☀️ WB-NETFLIX Breakdown: Layoffs, Movies, TV, More
MATTEL enlists Diesel / SEARCHLIGHT + 'Las Culturistas' / PEACOCK gets 'Clue'
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, December 5, 2025.
Where Hollywood may now very well be losing (another) one of its storied theatrical movie studios . . . but given the viewing habits of the youngest members of Gen Alpha — the chances of them having an attention span to sit through a movie by the time they’re teens is probably slim anyway.
According to a new Pew Research study:
Over 1/3 say their baby does so daily.
While no indication was given as to how much of this is done on phones/tablets — based on observable behavior of parents and kids out in the world, I’m gonna guess a lot of this is being done with the screen right in front of their face and not on TVs.
So, be sure to like and subscribe to The Ankler now here on YT, baby Tyler! Richard and I always say it’s never too early to learn about the Hollywood box office — perfect follow-up after Ms. Rachel time.
WELL: Who’da thought AMAZON would be the tech-focused company giving big support to the theatrical movie business in the end? Love seeing the new Project Hail Mary trailer being chosen for the slot right after the TNF game ended last night.
AND: SXSW will open with I Love Boosters from Boots Reilly (boosters meaning shoplifters).
ALSO: Here is your AFI Motion Pictures of the Year list (it doesn’t give out a top prize), as well as your top TV series.
THEN: The FOX Upfront will be on Monday, May 11, at the New York City Center. TUBI will also hold a NewFronts presentation on March 24.
PLUS: AMAZON released a FIRE TV device AI tool where you can ask it to (supposedly) find any scene in a movie by speaking a description into the remote. TBA how many times it’ll be used for “Find me the nude scene in . . . “ (uh, for the record, that was not part of the example uses listed in the press release).
Note — you’ll also need a PRIME / PRIME VIDEO subscription to use, in addition to having a FIRE TV device.
WAKEUP BOX OFFICE POLL
WBD delayed me from voting on my own poll… but count me in with the 25% on Five Nights At Freddy’s 2
NEW POD
NETFLIX BROS. it is! Let the “cost efficiencies” begin . . .
So, hey, let’s look at the upside — Zaz definitely didn’t need until Christmas to get his big payday sorted! Also, that strongly-worded letter from PARAMOUNT yesterday also makes a lot more sense in retrospect.
Probably helpful to dive into the deal specifics first, but make no mistake — this is at its core a disaster for the movie business, particularly the movie theater business. The lack of reassurance about supporting theatrical releases — or NETFLIX management really having any sincere enthusiasm for the tenets of the theatrical business — on the NETFLIX investors call this morning really says it all.
The benefits for NETFLIX “members” (i.e., subscribers) were put above all else, so expect that to be the raison d’être once those pesky existing deals to release near-term upcoming movies in theaters have passed. At minimum, I’d windows for WB movies will be different. And by different I mean worse.
The likely changes ahead here at NETFLIX BROS. (or I guess we could call the movie studio itself WARNERFLIX to at least preserve the legacy better), combined with whatever adjustments Jeff Shell is going to make to PARAMOUNT’s movie release strategy in 2026 . . . well, CINEMACON should be lively this year.
But let’s look at the big picture across all sectors, then dive into the areas of the business really affected, and the massive layoffs that loom.