It’s not TV, it’s Netflix.
HBO changed the face of cable television in the late 1970s, and now Netflix is doing the same in the streaming revolution.
The phrase “Netflix and chill” frightened Hollywood to its core. What if moviegoers opted for Netflix originals at home over their friendly neighborhood theaters?
Now, it’s Netflix’s turn to fear for the future.
The streaming giant has suffered a series of body blows in recent weeks. The streamer fired 1,000 employees, a shocking dent in the company’s financial armor. Then, big-name players, including film chief Dan Lin, got the ax.
The stock picture is even uglier, with Netflix recently hitting a two-year low. Viewer growth is under 3%, another fearful sign, according to “The Town” podcast.
The company’s upcoming “Narnia” reboot, helmed by Greta Gerwig, has a massive price tag ($280 million) and the enmity of many C.S. Lewis faithful. It comes on the heels of the company’s unsuccessful bid to buy Warner Bros., which nearly sealed the deal before Skydance entered the picture.
What does it all mean for Hollywood and, more specifically, the once-mighty Netflix?
Some of the company’s wounds have been self-inflicted. The streamer has spent years catering to the woke movement, with such titles as “He’s Expecting,” “Moxie,” and various Hannah Gadsby “comedy” specials.
That came to an unsightly head when the streamer debuted “Cuties,” a 2020 film with a movie poster so offensive it was quickly removed from the market. The image featured the child cast in provocative poses.
The film itself proved worse, including an extended sequence highlighting young girls in revealing dance outfits.
That’s all despite Netflix eventually standing up to cancel culture scolds on the comedy front. Dave Chappelle’s 2021 special, “The Closer,” sparked a massive backlash from the Left, with some of Netflix’s own employees protesting jokes targeting the trans community.
Netflix sent out a memo suggesting employees who didn’t feel comfortable with the material could find work elsewhere. Since then, Netflix has embraced rebel comics like Tim Dillon, Joe Rogan, Shane Gillis, and Ricky Gervais sans apology.
But the woke label has stuck in many people’s minds.
The recent imbroglio over “Narnia” is more recent and emblematic of a company ignoring an Intellectual Property’s fan base. “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” will feature Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan, a lion character that stands in for Jesus Christ.
That kind of thumb-in-the-eye move is typical of an industry that insults heartland consumers. Plus, while Gerwig is undeniably talented, she’s also renowned for her progressive instincts. Yes, her “Barbie” smash became Warner Bros.’ most popular movie ever, but the film teemed with feminist lectures and woke flourishes.
What might she do to Lewis’ beloved Christian saga? We’ll find out when the film is released in February.
It doesn’t help that Netflix has been accused of dumbing down its original content to appease casual viewers who might also be doing laundry or scrolling on their phones. Netflix has denied the accusation, but eagle-eyed viewers of some of its TV fare may disagree.
Either way, the streamer’s original films still often pale in comparison to theatrical fare. The streamer courted industry legends like Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”), Gerwig, and David Fincher (“The Killer”) to up their cinematic game. Fincher just announced he’s parting ways with Netflix, and Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, the Netflix feature “Animals,” got savaged by most critics.
Scorsese made his follow-up film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” via Apple TV.
The streaming landscape is also far more competitive than it was 10 years ago. Netflix must compete not only with Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and more, but also with a Skydance merger that will bring HBO Max and Paramount+ together to create a mega-streamer.
That doesn’t include competition from free services like Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. Each delivers a crush of ad-supported content across genres. Plus, YouTube’s rise as an alternative has the industry scrambling for cover.
The irony of it all? Netflix’s current woes might make for a compelling feature. Consider the backstage maneuvering that led to Lin’s dismissal and the firings of other high-profile employees. Lin previously let go of his film VP, Doug Belgrad, just before getting his own pink slip.
Would it make a binge-worthy streaming series or feature film?
Either way, it’s hard to stay on top of the pile in Hollywood’s ever-changing landscape. And it doesn’t help that Netflix, like other streaming giants, keeps raising its monthly price. Another hike is right around the corner.
Those buzzworthy Netflix shows haven’t broken out in recent years. “Stranger Things” bowed out in late 2025, and this year hasn’t had a similar hit. Even Will Ferrell’s return to sports comedy via “The Hawk” wasn’t the sensation some expected.
Americans still love a comeback story. It’s Oscar season, and Netflix has two films with awards potential – “La Bola Negra” and “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.” The latter is Fincher’s final Netflix project, a sequel written by Quentin Tarantino.
Will the duo help Netflix officials chill as we head into 2028, or will the competition make this year look like the good ol’ days for the streamer?
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Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. He’s also the host of The Hollywood in Toto Podcast. Follow him at @HollywoodInToto.
