Back when Netflix was just starting out, it seemed like the streaming giant was just saying yes to every kind of project. Though it has resulted in some great, experimental shows like BoJack Horseman, Stranger Things, and GLOW, there have certainly been some misses as well (like the live-action Cowboy Bebop).
With more streaming services to compete with, Netflix is now said to be changing their strategy when it comes to producing films. According to Variety, Netflix is now pushing back from producing roughly 50 films a year to only 25-30. Netflix’s head of their film division, Scott Stuber says:
“Right now, we’re not trying to hit a set number of film releases. It’s about ‘Let’s make what we believe in,’… And let’s actually put forth a slate that we can stand behind and say, ‘This is the best version of a romantic comedy. This is the best version of a thriller. This is the best version of a drama.’”
For now, it looks like Netflix is going to be more scrutinizing when it comes to their projects before giving them the greenlight. If anything, the strategy seems to be working. There is a lot of buzz going around for Bradley Cooper’s upcoming biopic Maestro, and their recently released film Fair Play starring Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor has also been getting a lot of critical buzz.
We also may not be getting a new season of Mindhunter, but cinephiles are all in for a David Fincher movie starring Michael Fassbender with The Killer.
Though we may not have that same gung-ho Netflix that just seemed to be greenlighting any project, I think it would also be great to have more quality projects released and spaced over time. Just look at the pickle Disney+ is in with their Marvel properties.
