Netflix Acquires Warner Bros. for $72B: Seismic Shift for Hollywood

• Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros. for $72 billion, signaling a major shift in the entertainment industry and moviegoing.
• The acquisition raises questions about antitrust scrutiny and the future of Warner Bros.' theatrical releases, though Netflix's co-CEO supports a theatrical life cycle.
• Warner Bros., a 102-year-old "big five" studio, holds a significant film slate and library, including top-earning films and Oscar contenders.
• The deal is seen as an "unprecedented threat" to the global exhibition business, which has struggled to recover post-pandemic.
• The future integration of HBO Max and Netflix is unclear, but Netflix plans to optimize consumer plans with added HBO/HBO Max programming.

Why It Matters: Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition signals a major shift for movies and streaming.