Sony and Netflix Will Keep Being Streaming Buddies

The past few years have seen Netflix get Sony movies after their theatrical runs—and exclusive access to some of the studio’s movies, like Fixed and KPop Demon Hunters. Even with the latter film’s ongoing (and now award-winning) success, Sony’s going to be keeping chummy with the streamer through the remaining 2020s and beyond.

The companies recently re-upped their partnership with a multi-year deal that’ll again put Sony movies on Netflix after they’ve ended their theatrical runs and left VOD. So when it’s time for, say, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Beyond the Spider-Verse, or The Legend of Zelda to hit streaming, you’ll be able to find them on Netflix.

Netflix also has licensing rights to “select SPE feature film and television library titles,†meaning we could potentially end up with another KPop situation where something really takes off and it’s locked to streaming forever, aside from any special-event screening engagements.

According to Variety, this new deal doesn’t actually go into full effect until 2029, but Netflix and Sony got ahead on this before individual territory rights open up later in 2026. It might also be a pretty expensive deal: sources alleged to the outlet it’s above $7 billion in worth, over double the $2.5 billion deal they struck for domestic rights in 2021. Executives from both Sony and Netflix said the deal’s been a boon, with Sony’s executive VP Paul Littmann highlighting the attention films like Uncharted and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse get when they hit the streaming service.

Between its ongoing Sony deal and potentially owning Warner Bros., everything’s currently coming up Netflix. It may have hit studios and the licenses to media from studios it doesn’t own, but can it have any greatness of its own making?

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.