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TikTok reaches a deal with investors on its US business

TikTok reached a deal with a group of investors to form a new joint venture for its US business, according to an internal memo viewed by Business Insider.

The buyer group will include Oracle, private-equity firm Silver Lake, and MGX, an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi, per the memo.

The deal, which TikTok expects to close in January, comes more than a year after Congress passed a law that forced its owner, ByteDance, to divest from its US operations or face a ban, because TikTok was deemed a “foreign adversary-controlled” company.

The new US joint venture will operate independently in areas like US data protection and training its content recommendation algorithm while still connecting to TikTok’s global product and business lines like e-commerce and advertising, per the memo from company CEO Shou Chew.

The announcement is the culmination of a lengthy battle for survival by TikTok, which briefly went dark in the US in January to comply with the divest-or-ban law.

TikTok and ByteDance had sought recourse through the courts, arguing that the law — the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — violated the First Amendment. In January, the Supreme Court ruled against TikTok and upheld the divest-or-ban law.

Since then, TikTok has been facing a looming deadline to find a US buyer. The app’s future remained in limbo for months as the White House repeatedly extended the deadline and administration officials sought to work out a deal.

In September, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that approved the sale of TikTok’s US operation for around $14 billion.

Trump said at the time that Oracle and Larry Ellison would be part of the deal, and Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch may also be involved. Vice President JD Vance said the buyer group would include “four or five world-class investors.”

TikTok did not respond to a request for comment. The White House referred Business Insider to TikTok.




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Relocating for a new or better job was never a big deal. Then we had kids, and everything changed.

By our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband and I had moved twice for his job. We were in our 20s and excited for new experiences. It was easy to embrace the chaos of moving then.

When a third opportunity to relocate was presented, the choice wasn’t so easy anymore. Our family had grown; we now had a baby to consider. This move would take us from Houston to California, a place we’d barely visited. The whole idea felt exciting, but what would it be like to move halfway across the country with a baby in tow?

Having a baby made us think differently about moving

We asked ourselves what advice we’d give our child if she were an adult making this decision. We realized we’d encourage her to take the chance, so we decided we would, too.

My husband’s employer provided us with a moving company to pack, load, and transport our belongings. Unfortunately, the truck had a blowout on I-10 and was delayed, so when we arrived in California, we were without many of the comforts that make life with a baby easier for longer than we’d planned.

The beginning was rough, but it worked out. We embraced having mountains and beaches close by, but what we couldn’t embrace was the cost of living. To afford to live where we were, I’d need to go back to work. However, we’d created a little obstacle; I was pregnant. We didn’t know if we could afford to live in California with our expanding family, but we knew of a place we could afford.


The author and her family when her children wereyoung.

The author worried that moving with young children could be difficult.

Courtesy of Candy Mickels Mejia



When our family changed, our reason to move changed

Two and a half years after we arrived in California, we were on the move again. This relocation took us back to Houston. Thankfully, my husband’s company provided moving assistance once more.

Moving while pregnant and with a 3-year-old was exhausting, but we settled into our new house and our new life. Once we hit the milestone of two and a half years in our home, we celebrated.

A few months later, my husband was asked to consider applying for another opportunity. The position was outside the United States, and if he applied, it would mean we were OK with moving abroad. But were we?

For our move to California, we’d asked ourselves what advice we’d give our children. Now the question was: what life did we want to give our children?

We decided to give our children roots instead of adventures

Despite the benefits and experiences that come with living as expatriates, providing our children with stable and predictable childhoods was a bigger priority for us. We chose to have our adventures during school vacations instead of having an adventure-based life.

My husband did not apply for that overseas position and chose not to apply to any other jobs that would require us to relocate. We’ve now been in our second Houston house for 16 years. Moving was fun for a while, but we’re thankful we were able to stay in one place after the fun wore off.

And if our children ever ask us for advice on moving, will we stick with our original, hypothetical answer? I think we would.




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What smart people are saying about Disney’s licensing deal with OpenAI

It’s likely just a matter of time before we see the wisened duo of Rafiki and Jiminy Cricket weilding lightsabers on the icy plains of Arendelle.

That’s courtesy of artificial intelligence, of course, and a new deal between Disney and OpenAI.

OpenAI said Thursday it had struck a licensing agreement to use Disney’s characters and other intellectual property. Disney will also invest $1 billion in OpenAI and will purchase ChatGPT Enterprise for its employees.

It’s a major shift for Disney, which has historically been deeply protective of its intellectual property. And it’s a big win for OpenAI, which is on a quest for more content to feed its AI models.

