BREAKING: While Hollywood studios and exhibitors endlessly spar over shortening the window between theatrical and home viewing on feature films, you just knew that someone was going to take a bona fide movie, bypass theaters and go right to home viewing. Not surprisingly, it’s Netflix, already a disruptive force with series including House Of Cards and Orange Is The New Black. The pay service has just contracted with The Weinstein Company’s Harvey Weinstein to release its first major feature film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend. Sort of a sequel to the Ang Lee-directed 2000 martial arts epic that won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, the film will premiere exclusively on Netflix, and it will simultaneously have a berth in IMAX theaters. The release is August 28, 2015.
Yuen Wo-Ping is directing a script by John Fusco, and Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen star. Lee is not involved in this, and the connective tissue is the source material based on the Crane-Iron Pentalogy by Wang Du Lu. Crouching Tiger was the fourth book in the series, and this film is based on the fifth installment, Silver Vase, Iron Knight. Both are from Wu Sia, the centuries-old genre of Chinese fiction that this series is part of. There is plenty of high-wire sword fighting along with the themes of lost love, young love and redemption. Yeoh reprises her role as Yu Shu-Lien, and Donnie Yen plays Silent Wolf. The film is shooting in New Zealand. Yuen is a legendary filmmaker and fight choreographer, and the production team is composed of all seasoned feature players. Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey are producing with Weinstein and The Imitation Game helmer Morten Tyldum is exec producing with Ralph Winter, Anthony Wong and Bey Logan.
This isn’t the only feature film that Netflix is working on, but it likely will be the first one released. Fusco, Harvey Weinstein and Netflix also are in business on the mammoth event series Marco Polo, and the TWC catalog of films, including those directed by Quentin Tarantino, are available on demand to Netflix subscribers. TWC already has branched into other distribution models with its multi-platform releasing arm RADiUS, but this more closely mirrors the Golden Age of cable television that is partly fueled by the ability for viewers to watch what they want, when they want it. That has not been possible with feature films until now. TWC and Sony had battled several years ago over the rights to the Crouching Tiger books left behind by the author, who died in 1977. SPC released the 4-Oscar-winning original. Reports quoted his son, Hong Wang, saying his family made very little money from the original film, and that is why they made another deal. TWC then made the movie, going in with a budget north of $20 million.
Recent Comments
Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, who has thumbed his nose at exhibitors in the past, understandably considers this a coup to get a branded title with global appeal.
“Fans will have unprecedented choice in how they enjoy an amazing and memorable film that combines intense action and incredible beauty,” he said in a statement. “We are honored to be working with Harvey Weinstein and a world-class team of creators to bring this epic story to people all over the world and to partner with IMAX, a brand that represents the highest quality of immersive entertainment, in the distribution of this film.”
Weinstein was a bit more reserved in his statement: “The moviegoing experience is evolving quickly and profoundly, and Netflix is unquestionably at the forefront of that movement. We are tremendously excited to be continuing our great relationship with Netflix and bringing to fans all over the world the latest chapter in this amazing and intriguing story.”
Being along for the ride helps IMAX broaden its horizons, per senior executive Greg Foster. “IMAX has a terrific opportunity, via this partnership with Netflix, to release Crouching Tiger – a high-quality action-packed film that is right in our wheelhouse, at the end of the summer blockbuster season,” he said. “We are particularly hopeful it will play in our highly successful China market. In territories where we simultaneously release with Netflix, we are excited to offer consumers the option of deciding how, when and where they want to view the film, and exhibitors the opportunity to participate in this alternative form of content in a new and innovative way.”
Will the status quo theater chains see it that way?
ie, TWC needs someone to write the check, and Netflix doesn’t read scripts. great match!
Wow. Not sure what to say here. Netflix, the new “savior” is going to green light a sequel to an overrated Minor hit from the last century. (Yeah, I know. A lot of people believe a century is somehow 0-1999 but that would leave it one year short. CTHD was made and released last Century.) Sounds a little like a normal studio decision to me. And not exactly a smart one.
Actually you have to count 0-1 as a year…
a century is 100 years. not 2,000
looks like you need a dictionary AND a calculator…not exactly a smart one.
