Netflix is winning the streaming wars and for good reason, they had a head start, launching before any of its competitors even put the thought to paper. As if last year’s attempted run at the Oscars wasn’t a big enough clue, Netflix has been laying the groundwork to become the next Friday Night Box Office for years and with movie theaters shut down for the foreseeable future, 2020 might finally be their time.
Although most film festivals were cancelled this year due to COVID, there were some that still held virtual events and screenings where new films were acquired…most of them by Netflix for a significant sum of money. Here are the new acquisitions that will be coming to the streaming site this fall:
Malcom & Marie (Sam Levinson)
The film by Sam Levinson (Creator/Writer of "Euphoria") was one of the first feature length films to be written, filmed and edited within the constraints of quarantine. The romantic drama stars Zendaya and John David Washington and was filmed in July 2020 with all quarantine and social distancing protocols followed. While the plot details have largely been kept under wraps, it has been rumored to be a story similar to “Marriage Story” that addresses some of the similar issues we have encountered in 2020. Netflix paid a solid $30M for the film back in September. It is due out sometime this Fall.
Release Date: TBD
Bruised (Halle Berry)
The MMA Drama, directed by Halle Berry herself, is due out on Netflix this Fall after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival. The movie marks Halle Berry’s directorial debut and focuses on the life of a washed-up, retired MMA fighter who is looking for redemption as a fighter and a mother. Berry directs and stars in the film and her performance has already sparked Oscar nomination talk.
Release Date: TBD
Pieces of a Woman (Kornél Mundruczó)
“Pieces of a Woman” premiered a few weeks back at Venice to rave reviews, has been snatched up by Netflix and is looking at a Fall release on the streaming site. The film debuted to critical acclaim and Vanessa Kirby who plays the lead, was awarded Volpi Cup at the Festival for Best Actress. This win and acquisition means that Kirby is a definite Awards contender for the Academy Awards Best Actress. Kirby is best known for her portrayal as Princess Margaret in the early seasons of "The Crown."
The film “Pieces of a Woman”, directed by Kornél Mundruczó in his first English language film, centers around a young couple, grappling with the sudden and destructive loss of their newborn baby. Vanessa Kirby who plays Martha and Shia LaBeouf as her husband Sean, begin on an emotional journey after the loss of their baby.
Release Date: TBD
Outside of these acquisitions that Netflix has recently made public, they have also been building up their budgets for another impressive slate this year. Last year, Netflix entered the 92nd Academy Awards with a record-breaking 24 Nominations, the most of any company that year! Although they did not end the night with the highest number of trophies, 2019 was definitely a break-through year for the streaming service and its recognition on Film’s most prestigious night.
Coming off of their record-breaking year, Netflix is not holding back. Lining up a stacked ensemble of movies to entertain audiences through the end of the year, here are a look at some of the Netflix Original movies that will be coming to the streaming site before the end of the year.
Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin)
Written and directed by the well-known script writer, Aaron Sorkin (“Molly’s Game” and “The Social Network”), Sorkin takes the director’s chair for the second-time. Stemming from and inspired by real events, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” focuses on the infamous 1969 Trial where seven people were charged with inciting violence and counterculture at a protest in Chicago at the 1969 Democratic National Convention.
The historic trial and verdict sparked a movement and transfixed a nation. Backed with a star-studded case, “Chicago 7” will star, Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Strong, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Rylance, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Michael Keaton and many more.
Release Date: October 16th
Trailer:
MANK (David Fincher)
Described as a passion project, David Fincher is back in the film director’s chair after four long years off. In those years since “Gone Girl,” Fincher has worked on a variety of television shows and is returning to the “big” screen with his release of “MANK” in December. “MANK” is based on the real tumultuous life of screen-writer Herman Mankiewicz who wrote the iconic film “Citizen Kane” (1941).
Much of the plot besides the main character has been kept under-wraps, but Fincher has stated that he has been wanting to get this movie made for years. The “MANK” cast includes Gary Oldman (Mank), Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Charles Dance and more.
Release Date: December 4th
Trailer:
Netflix is out for blood this award season, eager to make a name for themselves after most of their nominations last year went home empty-handed at the 92nd Academy Awards. And with movie theaters shut down, many studios are folding and handing over their works to the streaming sites to get traction and viewership.
If we are looking at Netflix’s chances to go home with many wins at the 2021 Oscars, they are sitting in a great spot.
And that’s the sitch.
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