In case you haven't heard, Netflix is in the movie business now. Beasts of No Nation, the new film from True Detective Season 1 director Cary Fukunaga, is set to debut this week, with Netflix picking up the film's worldwide distribution rights. The movie stars Idris Elba as a vicious African military commander who recruits a young boy, played by newcomer Abraham Attah, as a child soldier in his country's civil war after the boy's father is killed by militants. The film is getting excellent reviews and is an Oscar hopeful, but there seems to be a little confusion as to how one can go about watching it, considering its untraditional origins. So where can you watch Beasts of No Nation, actually?
Beasts of No Nation is unique in that it's being released on Netflix and in theaters on the same day, Oct. 16. This move by Netflix has caused some controversy, as the nation's four biggest movie theater chains (AMC, Regal, Cinemark, and Carmike) are all boycotting the film because it ignores the traditional 90-day gap between theatrical and home releases for movies. That means that if you want to see Beasts of No Nation on the silver screen, you'll have to look toward smaller, independent and arthouse theaters. U.S. chain Landmark Theaters will be showing the movie at all of its 19 locations, making it the biggest supporter, but because of the lack of other theaters, the film is getting a "limited release" versus a "wide release."
In a statement shortly after the news about Beasts' release was announced, Netflix CFO David Wells said that the movie "balances out" the company's line-up, calling it an "experiment" that would likely still resonate with viewers. Said Wells, according to Deadline: “We take something because it’s a great piece of content, and a great story. We think that’s going to match well with most Netflix members."
At the end of the day, the way Beasts gets released really isn't that big of a deal since many independent films don't see a wide release anyway, but the big theaters might want to get in line because the film may end up having a huge impact on the future of the movie business. Netflix has a lot of high-profile films they're working on that could have similar release plans, and they're the types of movies that people are going to want to see in theaters. Here are the big films Netflix is working on, so theater chains, pay attention.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Dragon
The sequel to the 2000 martial arts film that became a cultural icon is set to debut on Netflix in February 2016. The movie was originally scheduled to debut in July 2015 on Netflix and in select IMAX theaters, but was boycotted by the big four theaters, plus Cineworld, causing Netflix to reschedule. Those theaters may come to regret their decision, though: The original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon made over $200 million at the box office.
Pee-Wee's Big Holiday
Another big score for Netflix was securing the rights to Paul Reubens' next Pee-wee Herman film. 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure is considered a cult classic, and the next Pee-wee comedy starts streaming in early 2016.
Mascots
Christopher Guest is bringing his band of merrymakers to Netflix in 2016 with this film, likely a mockumentary, about sports mascots. While not much is known about the movie, here's the official synopsis: "Welcome to all the drama, intrigue and occasional excitement of the 8th World Mascot Association Championships, where a group of 'unusual' men and women, with big heads and furry suits, compete to win the prestigious Gold Fluffy Award and be crowned best mascot in the world." I'm in.
War Machine
Actors don't get much bigger than Brad Pitt, and Netflix inked a deal with the mega star to bring this vehicle of his directly to their customers next year. The film is a war industry satire inspired by the book The Operators, which is about the War in Afghanistan, and Pitt's character is based on retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal.
A Ton of Adam Sandler
Netflix has a four-picture deal with the comedian, with the first film debuting on Dec. 11. That movie, a Western spoof called The Ridiculous Six , caused some controversy over some poorly received jokes at the expense of Native Americans in the cast (at the time, Deadline reported a Netflix spokesperson's response: “The movie has ‘ridiculous’ in the title for a reason –because it is ridiculous... It is a broad satire of Western movies and the stereotypes they popularized, featuring a diverse cast that is not only part of — but in on — the joke.”) After Six comes The Do Over, a comedy about two men who fake their own deaths to start new lives. Plus two more movies starring Sandler. Hey, maybe the creative freedom allowed by Netflix will let Sandler regain the comedic heights he achieved with Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison.
Beasts of No Nation is breaking ground for Netflix as a serious movie house, and the streaming service is only going to get bigger. Movie theaters had better start accepting this as the new normal, or they may find themselves shut out in the end, trampled under the monster that is Netflix.
Images: Netflix; giphy (5)