Instead of funding movies that don’t need to be made, Netflix should beef up its licensing deals because its streaming library is P A T H E T I C !
Pathetic as in good, right? Im not so hip to understand the latest trendy vernacular with the U2 crowd.
The reason Netflix streaming content is so bad is because, 10 years ago, the movie studios refused to license premium content to Netflix unless they coughed up billions of dollars. Ever since then, Netflix put studio content on the back burner and focused on creating their own content. They have essentially done an end run around the studios and gave them a big middle finger. Much respect to Netflix for not giving in to studio extortion and paving the way for the rest of us
Sorry man, it was a pretty big hit. 220 million gross on a 17 millions dollar budget.
A minor hit… That grossed 128 million dollar in the US (a subtitled movie!) and won 4 Oscars. Right, minor.
I like Netflix, but I still like moive theaters. The studios just need to sit down with the Movie Theaters and figure out to make it more appealing for their customers. Cheaper prices cough Cheaper food cough better foot cough, better facilities cough cough.
I’ve been thinking that theaters need a better variety of foot for quite a while now. They need more salt…cough, cough…
Bad choice of subject matter, Netflix. Glossy, showy, empty action will continue to be the province of movie theaters. That’s the one area they should just leave to the competition.
Why would anyone watch this at home when they could go to the IMAX? Same with Gravity or Guardians of the Galaxy…those are the types of movies Netflix should stay away from. There are plenty of other things to do.
Netflix needs to set its sights on making the next Citizen Kane because the movie studios are too busy making Transformers.
Another problem: why is Netflix making two hour stories? The two hour format was designed for people sitting in a movie theater. Netflix doesn’t have that constraint and shouldn’t allow old media to dictate what they do. Tell the story in whatever length is right – 20 minutes or 20 years. Forget the old rules, they don’t apply.
I don’t disagree that movies in general and action movies in particular are better enjoyed in the cinema. But the times they are a changin’. But I do disagree that the implication that the action in CTHD was in any way empty. The reason the movie was so successful in this country was because of the emotional content (Bruce Lee reference intended); the fight scenes in CTHD were spectacular, not just because of their physicality, but because of the way they incorporated the subtext of the story into the fight. They felt organic, not forced. Shoot, the first fight scene doesn’t even happen until the movie’s like 20 minutes in, and it remains the only time I ever saw a fight scene get a standing ovation in an movie theater.
What in the hell is a crouching tiger???
You’ll find out when you’re an adult.
Weinstein will probably want this movie in English because you know, the public is too stupid to read subtitles. Oh wait, it is in English!
Movie theaters are like the taxi service before Uber/yft came along. Theaters need to figure out customer service and better do it quick. New foods (why is the movie theater the only place on the planet that sells extra large bags of chocolates and red vines? They need to have cheaper food options as well as better food options – and same with drinks.
For the first time ever – I enjoy staying home watching netflix than going to a theater. That’s too bad. I used to love the theater experience.
Great analogy.
A few years ago it would be called Direct to Home Video or Direct to DVD. Now it’s direct to streaming. Crouching was a great film, which really needed to be experienced in a theater. Netflix is wasting a lot of money it could be spending on buying streaming rights to movies people want to see. Bad strategy all around. Other than House of Cards and OITNB what is there to watch on Netflix?
Netflix doesnt know dick about the film industry and I hope this backfires. Guess you can tell that I’m not a fan of this move
Lilyhammer, longmire, the following, breaking bad, mad men, dexter, the killing, Sherlock, Luther, the borgias, portlandia, sons of anarchy, walking dead, he’ll on wheels…any other question?
Most of what you mention are not Netflix exclusive. You mention them as if Netfix created them. Not so.
Honestly I don’t think so. If a Channel like FX has to pay $25 – $30m to show Avatar on cable several years after release, I can only imagine how much a big budget first run costs actually costs HBO, Starz, or Netflix. Purchasing what is probably a sub-$20m sequel to a well known movie is probably worth its weight in publicity gold. So technically, they’re wasting money that could go to a movie somebody might want to watch.
