- Sony and Netflix sign a deal reportedly worth $7 billion
- It means Sony movies will appear exclusively on Netflix first
- The rights will apply worldwide by early 2029
Netflix and Sony have signed a major rights deal – reportedly around the $7 billion mark – which means future Sony movies are going to stream exclusively on Netflix across the globe, right after they’ve finished their run in cinemas.
If you thought this was already in place, it was – in some areas. Netflix already had these rights in the US, Germany, and certain other territories. Now though, it’s going to apply worldwide, wherever Netflix is streamed. In that regard, it’s the first deal of its kind.
This is also a Pay-1 deal, which means the first window of exclusivity after a theatrical run. Netflix and Sony haven’t specified the length of the window, though they’re typically around 18 months – after that, Sony movies might pop up on other platforms too.
The deal also includes a selection of movies and shows from Sony’s back catalog, though specific titles haven’t been mentioned. Sony flicks currently streaming on Netflix in the US include KPop Demon Hunters, Uncharted, and Anyone But You.
“Sony’s impressive slate of iconic film franchises like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and originals like Anyone But You have been popular with our US audience and now we’re excited to expand that offering to our members all around the world,” says Lauren Smith, the Vice President of Licensing and Programming Strategy at Netflix.
This is going to take a while to reach all the countries that Netflix operates in though, what with so many existing licensing deals and other services involved. According to Netflix, we can expect full global availability early in 2029.
Given that there’s also a deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. in the works, it puts Netflix in a very strong position as far as its film library goes. For Sony, as long as it can keep inking huge deals like this one, it probably doesn’t need to think about having to create its own streaming platform.
5 movies to look forward to
So what’s on the way from Sony that we can look forward to on Netflix (regional rights deals notwithstanding)? We know that Sony and Netflix have signed a deal for KPop Demon Hunters 2 – no surprise really – but we’re going to have to wait until 2029 for the animation to arrive.
Closer to arriving is The Legend of Zelda Movie, now in production and expected to hit theaters on May 7, 2027. After that, you’ll be able to watch the adventures of Link and Zelda with your Netflix subscription.
All we know about the film so far, besides that release date, is the casting of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda. There are years of lore around the video game franchise of course, so it’s going to be interesting to see which parts get picked for the live action movie.
Another movie we’re very much looking forward to is Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, the concluding part of the Spider-Verse trilogy. Miles Morales and his friends and enemies are scheduled to show up in cinemas on June 18, 2027.
Netflix and Sony specifically call out Buds in their press release: the premiere date is set for March 12, 2027, but apart from that, there’s not much information out there on this one. It’s very much a case of wait and see, though we do know it’s an animation, so let’s hope it’s up to the quality of the Spider-Verse films.
The fifth movie we’re anticipating is actually four movies: director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) is filming a quartet of movies about The Beatles, due to arrive simultaneously in theaters on April 7, 2028.
Each film tells its story from the perspective of a different Beatles member: John Lennon (Harris Dickinson), Paul McCartney (Paul Mescal), George Harrison (Joseph Quinn), and Ringo Starr (Barry Keoghan). It sounds like an incredibly ambitious project, and filming is currently underway.
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