Is the Netflix-WBD Deal Setting the Stage for Continuous Battles with Awards Rivals?

The announcement that Netflix is in exclusive talks to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has reignited speculation about the streaming giants Oscar ambitions. Industry insiders are now wondering if this move could finally land Netflix a Best Picture win at the Academy Awards.

For years, Netflix has racked up nominations without claiming the top prize. Now, with Warner Bros.the studio behind this years frontrunner, Paul Thomas Andersons One Battle After Anotherpotentially in its portfolio, the question seems inevitable. Someone asked me if they were buying Warners just to win an Oscar, a seasoned campaign strategist joked.

Realistically, the timing makes it unlikely Netflix could claim One Battle After Another for the upcoming ceremony, but the broader implications for the industry are more significant. Forget about awards for a second. Consider the impact on the industry itself, the strategist added.

Nonetheless, the Oscars remain influential, and the prospect of the platform with the deepest pockets taking over a historic studio known for Best Picture successes raises eyebrows. Warner Bros. boasts a legacy of Oscar-winning films, including The Life of Emile Zola in 1937 and Casablanca in 1943. The idea of a continuous awards factory under Netflixs leadership is daunting for rivals, but its feasibility remains uncertain.

Looking at Netflixs Oscar track record sharpens the picture. Since 2018, the streamer has earned at least one Best Picture nomination annually, with contenders like Roma, The Power of the Dog, and Emilia Prez all falling short. Other nominees, including The Irishman, Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Maestro, gained attention but ultimately faded from contention. Netflixs most recent major wins include Best Director awards for Alfonso Cuarn and Jane Campion, with only a modest number of Oscars claimed relative to nominations.

Warner Bros., meanwhile, has seen limited Best Picture success in recent years. Eight nominations in the past seven years yielded no wins for Netflix-level contenders. Their last Best Picture Oscar was Argo in 2013, with previous wins including The Departed (2006) and Million Dollar Baby (2004). Yet this year, Warner Bros. One Battle After Another and Sinners are strong contenders early on.

Netflix might still present multiple Best Picture hopefuls, including Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and Train Dreams, but even these could face stiff competition from Warner Bros. lineup. While the $82.7 billion deal might fuel Oscar speculation, big spending alone does not guarantee voter approval; recent winners have come from Universal, Neon, Searchlight, Apple, and A24, demonstrating that smaller studios and streamers can compete successfully.

Major studio releases like Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Dune continue to draw audiences to the Oscars, highlighting the significance of the big players. Whether the Netflix-WBD merger results in an unstoppable awards juggernaut or simply adds a new contender for indie studios to challenge remains to be seen. On the television side, however, the combination of Netflix and HBO Max presents a formidable force.

What is clear is that the potential deal represents a seismic shift for Hollywood. The outcome will likely reverberate throughout the film industry, affecting both studios and awards season alike.

Author: Grace Ellison