Netflix S Us Movie Library Has Reportedly Shrunk By 40 Since 2014

Streaming giant Netflix has hit the news with reports that its U.S. movie library has shrunk by 40 percent since 2014. This will come as a blow to the streaming service that has been at the top of its game when it comes to the streaming industry.

It comes as no surprise that this would have been on the cards given the amount of new streaming services that have jumped on the bandwagon, with huge hitters such as Disney removing their content from Netflix in order to move it to their own streaming services. Netflix Originals was an obvious response to this, with a string of movies, attracting acting talent such as Chris Evans, Michael Kenneth Williams, Sam Worthington, Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. And it seems that it isn’t about to stop there, with the much-anticipated Martin Scorsese movie The Irishman recently dropping on the streaming service. Starring Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, the movie cost Netflix up to $200 million to produce, a sure sign that they are willing to invest in quality content in order to compete within the market.

Whether Netflix can compete with the new and upcoming streaming services is yet to be seen, and it seems as if, domestically at least, there will be some casualties when it comes to its content, the significant drop in movie numbers and the loss of some subscribers as part of a price hike to meet high production costs to name but a few. Recognizing that a more competitive market was a likely reality has meant a greater emphasis on original content, and with the likes of The Irishman, it seems that Netflix is focusing on bringing quality to its catalog as well as quantity. Whether such a huge investment is likely to pay off is yet to be seen. That said, there are already awards coming in, with The Irishman winning Best Film of 2019 from the National Board of Review, and talk of Oscar nominations already circulating. So it seems that, even if catalog numbers are down, Netflix will now be able to attract some of the best actors and directors in the industry.

Source: Streaming Observer