Sean Musial, Managing Editor

Netflix is a billion dollar media conglomerate that originally started as a DVD rental service when it was founded in 1997. Now, it has revolutionized the ever growing world of streaming. The popularity the company has received over the past decade and a half is all chalked up to the many options on the platform, such as movies, TV shows, originals, specials and more. With Netflix recently buying the century dominating film company, Warner Bros. for $72 billion dollars, the entirety of Netflix is being shifted into even greater heights and the entertainment industry has been flipped on its head. 

The amount of media that Netflix has spit out to its trusty subscribers and audience is immense. It’s a huge reason for their success. Shows like “Stranger Things,” “Peaky Blinders,” and “Narcos” are some of the most successful originals of the platform that have garnished widespread acclaim. Movies such as “The Irishman,” “Marriage Story” and the most recent “Frankenstein” remake tells us that viewership isn’t just because of the TV shows they have. Other entertainment mediums such as docu-series, stand-up comedy specials, non-Netflix originals that come and go, sports events and even games in most recent years. Because of all these things, it reaches so many diverse interests of consumers.

The smart thing about it and the reason behind their financial glory is the subscription model. Without the subscription, anyone could watch what they have for free. Subscriptions create a supply and demand for the media they have; that’s a reason for the price range slowly progressing upwards as well. Originally, $7.99 was the starting off price for a Netflix subscription. In 2025, the standard subscription plan for Netflix skyrocketed to $17.99 per month. A premium subscription has even gone up to $24.99 a month. 

Because of the settlement with Warner Bros, the “supply and demand” will continue to skyrocket. The amount of new content that Netflix will be obtaining has the potential of making even more people who haven’t become fans of the platform join. Film series like “Harry Potter,” “The Lord of The Rings,” and the entirety of the DC Universe along with many other film series and solo movies will join Netflix. In the TV show department, they will be obtaining hits like “Game of Thrones,” “Friends,” “The Sopranos” and many other classics. For the most part, the running theme here is that a good portion of what was previously in HBO Max’s portfolio will now be passed over to Netflix. 

The dominant force that Netflix has over the years is undeniably impactful. Their legacy will already be guaranteed entry into the history books of “Hollywood” as a changing point for the industry during modern times. The future of the entertainment industry has found itself at an eerie crossroads though because of all streaming platforms. Also including Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu and many others that don’t include Netflix, these things in itself are impacting this new generation of viewers. 

This world of streaming has stunted the movie going experience in more ways than one. Going to the theaters is not as popular as it once was. There is no doubt that people still go, but the amount has definitely begun to shrink. Pricing, streaming and timing are all factors that can stop a person from going to the theaters. With streaming, people don’t have to go out from the comfort of their own homes and pay for a movie; they can simply wait a couple months for it to enter a streaming service. More times than not, that’s the defining factor, along with paying something on top of the subscription bills they are already paying because of their streaming service(s). 

The concerns that many directors have over the Netflix deal asks many questions. Christopher Nolan, a famous director and the President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), is at the forefront of asking the questions that need to be asked. The DGA aims for an industry that ensures vibrancy, creativity and encourages a genuine competitive environment to express the talent of each director. Nolan has expressed the negative impact this deal could have on directors and their teams. Also, the merger has a strong possibility of shifting the Hollywood power dynamic and the content that they control. The DGA in this situation are making sure that the deal won’t affect the livelihoods of the creative professionals that make these films.  

With the future of the film industry being very unsteady due to Netflix buying up the little over a 100-year-old company, many think that what Hollywood has become in the 21st century will change forever. Streaming can change viewership in more ways than they already have been. The jobs of the creative minds behind these films can become jeopardized or start to be much more formulaic rather than individually free. It will be a strange time for the industry over the next couple of years, and Netflix will be one of the primary notches for which direction they decide to take it.