Copyright slashfilm
Sony needs Netflix more than Netflix needs Sony. They need to partner with a streaming service, even if they move on from Netflix. Attempting to squeeze more money out of box office flops feels a little desperate. It's also a sign of a growing problem Hollywood at large is desperately trying to solve. VOD may be helping and DVD sales may not have totally dried up, but they're a fraction of what they used to be. Post-theatrical revenue is harder to come by, and flops hurt more than they ever have. The box office is wildly uncertain. Would Netflix like to stream "Karate Kid: Legends" after theaters? Absolutely. Are they willing to pay a higher price even though it flopped? Unlikely. The "wait to stream" mentality is part of what contributes to many box office flops, but that's another conversation entirely. The key point is that it's tough for Sony to justify this ask, which feels akin to looking for more money in the couch cushions. What's understandable is that Sony is trying to shore up its future as the box office continues to look rocky, particularly with a possible Paramount/Warner Bros. merger in the cards. Sony has a big relationship with Netflix. They sold "KPop Demon Hunters" to the streamer, and that worked out great for Netflix, but not so well for Sony. It's the give and take that sometimes works out better for one side than the other. Both sides have needs, and both sides want to be in business with one another. The era of exclusivity is over, and for studios, it's all about maximizing revenue. This just feels like a wrong-headed way to go about it.
