BIG NEWS: Netflix has acquired Warner Brothers

Paramount launches hostile bid for WBD.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/paramount-launches-hostile-bid-for-warner-bros-1236444601/

It would indeed be bad news for movies altogether from all aspects. Then again, I have not gone to a movie theater for an actual movie in some 20+ years. This as three or four theaters close to me in Southwestern Connecticut have gone out of business. One became an Apple store; one has been torn down to be part of an expanding railroad station to serve commuters who want to head into New York City.

I am no fan myself of this merger for not just those reasons mentioned by brierose and comicfan. But, like everything else, it boils down to politics when you consider some on the board of Netflix. Look into it.

Agreed this is not good news for theatrical releases among other things. The headline in this post is not quite accurate, Netflix won the bidding war for WB but the acquisition is not complete yet…

There are regulatory hurdles which sadly aren’t at robust as they should be. There are many in the industry who are opposed and IMO that’s the bigger hurdle to this deal actually being completed.

This has been the talk everywhere. Bad news for theatrical and physical media IMO. Ted Sarandos already said this morning that they want to shorten WB's theatrical window.

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/netflix-warner-bros-movies-theaters-buying-studio-1236601073/