For users, the deal will enable them to recreate Disney characters on Sora, OpenAI’s short-form video generation app, and to create images of Disney characters using ChatGPT.

Beyond the limitless possibilities for creative content, the deal reveals a lot about Disney’s strategy in the AI age and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of entertainment.

Here’s what some smart people in media, tech, and business are saying about the deal.

Nick Cicero, entrepreneur and digital strategist

For Nick Cicero, the founder of Delmondo, a social media video analytics company that was acquired by Conviva in 2018, Disney’s deal with OpenAI is less about AI and more about revenue.

Cicero argued in an X post on Thursday that Disney was aiming to solve two “existential” problems: creators using unauthorized Disney content and kids watching YouTube instead of Disney+.

“Sora gives Disney its first scalable way to pull creator-made content into its own premium ecosystem — brand-safe, trackable, legal, and ready for CTV monetization,” he said, referring to the practice of delivering targeted advertising to internet-connected televisions.

“This move isn’t about tech,” he added. “It’s about revenue physics.”

Peter Csathy, media consultant

Chatbots like ChatGPT rely on data to power their outputs, and when it comes to collecting that data, AI companies are insatiable.

The drive to collect data often pits AI companies against content creators. Numerous media companies have sued OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, and other leading AI outfits for using their copyrighted content without permission. Other media companies, like Business Insider’s parent company, Axel Springer, have struck deals with AI companies to license their content.

Peter Csathy, a longtime media consultant and analyst, said Disney’s deal with OpenAI is a “watershed” moment for AI and media licensing.

“Now THIS is a generative AI use that makes sense to me and I support,” Csathy wrote on LinkedIn. “Fully licensed characters, thereby respecting copyright and embracing partnership with the creative community (rather than theft of IP). New revenue streams for IP rights-holders. And overall delight by fans of those beloved characters.”

Caroline Giegerich, AI and marketing strategist

There are just so many cease-and-desist letters a media lawyer can send.

Carline Giegerich, a vice president at the Interactive Advertising Bureau who once led emerging tech at HBO, says Disney’s deal with OpenAI feels like a “can’t beat ’em, join ’em” moment.

“When I was at HBO from ’05 – ’09, I marveled at the sheer volume of cease and desists from the legal team when mobile video was up and coming,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “I thought it seemed difficult to fight against the entire internet, and it turns out it was. And AI presents a similar challenge.”

She also said the deal presents a valuable marketing opportunity for Disney.

“Important to note that a selection of these fan-created videos will be available to stream on Disney+. What that means to me is that Disney sees this also as a marketing and content opportunity, which it is,” she said.

James Miller, head of business development at Amazon

Disney’s pivot from aggressively defending its IP at every turn to giving it over to the world’s leading AI startup might be strategic for another reason.

James Miller, the head of business development at Amazon for media, entertainment, and Amazon Creators, said he suspects it’s a matter of “controlling the inevitable.”

Any IP eventually enters the public domain. In 2024, the copyright for Mickey Mouse himself — at least the sans white gloves version of the 1930s — expired, allowing anyone to use his likeness. Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Cinderella, and a handful of other Disney characters also entered the public domain at the same time.

“By officially licensing these characters now, Disney does three things,” Miller wrote on LinkedIn. “1. Monetizes the AI trend rather than just fighting it in court. 2. Sets the quality standard for how their characters appear in AI video (likely drowning out lower-quality unauthorized versions). 3. Captures data on how fans want to use their IP before they lose exclusive rights.”

Karl Haller, partner and Consumer Center of Competency leader at IBM

One consumer expert said that Disney might have gotten the short end of the stick in this partnership.

“Looks like OpenAI used the #jedimindwarp on The Walt Disney Company, not the other way around,” Karl Haller, an IBM partner and the leader of the firm’s Consumer Center of Competency, said in a post on LinkedIn.

He said he was “more than a bit surprised” to see that Disney is letting OpenAI license its IP for Sora and other AI tools, with some of the videos being made available to stream on Disney+.

“And what does Disney receive for this? Negative $1 billion,” he wrote. “Rather than receiving a heftly license fee, Disney is instead investing $1B in OpenAI and receiving warrants to buy more in the future.”

Simon Pullman, entertainment co-chair at Pryor Cashman

One entertainment lawyer pointed out that the deal comes with a lot of unanswered questions.

“This is a fairly stunning story all round with many questions,” Simon Pullman, a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman, wrote on LinkedIn on Thursday.

