July was a big month for straight-to-streaming films. With theaters still shut down in the United States (and in large parts of the world) streaming is where the action is.
A couple of weeks back, I started dabbling with Google Trends to look at the big streaming movies in July for my weekly column. One thing led to another…and I ended up writing nearly 2,000 words on it.
I pitched it to Decider and they just published it. So if you want to know:
– What was the most popular film globally in July on streaming…
– Or how well Hulu and Apple TV+ stacked up against Netflix…
– Or how well Netflix’s action films are doing…
– And who–if anyone–is making money on these films?
Then check out my latest. I give winners and losers and talk about what we can divine of the economics in this one.
And the winners—specifically how much they won by—may shock you.
Cut for Room Thought: Since Tenet is Delayed…
…should Warner Bros put it straight to HBO Max?
Hmmm.
That’s essentially the question I’ve been asking in my long series, “Should your film go straight to Netflix?”. We’re in very different times than 2019, where I would have said no way. 80% of me still says, “No way.” (And it sounds like Warner Media agrees, based on their earnings call.) Potentially grossing a billion dollars at the box office is worth the risks. And then the film will be on HBO/HBO Max anyways.
That said…
…HBO Max needs something. They’re losing the Harry Potter films in August! The new Game of Thrones series is delayed for who knows how long. Is it worth taking a hit on Tenet to drive new subscribers to HBO Max in the US? 20% of me could see that argument.
