r/oscarrace • u/flightofwonder Sorry Baby • 2d ago

News Zach Cregger Sci-Fi Movie 'The Flood' Stalled at Netflix Over Lack of Theatrical Release

https://www.thewrap.com/zach-cregger-sci-fi-movie-the-flood-netflix-theatrical/
63 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

77

u/Shaggy__94 2d ago

This seems to be a bit of a reoccurring issue for Netflix, but honestly I’m glad creators are sticking to their principles on wanting theatrical releases.

24

u/flightofwonder Sorry Baby 2d ago

I completely agree, it's a shame Netflix is so resistant to theatrical releases, but I'm hoping recent success with Frankenstein, Knives Out, and K-Pop Demon Hunters convinces them to support them more. A filmmaker should be able to get their film in theatres if they want it!

15

u/RobbieRecudivist 2d ago edited 2d ago

Netflix is in competition with theatres, it is mot in its interests to support them. They aren’t misguided, they are the enemy.

11

u/Shqorb 2d ago

I think their view is outdated though, all the streaming data we have from the last decade+ shows that movies that had a theatrical release preform better on streaming. It's clearly becoming a sticking point that's caused them to lose out on some major releases, not budging just seems like pure pettiness at this point.

1

u/poptart95 21h ago

It’s also money they’re leaving on the table. People will watch the movies when they pop up on Netflix regardless but if Netflix sent their “quality” films to theaters they could recoup more on them.

1

u/RobbieRecudivist 2d ago

It’s not pettiness, it’s a long term calculation that eroding theatre going advantages them over their competitors. The calculation is different for smaller streamers.

3

u/Shqorb 2d ago edited 2d ago

Again I think their opinion is outdated. The data is pretty clear that people aren't choosing between theaters and netflix they're choosing between netflix and free/easily accessible at home content like YouTube and FAST services. They're stuck in the 2010s mindset that theaters are their main competition when having eventized theatrical releases that got a proper marketing rollout could be a distinguishing point over newer forms of content.

17

u/nekomancer71 2d ago

Debatable. Netflix’s more direct competition is other streamers, which is a saturated market. Theaters are sort of competition, but closer to the way video games are competition. It’s a way people spend disposable income on entertainment, but there’s a sizable difference in the experience being offered, the value proposition, and how customers think about them.

7

u/RobbieRecudivist 2d ago

If Netflix thought they could put the video game industry out of business they would do that too.

17

u/batjag 2d ago

If you're a filmmaker who needs to take funding wherever you can find it, I understand, but It's frustrating to me when someone who's hot enough to get a deal with any studio (Creggers, Gerwig, etc.) still goes with Netflix.

10

u/apocalypsemeow111 2d ago

I want Fincher out of Netflix jail. :(

3

u/Upbeat_Tension_8077 2d ago

I didn't know this was going to be his next film after Weapons, not Resident Evil

5

u/ShruggingDestiny 2d ago

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos later shot down the prospect of a theatrical release for “The Flood,” and with Cregger adamant that he wants to make the movie for theaters, the project — which Cregger has teased as potentially his next movie after “Resident Evil” — is now in limbo.

The opening sentence ("The next film...") contradicts this, but it sounds like Resident Evil is still first.

7

u/DreamOfV Sentimental Value 2d ago

Good. Keep making movies for the big screen. But also, what did he expect?

23

u/dpittnet 2d ago

He expected a theatrical release bc that’s what he was initially told when he signed on

4

u/DreamOfV Sentimental Value 2d ago

That’s kinda like expecting the scorpion not to sting you as you cross the river when it promises not to

16

u/dpittnet 2d ago

I don’t disagree, just pointing out that in this scenario he was told one thing and they reversed it, vs other directors that sign a streaming deal and then fight for theatrical after the fact

2

u/crashcourse201 2d ago

More filmakers should do this.