Lights, camera, action! Netflix is bringing the big screen magic to your living room with two sensational releases, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” captivating audiences worldwide. Ted Sarandos himself assures us that these blockbusters would shine just as bright, no matter the size of the screen. Join me as we delve into the buzz surrounding these Netflix gems that are taking the entertainment world by storm!
Ted Sarandos on the Potential Success of ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ on Netflix
In a revealing interview with the New York Times, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos expressed his confidence that the 2023 blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” would have “enjoyed just as big an audience” on the streaming platform as they did in theaters. Both films, which turned into the cultural sensation known as “Barbenheimer,” were major box office hits, with “Barbie” raking in $1.44 billion globally and “Oppenheimer” grossing $951 million.
Netflix’s Strategy for Blockbuster Content
Sarandos elaborated on Netflix’s approach to selecting content, emphasizing that there isn’t a formulaic method to determine what works best for the platform. “The best version of something may work really well for Netflix but just hasn’t worked to date,” he said. He highlighted that Netflix avoids certain types of content, like breaking news, because there are already established outlets for it. Essentially, people don’t turn to Netflix for their news fix.
Why Size Doesn’t Matter for Movie Success
Addressing the notion that certain movies might need a theatrical release to be successful, Sarandos made it clear he doesn’t agree. “There’s no reason to believe that the movie itself is better in any size of screen for all people,” he asserted, citing a personal example: “My son’s an editor. He is 28 years old, and he watched ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on his phone.” This underscores his belief that the platform a movie is released on doesn’t necessarily impact its success.
The Blend of Content that Keeps Netflix on Top
While some might speculate whether Netflix might change its strategy post-Scott Stuber’s exit as film chairman, Sarandos confirmed that there are no plans to alter the current mix of licensed and original films. Netflix’s original movies are already drawing “some of the biggest audiences in the world,” he pointed out.
Sarandos emphasized that a balanced approach—combining first-window, second-window, and deep-catalog content—is what makes Netflix’s formula successful. “We think that formula works best to entertain the world,” he concluded.