In a banner year in which Netflix has already vowed to premiere a new original film each week, the streamer is on track to continuing its conquering of the industry with a major new partnership with Sony Pictures. In the deal, films put out by Sony in 2022 and beyond will head exclusively to Netflix after they complete their theatrical runs. Netflix has also negotiated a first-look privilege for Sony’s slate that could enable films to head straight to the streaming service.
This marks an important step not just for Netflix but also for Sony, which will now have a streaming platform to call its own.
Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, and Paramount have all launched signature streaming services over the course of the past two years, which gives them a built-in at-home companion for all of their projects.
Previously, Sony had an arrangement in place with Starz, which is owned by Lionsgate, since 2006 that will no longer be in effect. Sony operates out of Culver City, California and its divisions include Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Screen Gems and TriStar Pictures.
Keith Le Goy, President of Distribution and Networks at Sony Pictures Entertainment, described how “Netflix has been a terrific partner as we continue to expand our relationship. At Sony Pictures, we produce some of the biggest blockbusters and the most creative, original films in the industry. This exciting agreement demonstrates the importance of that content to our distribution partners as they grow their audiences and deliver the very best in entertainment.” Netflix’s head of Original Films, Scott Stuber, expressed that “Sony Pictures is a great partner and we are thrilled to expand our relationship through this forward-thinking agreement. This not only allows us to bring their impressive slate of beloved film franchises and new IP to Netflix in the U.S., but it also establishes a new source of first run films for Netflix movie lovers worldwide.”
Sony is in the process of continuing popular franchise such as Spider-Man, Venom, and Jumanji, whose latest installments will give Netflix access to previous films in each series, and already has a few projects lined up for 2022, including Morbius, Uncharted, Where the Crawdads Sing and Bullet Train. This new setup will allow a streamlined system for all of their films, replacing its game-time decisions during the pandemic, which involved sending Greyhound to Apple TV Plus, An American Pickle to HBO Max, and the upcoming Fatherhood, and others, to Netflix, ahead of this deal.