LOS ANGELES – Stung by its failed $72 billion grab for Warner Bros Discovery’s iconic library, Netflix vows to craft its own enduring hits like Stranger Things and Bridgerton, leaning on originals and studio pacts with MGM and Warner Bros, chief creative officer Bela Bajaria declared.
The rebuff exposed Netflix’s greenhorn status against century-old giants like Disney and Universal, whose timeless IPs draw crowds effortlessly. Yet hits abound: Shonda Rhimes spun Bridgerton into a fifth-season saga with spin-offs and live tours; Extraction spawned sequels; Love Is Blind went global; Squid Game exploded worldwide. Even surprises like Oscar-winning KPop: Demon Hunters now fuel toys, McDonald’s tie-ins, tours, and sequels, despite a merch fumble.
Flops sting too, the $700 million Roald Dahl bet lags, $320 million Electric State bombed despite Avengers directors and A-listers, highlighting franchise risks. Still, Bajaria shrugs: “Hits and misses come with the turf.” With $2.8 billion windfall in hand, co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters eye 2026 blockbusters: Greta Gerwig’s Narnia, live-action Scooby-Doo, Assassin’s Creed series, One Piece S2, Bridgerton S4, and Little House reboot.
As YouTube and Disney nibble viewing share amid slowing growth, engagement up just 2% late 2025, revenue eyeing 13% rise, Netflix banks on volume, algorithms, and global reach to birth phenomena. Showrunner Jinny Howe boasts a “strong, consistent slate,” betting homegrown universes trump buyouts in a crowded stream wars arena.