Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a new agreement that grants Netflix first-to-stream rights for Sony films worldwide. The deal expands Netflix’s existing exclusive U.S. rights to Sony movies. Upcoming projects set to debut on Netflix include the live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda and four biopics about The Beatles.
Sony films will become available on Netflix during the “Pay-1” window, the first streaming period following theatrical releases and video-on-demand availability. Netflix will also license an undisclosed number of films and television shows from the Sony Pictures back catalog to expand its library.
The new arrangement “will roll out gradually” as licensing rights become available, with full availability expected sometime in 2029. Both companies described the agreement as “multi-year,” but did not disclose its exact duration.
The partnership has delivered strong results previously. Titles such as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Uncharted, and Anyone But You achieved significant popularity during their second runs on Netflix. Netflix also transformed Sony Animation’s streaming success KPop Demon Hunters into a profitable theatrical release.
Variety reported that Netflix will pay Sony more than $7 billion for the deal.
Netflix maintains a similar arrangement with Universal, which has delivered other Nintendo adaptations to the platform, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Beyond content licensing, Netflix plans to acquire Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion. Paramount has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming the company disregarded Paramount’s competing bid to block the acquisition.
