Netflix vs. Paramount

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The Atlantic

Politics, Society & Culture, News

4.3 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 December 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

It was a great year for Warner Bros. Discovery: Two of its movies (One Battle After Another and Sinners) are front-runners for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and it had a string of critical hits and box-office successes with Superman, Weapons, and A Minecraft Movie. But despite those wins, the media conglomerate—which also owns HBO and CNN—found itself up for auction with two aggressive bidders: Paramount and Netflix. The Atlantic movie critic David Sims explains why this deal could be bad for the movies. And our staff writer Frank Foer lays out why this deal could be bad for democracy—especially if President Donald Trump gets involved. --- Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Where do you find a clear signal in a world of static?
0:03.2	In a time of rapid change cut through the noise.
0:06.2	The Economist goes beyond the headlines to decode the forces shaping today and defining tomorrow.
0:12.7	Get the full story.
0:14.1	It's more than news. It's a trusted global perspective.
0:17.2	The Economist know which way is up.
0:33.8	I know we're months from Oscars, but will you name your top three picks for best picture?
0:36.1	In terms of who I think may well win?
0:38.8	Or who I want to win?
0:43.7	Mmm. I think I'm going to go with want. I think I'm going to go with want. I've got the same pick for both, honestly, as I do think one battle after another will win out. I would say Sinners and
0:48.8	Hamnet are the other sort of big players right now. I was hoping you would say one battle after another and sinners, only so I could have a
0:57.0	smooth transition into the conversation I want to have with you.
1:00.2	Absolutely.
1:03.0	One battle after another and sinners, two frontrunners for the Oscar for Best Picture, both
1:09.0	came out of the same studio this year, Warner Brothers.
1:12.4	Those are movies from very established filmmakers with big stars in them.
1:15.9	My name is Bob Ferguson. I don't know if you've ever heard me. All right, I was part of French 75.
1:20.5	But they were for grown-ups. These are R-rated movies.
1:23.7	You all claim?
1:24.7	Sir. Well, we believe in equality and music.
1:29.3	They were going up against more established franchise stuff, and they dominated the conversation.
1:35.3	This is Atlantic movie critic David Sims.
	...

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