Their content is doing pretty well, outside of their original content (OITNB, HOC, Bojack, Lilyhammer, Happy Valley, The Fall, The Square, their standup specials, etc; ) with a slew of recent seasons of hugely popular TV shows (Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, etc; ). I will admit their movie selection is a little lacking but I never really used their service for movies (though Blue Ruin, All is Lost, Journey to the West, Le Week-end, White Reindeer, Star Trek into Darkness, etc; were all pretty entertaining).
Hope this experiment fails miserably
It won’t. It’s the future. Steven Spielberg predicted this a while ago and it’s coming to light. This plan is ideal; if you want to go to I Max, go to I Max and if you don’t, watch on TV where most films are seen anyway. Remember, the average person attends a little over three movies a year and this is in decline. Many films are now released directly to television/ pay per view at the same time as they are released to theaters. Weinstein is a pioneer in this with his last experiment being the release of SNOWPIERCER. It’s the future and it can’t be stopped.
It isn’t the future. The budget on the first Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was roughly $17m, there isn’t a huge demand for a sequel at this point (less so than Sin City and we saw how that turned out). This is simply the Netflix version of the HBO Original Movie that used to air on Fridays in the 80s and 90s.
I support it, it sounds like fun, I hope they make it a regular thing.
Theaters keep getting smaller, and home entertainment systems keep getting larger, 65″ curved LED TV for 3K people are going to just stay home, push a few buttons on a remote sit back and enjoy. Why go to a theater unless it’s IMAX.
If you have an extra 120K you can get a 105″ curved 4K TV.
If the movie was any good it would be released in theaters to drive more revenue than a straight licensing deal. Good for TWC, thank the check book of Netflix
I really don’t think this is Hollywood’s nightmare. The only movies that Netflix will likely be able to afford to produce consistently are lower budget ones, likely character driven ones. They couldn’t blow 100-200 million on huge blockbusters consistently (without a much larger subscriber base) and that seems to be what the studios want to produce, so Netflix is just going to be competing with movies that the studios were never going to make anyways.
Blow is the right word. The studios are blowing 100 to 200 million on the same old blockbuster formula. Companies that can produce quality movies that audiences can watch in the comfort on their own homes will take a bite out of the theatrical market. Studios should be worried.
Is this any different from when HBO makes TV movies? Doesn’t seem like it and that’s been happening for 20+ years.
If it cost $5 to see in theaters I would see it on the big screen despite having netflix!
To all the theaters and studios who think they need to raise ticket prices to beat “evil downloaders”, all you did was create more!
What else is good on tv?
So true.
If Ang Lee was directing, this would be a big deal.
But a sequel to a film that came out 14 years ago, directed by someone else sounds very “Raging Bull 2″.
I recently subscribed to Netflix and an somewhat disappointed with the quality of films, e.g., too many B and C-list actors.
I’d premiere CTHD2 on Netflix in my home entertainment facility if only to avoid the extensive and obnoxious commercials at the theater. I wonder how much IMAX would need to charge to provide a classic moviegoing experience sans the usual pre-feature assault?
I’m old enough to remember a moviegoing experience that didn’t include commercials- and I miss it!
Many Star Trek: The Next Generation fans have been saying that they would like to see new films with Picard and company made for Netflix. That is a franchise with name recognition that would do well for Netflix.
yes the film will be in english yes the film will be successful yes i will go see the film at Imax also. if filmed in chinese with subtitles it would fail. fewer and fewer foreign lanaguage films are being screen in theaters in usa and more and more foreign films are being streamed by netflix and amazon see foreign films at tiny.cc/foreign2015
A similar release strategy was attempted in 1983. For those with short memories, look up the “Pirates Of Penzance” debacle and see how Hollywood reacted to a distributor daring to shorten the window between theatrical and home viewing to nothing.
Just as they did 30 years ago, exhibitors will once again circle the wagons and refuse to run a movie out of protest to a day-and-date TV/cable home viewing run.
Movie theater chains will be strong armed into refusing to run the IMAX engagement and it will end up on just a few screens nationwide.