Why Netflix Struggles To Make Good Movies: A Data Explainer (statsignificant.com)
- Reference: 0179132874
- News link: https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/25/09/10/1450238/why-netflix-struggles-to-make-good-movies-a-data-explainer
- Source link: https://www.statsignificant.com/p/why-netflix-struggles-to-make-good
The typical Netflix director has less critical acclaim and shorter filmographies than theatrical counterparts despite handling larger budgets. Directors recently turned down Netflix's $150 million for Wuthering Heights and $50 million for Weapons, accepting lower offers from Warner Bros. that guaranteed theatrical releases. The Electric State cost Netflix $320 million in February 2025 and received a 30 Metacritic score and 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. Netflix's business model requires filling hours to justify $9.99 monthly subscriptions. Directors seek theatrical releases where audiences watch films in one sitting without checking phones.
[1] https://www.statsignificant.com/p/why-netflix-struggles-to-make-good
never caring made us never quit (Score:2)
In my experience, I've found that people who make a lower quality product for more money typically care less about quality. And money, at least in the immediate term.
I'm guessing the same reason Hollywood does (Score:2)
Nepo babies.
Never ask a man his salary, a woman her age or a independent film director of why his parents names are blue on Wikipedia.
It's the consumers... (Score:1)
Remember, it doesn't matter what artists want to make, it matters what consumers wish to consume. Money people, money.
I have no desire to return to the theater to watch a film - I've got a cozy den with a large screen, controlled atmosphere, access to any comfort foods I wish, I can pause to attend needs without concern - why the heck would I want to risk $20+ per person going to a theater and getting a lemon of a movie, or intereference from randoms???
And yes, IMAX and The Sphere are gimmicks like 3D/VR, t
Quantity over quality (Score:2)
Netflix has always been more interested in quantity over quality. 90% of their original movies are the cinematic equivalent of shovelware. They get a cheap director, writer, and they might even splurge for a semi-big name actor or two for the cast...but then they just shoot the first draft of the script as quickly and cheaply as possible. They will put in a decent effort on a couple of movies a year because they are still trying to get that Oscar win they keep pushing hard for, but other than that, it's all
The film industry is dead (Score:3)
It's not just Netflix that struggles to make good movies. 99% of all movies released in the last decade haven't been worth the time it takes to watch them. They have become so poor, that I have just stopped watching new movies. I still enjoy watching older movies because the focus was to make a movie that lets the viewer escape from reality for a couple hours, tells a good story and has relatable, likable characters. It seems most movies today focus on representation, being unoffensive, CGI overkill and pushing the political agenda flavor of the month. A great recipe to make a movie nobody wants to watch.
Back office (Score:2)
The lack of depth of bench among directors is likely only one symptom of backstage issues. It's all fine and dandy to hire major actors, but the entire production is dependent upon so many people, from the director down to the "grips" and the other production staff that handle all of the responsibilities but only see a line in a list for credit for their work.
Focusing on hiring stars doesn't account for the experience needed in pre-production, for filming the production, and in post-production. If the stu
same (Score:2)
"Directors seek theatrical releases where audiences watch films in one sitting without checking phones."
Me too.
"exclusive content" (Score:1)
Maybe I need to give some of it a chance, but the exclusive shows and movies don't stand out to me. I have a list of stuff I want to watch from the last 100 years of cinema. The are tons of critically acclaimed movies I have yet to watch and that's part of motivates me to put on a movie. I feel like the platform exclusive stuff just feels like it could be a hallmark /lifetime movie. Filler.
Zig instead of Zag (Score:1)
"Epic" movies are just not their forte so they should probably stop trying. People watch Netflix to veg-out at the end of a long workday, which is not the same mindset as going to a theatre blockbuster. They can still offer epic movies, but by licensing them after their theatrical run mellows out (to get them on discount).
Maybe try more indie produced movies since they are relatively inexpensive, and if something catches on, then re-release it with big-budget effects.
Re: (Score:2)
That's a good point. Netflix is ideal as a home for indie movies. Keep the budget down, so that you can experiment without blowing too much money. It's where they try to make tentpoles happen that they fail spectacularly.
Simple (Score:2)
Netflix makes mediocre movies and shows, yet it has 300 mil regular subscribers.
Like McDonald's makes mediocre food, yet about 70 million people visit a McDonald's location every day.
People who appreciate good films don't watch Netflix. But they pay the same as those who do, and they are a minority. So why should Netflix bother and change anything?
political fanaticism (Score:2)
Way too much political fanaticism that makes no sense to anyone.
combined with brains fried on social media usage, you get an audience of drones that cannot enjoy any high quality dialogues.
Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz? (Score:2)
Well there's your problem.
Electric State cost WHAT? (Score:2)
Seriously, the Electric State cost $320M? What did they do, use all practical effects? Build all the robots?
Stålenhag's novel was absolutely brilliant. The movie was terrible. It could be a textbook case in how to create a dumbed-down, overly-literal, rather feeble film that absolutely misses the point of the source material.
They Cloned Tyrone is.. (Score:2)
..the best movie netflix has ever come up with, by a mile. Just saying
Different Goals (Score:3)
Filmmakers want to make movies that will win awards and get them acclaim. Netflix just wants to fill the content library and find just enough hits to get people to renew their subscriptions. For Netflix, a contract with Adam Sandler to make a bunch of mediocre movies makes more sense than trying to win an Oscar. For filmmakers, it could be a career limiting move to be associated with a direct to streaming content mill.
Re: (Score:2)
Either that has already happened, or Netflix doesn't tell me about the movies to which you refer.
Actually, I just looked over a list of their recent movies, and it doesn't look like there are more than one or two that fit the mold you describe. Most look to be Indian action movies.
Re: (Score:2)
Oh for fuck's sake, found the snowflake MAGAtard.
"Go woke, go broke!" Like when Barbie, which clearly demonized the male patriarchy (which is actually a thing) made $1.5B worldwide? That kind of broke?
Movies and shows do *worse* when they are less diverse.
[1]https://newsroom.ucla.edu/rele... [ucla.edu]
Netflix's woes have nothing to do with diversity, racial, gender or otherwise. Their shows are often not engaging, scattered, and just don't have the same kick that theater releases do, which is the whole point.
[1] https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/lack-of-diversity-means-box-office-blues-for-hollywood
Re: (Score:2)
I'm going to give Adam Sandler a plug here. After hearing about how he's richer than god despite making low-effort trash, I watched one.. and then another.. and another. I find his films consistently entertaining and pretty funny. That is HARD to do. They aren't Oscar bait even remotely, but if mediocre means 50th percentile, that is just not my experience objectively from how hard it can be to find a watchable movie, especially comedy.
You could say this model is part-way between a hollywood movie and
Re: (Score:2)
> For Netflix, a contract with Adam Sandler to make a bunch of mediocre movies makes more sense than trying to win an Oscar.
On that note, I don't understand why they're not doing all the DtV stuff that filled up bargain DVD bins in the 00s and made pretty decent money. Netflix should be able to turn out washed out action star films and cheap romcoms like crazy, but, instead, the action movies seem to end up on Tubi/Pluto while the romcoms end up on Hallmark, and stuff like Acorn gets all the breezy murder my
Re: (Score:2)
Netflix seems like the perfect place for the next concept trash to come from. Like Sharknado, or the sci-fi channel (before it became SyFy) promoting a new giant croc, giant shark, giant octopus or crossover film every other month. People love to watch low-effort bizarro horror/sci-fi, and it's so easy to churn that out. As much as they like making money, you'd think they'd jump on that grenade.