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.
The streamer confirmed that one of its biggest upcoming films — Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, helmed by Barbie director Greta Gerwig — will release in 2027. It’ll be in theaters on February 12th and stream on April 2nd, though it’s not clear just how long the theatrical window will last.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Tales From ‘85, the animated Stranger Things spinoff, but it evidently did well enough that there’s more in store. Netflix has confirmed it’s coming back for season 2, and it’s happening soon — it’ll start streaming this fall.
It looks very Jackbox-like — though if you want to play some actual Jackbox games on Netflix, that’s an option, too.
The game show spinoff, which covers topics like music, movies, culture, sports, celebrities, and entertainment, debuted on Amazon Prime Video. Now it’s headed to Netflix for another trivia-filled season starting May 11th, with host Colin Jost.
Netflix has announced the leading cast for its upcoming Gundam movie from director Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth), and the lineup looks like… an interesting group of faces, to say the least.
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We’re Back! With Brian Williams is among a handful of new shows coming to the platform including Allegedly, Shut Up Evan, The Puzzle Room with David Kwong, and The Rotten Files. They’ll join the streamer’s growing library of video “podcasts,” which are only available on Netflix, with no RSS feed downloads.
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That’s Brad Bird talking about animation, just as Netflix released the first batch of images for his upcoming retrofuturistic detective movie Ray Gunn. It doesn’t have a premiere date yet, but we do know the main cast, which includes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Waits as a one-eyed alien.
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Before Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation returns for a third season in 2027, the streamer will also debut a new One Piece Lego animated special this September, which will make a good companion for WIT Studio’s upcoming The One Piece anime remake series.
The streaming giant missed out on the April 1st launch of Artemis II, but will broadcast today’s historic flight around the Moon.
At 1PM ET, the capsule will fly past the Moon’s far side, which always faces away from the Earth, and it will also stream on NASA’s official YouTube channel. NASA also made a deal with Netflix last year to feature some of its content.
[What's on Netflix]
If you thought writer Jack Thorne’s Adolescence was a stressful watch, the new trailer for his take on Lord of the Flies might be a bit much to take in before the series hits Netflix on May 4th.
Though Netflix insisted that it bought Ben Affleck’s AI company InterPositive to help filmmakers, Deadline reports that one of the startups big selling points listed in its 2024 patent application is its ability to bring production costs down by millions of dollars.
The main series feels like it just ended, but Netflix is headed back to Hawkins pretty soon. Here’s the latest trailer for Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, which starts streaming on April 23rd.
Now that Stranger Things is over — the main series, anyways — you can finally own the whole thing on disc. Arrow Video is releasing a box set of the complete series on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD, which will be available in July. I hope the collection spans exactly 11 discs.
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein won a handful of Oscars last night, including one for best make-up and hairstyling. Last year I had the chance to talk to Mike Hill, who designed the creature from the film, about his relationship with del Toro and all the work that went into recreating the character.
Last year Netflix confirmed that its long-gestating Assassin’s Creed series was still happening, and now we have further proof of life thanks to a casting announcement. Noomi Rapace, Sean Harris, Ramzy Bedia, and Corrado Invernizzi have joined the cast, though there’s still no word on when it’ll start streaming.
Ben Affleck’s AI startup, recently purchased by Netflix for around $600 million, has a different approach to gen AI.
The stressful-yet-delightful party game is now available as one of Netflix’s streaming TV games that you control with your phone. This version lets you play as 10 “Netflix celebrity chefs,” including the famous Stranger Things monster.
Netflix is also working on an Overcooked reality show.
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In an interview with Bloomberg, he explained why he backed out of the deal and said Netflix pursued Warner because it was a unique opportunity. “We definitely wanted this asset. We didn’t need it,” he said, praising its “incredible IP” and long history. But he was clear the plan was to just move on:
Is there a world in which you guys go after another studio in the next 6 to 12 months?
Unlikely. We are builders, not buyers. All that is still true.
So how are you going to use that $2.8 billion?
Just keep investing in the business.
A four-day clock for Netflix to respond just started, but here are the details of the offer that include a starting price of $31 per share and other assurances, like:
“…a $7 billion regulatory termination fee payable by PSKY in the event the transaction does not close due to regulatory matters, payment by PSKY of the $2.8 billion termination fee that WBD would be required to pay to Netflix to terminate the existing Netflix merger agreement, an obligation of Larry J. Ellison and an associated trust to contribute additional equity funding”
Warner Bros. Discovery is telling shareholders it’s “continuing to engage” with Paramount after receiving its latest offer yesterday.
The new bid offers $31 per share, “a daily ticking fee equal to $0.25 per quarter beginning after September 30, 2026,” plus $7 billion from Paramount if regulators block the deal, and $2.8 billion to pay Netflix’s termination fee, among other details. If the board likes this bid better, it says Netflix will have four days to respond.
Jane Austen’s signature work is being adapted for Netflix. Think Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016), but no zombies, so think the 2005 film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, but a series, so think the 1995 miniseries starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.
It’s scheduled for release sometime later this year; Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden star.
Netflix’s latest livestreamed boxing match will take place on September 19th at the Las Vegas Sphere.
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The Netflix boss is apparently not too worried about Trump’s meddling in his company’s attempt to purchase Warner Bros. He told BBC Today that Netflix’s offer left Hollywood with five major studios instead of four, and Trump, “likes to do a lot of things on social media.”
However, on Monday afternoon, Bloomberg reported Paramount Skydance has submitted another competing offer, improving on its previous $30 per share bid.
I Am Frankelda — co-writer / directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz’s stop motion dark fantasy film about a girl with a strange connection to another dimension — has been acquired by Netflix and is slated to debut on the streamer sometime later this year.
