Film
Netflix Goes After the Movie Business With a Big-Budget Will Smith Film
- Will Smith buddy-cop film targets movie industry’s breadbasket
- Company’s $8 billion budget includes 80-movie slate for 2018
The promotional campaign for Will Smith’s new movie “Bright” included all the trappings of a Hollywood blockbuster, from a panel at Comic-Con to a premiere where the actor’s “Independence Day” opened 21 years ago.
Yet unlike other films opening during the holidays, “Bright” won’t be seen in theaters around the world. Starting Dec. 22, it’ll be available on Netflix, the world’s largest online TV network. The company, which got its start mailing rented DVDs and made binge-watching a household term, is now trying to upend the movie business just as it has TV, proving you don’t need to go to a theater for the latest epic film.