Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have extended their movie-licensing partnership through a new multi-year agreement that will keep Sony’s theatrical releases flowing to the streaming giant well into the next decade.
At a Glance
- Sony’s post-theatrical movies will continue to stream exclusively on Netflix after home-video windows close.
- The pact covers upcoming tentpoles including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Beyond the Spider-Verse, and The Legend of Zelda.
- Netflix also receives access to select titles from Sony’s film-and-TV catalog, echoing the breakout success of the platform-exclusive animated feature KPop Demon Hunters.
- Why it matters: Viewers who subscribe to Netflix will remain the first streamers able to watch Sony’s biggest franchises without extra rental fees.
Deal Size and Timing
Although the arrangement does not fully activate until 2029, the two companies announced the extension now to secure global rights ahead of territory-by-territory renegotiations that begin in 2026. Sources told trade publication Variety the contract is valued at more than $7 billion-a figure that dwarfs the companies’ 2021 domestic-only agreement worth $2.5 billion.
Executive Statements
Sony executive vice president Paul Littmann praised the performance of previous Sony titles on the service, citing Uncharted and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as examples of films that gained fresh momentum once they arrived on Netflix. Representatives from both companies characterized the extended alliance as mutually beneficial.
Library Component
In addition to new theatrical releases, Netflix receives licensing rights to “select SPE feature film and television library titles.” The wording leaves open the possibility that older Sony productions could become Netflix exclusives in the same way KPop Demon Hunters did; that animated film found a second life on the platform and ultimately won industry awards while remaining unavailable on rival streamers.
Upcoming Titles Covered
Major Sony releases set to land first in cinemas-and later on Netflix-include:
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
- The Legend of Zelda
The agreement guarantees that U.S. subscribers (and, through separate negotiations, most international regions) will see those titles behind a single subscription paywall once their paid-video-on-demand windows expire.
Industry Context
For Netflix, the Sony extension arrives as the company pursues similar high-profile licensing arrangements while simultaneously expanding its in-house production slate. Securing long-term access to well-known intellectual property helps the streamer compete as media companies launch proprietary platforms and reclaim content.
Key Takeaways
- Sony’s theatrical films will stream exclusively on Netflix after cinema and home-video runs through at least the late 2020s.
- The new contract, worth north of $7 billion, more than doubles the value of the two companies’ 2021 domestic deal.
- Netflix also gains on-demand rights to cherry-picked Sony catalog titles, potentially repeating the surprise success of KPop Demon Hunters.
- Subscribers can expect major upcoming Sony franchises-including multiple Spider-Man entries and The Legend of Zelda-to appear automatically in the Netflix catalog once their initial release cycles conclude.
The extended partnership underscores the premium streaming services are willing to pay for proven theatrical content, even as they invest billions in original programming.
