Warner Bros. Founder’s Grandson Blasts Netflix Sale, Calls Content-Only Approach a Low Bar for Film and TV

So here we are: Netflix now owns the house that Bugs Bunny, Batman, and a pretty famous wizard built. And yes, a Warner is not happy about it.

Netflix buys Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion

After rumblings all week, the sale was locked in on Friday, December 5. Netflix is taking over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for $82.7 billion, which means the Warner Bros. studio, HBO, DC Studios, and those giant franchise toys like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings now live under the Netflix roof. For context, Warner Bros. has already notched 2025 wins with 'Superman', 'Sinners', and 'Weapons' — the kind of wide-release theatrical hits Netflix typically does not chase.

Jack Warner's grandson weighed in — and he did not mince words

Before the deal became official, Gregory Orr (Jack Warner's grandson) told THR how he felt about the whole thing. Short version: not great, especially if Netflix keeps treating theatrical like a side hustle.

"The potential sale of WBD does not sit well with me. The industry stands at a crossroads and Netflix does too. It would be buying the deep assets of WB, which includes a successful creative management team and an unmatched theatrical distribution arm."

Orr's point is pretty simple: if you buy Warner Bros., you are also buying the responsibility to put movies in theaters like they matter. Netflix historically rolls out its films in a handful of theaters for at most a couple of weeks — think how it handled 'Knives Out 3', aka 'Wake Up Dead Man' — then pulls the ripcord and drops everything on the service. That strategy does not exactly vibe with a studio that built its legacy on big theatrical runs.

He also made a case for why the shared, in-person part actually matters, beyond nostalgia. Paraphrasing him: watching at home is convenient, sure, but being in a dark theater with other people is a different, necessary kind of experience — especially when real-world togetherness keeps shrinking.

"The idea of only making 'content' is such a low bar for the medium of film and TV. It's like saying all paintings need only satisfy the needs of a dental waiting room."

Why this is a collision of two very different playbooks

This whole thing is a bit wild when you think about how Netflix operates versus what it just bought. Warner Bros. has a massive theatrical machine; Netflix has been proudly streaming-first. If Netflix wants the WB magic, it might have to change how it thinks about opening weekends, movie theaters, and the life of a film beyond the algorithm.

• The deal: Netflix confirmed its $82.7 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery on Friday, December 5.
• What Netflix now owns: Warner Bros. studio, HBO, DC Studios, and big-ticket franchises like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
• What WB did this year: released 2025 hits including 'Superman', 'Sinners', and 'Weapons'.
• Netflix's usual move: limited theatrical releases — a small number of theaters for up to two weeks — before going all-in on streaming (see 'Wake Up Dead Man').
• Orr's warning: if you buy a studio with an 'unmatched theatrical distribution arm', act like a steward of theatrical, not just a content pipeline.
• Timeline note: Orr spoke to THR before the sale was officially confirmed.

My read: this is more than a logo change. It is a culture test. Netflix just acquired a studio that treats movie theaters as the main event. If it keeps treating theatrical like a brief promo window, it risks sanding down what makes Warner Bros. matter. If it leans in? That could actually be a plot twist worth watching.