Netflix and Sony Pictures have announced a massive $7 billion worldwide Pay-1 licensing deal that will expand their existing relationship.
For the past four years, select Sony Pictures’ theatrical releases (and TV library titles) have fallen under a Netflix Pay-1 agreement for the U.S., Germany and some South-East Asian countries.
That meant that titles like “Uncharted,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “It Ends With Us,” “Anyone But You” and “Venom: The Last Dance” had their SVOD premieres on Netflix in those countries following their theatrical runs and PVOD premieres.
The deal also saw the direct-to-streaming global premieres of a number of acclaimed titles, including “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” and the smash hit “Kpop: Demon Hunters”.
The new deal starts rolling out later this year and will see the arrangement expand worldwide – select Sony films now going to Netflix around the globe following their full theatrical and home entertainment windows.
Full global availability on Netflix is expected to be achieved in early 2029 and continuing through 2032. Titles that will fall under this deal include the live-action “The Legend of Zelda” film, “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” and Sam Mendes’ quartet of Beatles films.
It also likely includes Tommy Wirkola’s untitled shark thriller at Sony Pictures. Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou star in that film that was originally planned for a theatrical release and is now going direct to the streaming giant. Wirkola, Adam McKay and Kevin Messick produce the film with plot details under wraps.
Source: Deadline
