Netflix’s $80 Billion Warner Bros Deal Could Officially End the Era of Movie Theaters

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Last Friday, Netflix announced it was acquiring a significant portion of , in a deal worth $82.7 billion. This move establishes Netflix as a leading force in both the streaming and film industries, especially considering its previous stance against releasing movies in theaters.

I was absolutely floored when I heard the news about Netflix potentially taking over Warner Bros. Discovery! It’s hard to believe they could end up owning everything – HBO Max and the Warner Bros. movie studio! There’s still a lot that needs to happen with approvals to make sure it’s not a monopoly, but honestly, it feels like this could be a devastating blow to movie theaters. I don’t think Netflix buying such a huge, historic studio will completely kill the theater experience, but it’s definitely going to make things much, much harder for an industry that was already struggling.

Netflix Could Ruin the State of Movie Theaters for Good

The way movies are released has changed significantly. With the rise of streaming services, more and more films are now debuting directly on these platforms, bypassing traditional movie theaters. This trend has become so common that major award shows, like the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, now consider films released exclusively on streaming services alongside those shown in theaters, and in some years, streaming films have even received more attention.

The COVID-19 pandemic was the final blow to traditional movie releases, forcing theaters to close. While studios initially attempted to return to the old model of long theatrical runs, they soon began releasing films at the same time as, or just weeks after, their theatrical debut on streaming services. Warner Bros. faced criticism for this approach, notably releasing The Batman on HBO Max only a month after it premiered in cinemas.

Recently, movie theaters have proven their continued importance, with strong box office numbers. In the last five years, two Warner Bros. films – Barbie (2023) and A Minecraft Movie (2025) – have been the year’s biggest hits. Barbie especially benefited from the “Barbenheimer” trend, where people enthusiastically saw it alongside Oppenheimer on its opening weekend. This dual release sparked a renewed excitement for going to the movies.

Netflix has seen some successful films, but they’ve always been released directly to streaming, never in theaters. Similar to Warner Bros.’ approach, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is pushing to shorten the amount of time movies are exclusively shown in cinemas, arguing that long theatrical releases aren’t what viewers want. However, a subscription price of $17.99 a month for an ad-free experience doesn’t seem very consumer-friendly either, and it’s likely to go up if Netflix moves forward with a deal with Warner Bros.

How Will Film and Television Survive the Netflix and Warner Bros. Deal?

With movies becoming available for home viewing so quickly after their release, we’re likely heading towards a future where people will have to pay a lot for streaming subscriptions just to see new films. This also puts small, local cinemas at risk of closing, as they struggle to compete with major movies going straight to streaming. This shift threatens the heart of moviegoing culture. For over a century, theaters have thrived because they offer a unique and immersive experience that you simply can’t get from watching at home on a TV or phone.

Netflix could both honor established practices and lead the way in modern streaming, but it seems unlikely they’ll do both. The same applies to traditional television. Currently, HBO and HBO Max are leading the industry, as demonstrated by their recent success at the Emmys with a show released in just one year, totaling 15 episodes.

The last season of the show took over three years to make, and only eight episodes were released across three different dates. Warner Bros. wasn’t exactly known for great choices before Netflix stepped in, but the fact that everyone now views Netflix with such apprehension really speaks volumes about its power in the streaming world.

It’s unrealistic to expect Netflix to seriously consider recent criticism and how its decisions impact the future of film and television. If they did, we likely wouldn’t have gotten so many low-quality productions like the three Kissing Booth movies. Warner Bros. seems to believe the same creative minds behind those films are the right people to handle classic Hollywood titles. If anyone questioned the cost of damaging traditional cinema, the $82.7 billion deal now provides a clear answer.

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2025-12-09 02:07