually insecure and homophobic - just FYI.
@2cents Really? Are we going to the ‘har har Xbox fans are gay’ well?
@rjejr I really like the look of Morbius each to their own I guess.
2cents has gone full mystic meg
@rjejr I feel like Morbius and Venom 2 have been in the works for so long that I probably have had similar conversations a few times and then instantly forgotten about it. Venom 1 was a total car crash but strangely enjoyable because it was truly that bad. I’d watch a sequel out of curiosity.
@nessisonett I'm watching it purely for Woody Harrelson
Even though this film will probably end up being every bit as corny and mid 2000s comic book movie-esque as the first one I can't imagine anyone else playing Cletus Kasady
@2cents
Well I think uncharted might go bad because it will most likely an over the top action and this day and age people aren't really into that anymore.
Ghost will flop I think because alot of people will see it as some average Asian samurai/kung fu movie and well they never take off in the west sadly, because they are in my opinion some of the greatest I've seen along side old skool Asian horror.
Reeks of desperation from Netflix lol
Surprised Sony doesn't already have their own service like seemingly every other company these days. Smart move I guess!
Good to hear. I don't do cinema any more.
@TheFrenchiestFry Walton Goggins with a dodgy ginger wig would be hilarious as Carnage.
@playstation1995 nah I have to disagree with you on that. HBO is a strong platform, you’ll never see something like game of thrones on Netflix so we can assume that stuff like watchmen and Sony’s last of us series to never come off of HBO. Which isn’t even available in the uk 🙃
@redd214 imagine a streaming service with Sony’s stuff. Ghostbusters, emoji movie and MIB International 😭😭
No thanks
Are we really this easily offended? @nessisonett @everynowandben @TheFrenchiestFry there was no sexual connotation in my post... it’s obvious everyone’s drinking the Gamepass kool-aid regardless of quantity over quality! The Medium as you mentioned being a perfect example
Surely they will add UK and rest of world to this deal right? Seems a bit odd this is just US.
@theMEGAniggle Sony has a stout stable of movies they could create a service around undoubtedly. But since they seemingly aren't better for us all the same!
@2cents I ain't offended
I just think these kinds of comments are pretty childish with their forced attempt at starting flame wars with other people
@theMEGAniggle. Im a american from new york.and i do see stuff like that on Netflix.they got a lot and theyre own 📺 tv series.movies etc.some really good stuff.word up son
@redd214 personally despite my comments I would invest in a Sony platform, they have some of the most enjoyable movies that have come out in recent memory. Spider-Man and the like. Spider verse was so good
@playstation1995 well damn, I should go back sometime
@theMEGAniggle even if they did start their own streaming service, they’d only abandon the thing after a few years...
@Uromastryx Uncharted has potential for being utterly ridiculous in the best of ways if they can pull it off!!
Ghosts is easily the harder concept to sell in the West...here’s hoping the action is half as good as 13 Assassins by Takashi Miike
@2cents It’s kinda hard not to be a bit insulted by childish insults clearly motivated by deep rooted homophobia. I’ve spent long enough in the company of teenagers who love to use ‘gay’ as an insult and thought that people would have grown out of that sorta thing. Clearly not.
@theMEGAniggle yup Spider verse is up there for me as well, probably one of my favorite animated movies of all time!
@2cents Are you seriously trying to deny what you said? Wow. Reflect on your words and actions, apologize, and move forward.
I was interested in Uncharted until Holland started talking about what a "cool, stoic" guy his Drake is. The Nate I know is a smarmy, wisecracking dork. I am however, and unrelatedly, hopeful for Mortal Kombat in a couple of weeks.
@2cents Gamepass is rubbish as it doesn't entitle me to watch those movies at the cinema whereas owning a PS5 entitles me to watch these movies however I want. Yay for PlayStation taking over the world and all entertainment coming from this one box straight into my eyeballs. Any form of entertainment that can't come through this box of tricks under the TV can go burn in hell as it isn't worth the time of day.
Can't call yourself a true lover of film if you don't go to the cinema. It's definitely something I've missed during the pat year although I managed to get to see Tenet at my local IMAX during its limited run. The sooner we can go back to the flicks the better!
As for this deal, yeah does it include The Last of Us TV series? I'm really interested in watching this but not sure how unless I go all piratey like.
@Col_McCafferty Probably not TLOU since that's an HBO thing
These are just for theatrical releases or films that go straight to streaming
So basically the already announced movies like Spider-Man No Way Home, the Spider-Verse sequel, Venom, Morbius and whatever else Sony releases in theaters, while the films they develop specficially for streaming are going straight to Netflix
I imagine TLOU HBO will probably end up on HBO Max as expected given it's a TV series and doesn't fit that criteria
@TheFrenchiestFry Yeah, that's what I feared. It will probably end up on Sky Atlantic in the UK but I don't currently have Sky.
Anyway, it's not releasing until next year so no need to worry about it just yet!
Wish this covered TLOU as that sounds like it will be excellent
@fR_eeBritney nah dawg, this ain’t it
Saw this elsewhere and came here to read the angry comments. Yup, the usual suspects.
sweet il add this to my star trek , trailer park boys , stranger things watching lol
I'm excited for Ghost of Tsushima and TLOU. HZD and God of War are probably next in line.
@nessisonett "Venom 1 was a total car crash "
I expected a total car crash form the trailers, they looked so serious, and those Venom graphics were like PS2 era, but Hardy took the - this entire thing is ridiculous" - route and I think he pulled it off. And I don't even like him.
@David187 I think part of my problem w/ Morbius is that the first time I saw the trailer was right after I had finished binge watching "The Passage". If you are unfamiliar it was a short season vampire show on Fox. The trailers are almost even the same, only I like the girl a whole more than Jared Leto.
The girl in the hospital bed in the Morbius trailer even looks like the girl in The Passage. And the cave scene in Morbius looks like the 1st episode of the Passage. Timing is everything.
@2cents
"Are we really this easily offended? @nessisonett @everynowandben @TheFrenchiestFry there was no sexual connotation in my post... it’s obvious everyone’s drinking the Gamepass kool-aid regardless of quantity over quality! The Medium as you mentioned being a perfect example"
Look, we need to come to grips with the fact that terminology that was once considered "acceptable" is no longer acceptable. This isn't to say that the words were ever acceptable, but there was limited rebuffs to the use, and even less coverage to make the issue known. It's not a political thing, it's an enlightenment thing.
Anything with a negative connotation towards sexual orientation, gender identification, race (which IMO should include "white privilege"), misogyny, misandry, and handicaps needs to be checked and challenged. You have a brain. Be intelligent. Words are important. They are a sign of intelligence. Choose other words.
It's not that hard.
@theMEGAniggle you clearly haven't seen enough movies, so your take about Sony's movies (and its subsidiaries) is general pretty limited and sad. Also, for all the bad/mediocre ones, there also tons of great/exceptional ones... This same principle applies to all the other movie companies out there too.
Yes, lets just forget about: Little Woman (2019), Whiplash (2014), District 9, Looper, Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Big Fish, Taxi Driver (1976), Baby Driver, Zombieland, Easy A, Don't Breathe, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Django Unchained.... and the list goes on.
@rpg2000 if you could read you’d see I was just making a joke. Hater
@redd214 From what I know. Sony have a streaming service called Bravia Core free for their 2021 TV line-up.
@BrainHacker oh really, hadn't heard of it. That's pretty cool, thanks for the info!
Awesome news, more reasons for my family to keep our Netflix subscription!
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