Netflix CEO: “We Don’t Intend to Destroy Warner Bros.”; Paramount CEO: “We’ll Release 30 Films a Year”
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Ted Sarandos, following Paramount’s $108 billion offer to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, has stated that Netflix has no intention of “destroying” Warner’s values. Netflix confirmed last Friday that it will acquire Warner Bros. in an $82 billion deal.
Sarandos—who previously claimed that watching movies in theaters is “an outdated concept”—said on Monday:
“In this transition, we’re acquiring three businesses in which we currently have no operations, so we don’t have any excess workforce. One of those businesses is a film studio with a theatrical distribution arm. We are fully committed to distributing those films exactly the way they are distributed today.”
He added:
“We want to operate all three new businesses exactly as they are. The theatrical distribution business—well, we’ve discussed it a lot over the years because we’ve never been in that business. Once this deal closes, we will be in that business. And we’re going to do it.”
Until now, Netflix has rarely released its films in more than a thousand theaters, relying mostly on limited runs to qualify for the Oscars. “KPop Demon Hunters” was one such release, grossing $19 million in its first week and breaking Netflix’s record.
Last Friday Sarandos said that after acquiring Warner, Netflix would “evolve” the theatrical window and make it “more consumer-friendly.” This comes as Warner Bros.’ 2025 box office revenue has surpassed $4 billion, boosted by titles such as “Superman” and “Minecraft.”
On Monday, Sarandos clarified his remarks:
“Netflix will distribute these films the same way Warner Bros. distributes them in theaters today, but through Warner’s existing operational entity. Preserving and creating value is extremely important to us. We didn’t acquire this company to destroy that value.”
The Directors Guild, Writers Guild, and Producers Guild have expressed concerns over the Netflix–Warner merger and the potential shortening of theatrical windows, though some producers remain optimistic about the future of moviegoing.
David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, said on Monday that if Paramount acquires Warner Bros., it will produce more than 30 films per year. He noted that filmmakers like James Cameron and Jane Fonda believe the Netflix–Warner merger would be “a disaster for theatrical distribution”:
“Paramount is committed to increasing film and series output, including releasing over 30 films theatrically each year. We intend to meet the needs of moviegoers.”