“Will audiences want/accept ‘AI UGC’ on Disney Plus,” he wrote, referring to user-generated content. “Will it be possible for Disney to unring the bell after three years and not extend the license? How will they protect against misuse and brand damage?”

Mike Walsh, technological change consultant and author

Disney’s $1 billion bet on AI is the right move for the media giant, according to Mike Walsh, the CEO of consulting firm Tomorrow.

“By partnering with OpenAI while suing Midjourney and warning Google, Disney is drawing a clear line,” Walsh wrote on LinkedIn on Thursday. “Remix culture isn’t going away, but it will be licensed, governed, and designed on its terms.”

He added that Disney has always survived new media eras with this strategy.

“The future of entertainment belongs to companies that shape participation instead of fighting it,” he wrote.




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Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos reveals how he personally pitched Trump on the Warner Bros. deal

Before Netflix made its winning bid for Warner Bros., its co-CEO pitched President Donald Trump directly on the merits of the deal.

The pair found common ground, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said.

“The president’s interests in this are the same as ours, which is to create and protect jobs,” Sarandos said of Trump at the UBS media conference on Monday afternoon.

Sarandos said he’d talked to Trump “many times since the election about the different challenges facing the entertainment industry.”

“The president cares deeply about the entertainment industry, and he loves the entertainment industry,” Sarandos continued.

Trump praised Sarandos on Sunday, calling him a “great person” who he said had done “one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.” Still, Trump said Netflix’s “big market share” in the streaming space “could be a problem” as it tries to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming and studio assets.

The Netflix-Warner Bros. deal reached on Friday is worth $82.7 billion, including $72 billion in equity. WBD’s TV networks like CNN or HGTV, aren’t in the proposal.

Rival suitor Paramount Skydance responded on Monday with a hostile bid in the form of a $30-per-share, all-cash offer for all of WBD, including the declining TV networks. Netflix’s offer is $27.75 per share, comprising mostly cash and some stock. There’s debate among analysts about whether Netflix’s or Paramount’s renewed offer is more attractive, as it depends on the value of WBD’s TV networks.

Paramount’s move “was entirely expected,” Sarandos said.

Paramount CEO David Ellison, who Trump has publicly praised, went on CNBC on Monday morning to tout his company’s offer as “pro-consumer, pro-creative talent,” and “pro-competition.” Ellison said his company’s offer had “faster regulatory certainty to close” than Netflix’s. Ellison’s father, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, is a longtime Trump ally and one of the richest people on the planet.

However, Netflix also seems to be building rapport with Trump. That could help explain why Netflix’s Sarandos and fellow co-CEO Greg Peters are optimistic about their deal.

“We are very confident that regulators should, and will, approve it,” Peters said of the WBD deal.

Sarandos pitched the streaming giant’s proposed acquisition as a net positive for the labor market, despite the concerns of many in Hollywood. He also said the company is “deeply committed” to releasing movies from Warner Bros. in theaters, “exactly the way they’ve released those movies today.”

That overture could help ease Trump’s concerns. Sarandos pitched Netflix as a great job saver.

“What the president has been interested in, in this deal, has been: To what extent does it protect and create jobs in America?” Sarandos said.

Sarandos warned that Ellison would implement lots of layoffs if his bid won and said the Paramount CEO promised about $6 billion in cost savings from a WBD deal. Those so-called “synergies,” in analyst jargon, translate to a smaller workforce, Sarandos said.

“Where do you think synergies come from? Cutting jobs,” Sarandos said. “We’re not cutting jobs — we’re making jobs.”

Netflix has promised investors $2 billion to $3 billion in its own cost savings from its Warner Bros. deal, however.




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Trump says Netflix-Warner deal ‘could be a problem’

President Donald Trump is getting involved in the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal.

On Friday, Netflix announced that it would acquire Warner Bros., including its TV and film studios, HBO and HBO Max, for $72 billion. If the deal goes through, it will be Netflix’s biggest acquisition to date.

Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Centre on Sunday, Trump said Netflix is a great company that has done a “phenomenal job.”

But he added, “They have a very big market share, and when they have Warner Brothers, you know, that share goes up a lot.”

“So I don’t know, that’s going to be for some economists to tell. And also, I’ll be involved in that decision, too,” Trump said.

Trump added that Netflix’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, visited him in the Oval Office last week. He said Sarandos was a “great person” who has done “one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.”

“But it is a big market share, there’s no question about that. It could be a problem,” he added.

Representatives for Netflix and Warner Bros. did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

The announcement of Warner Bro.’s sale has drawn criticism. Paramount CEO David Ellison was at the White House last week, where he objected to the deal on antitrust grounds, per a report by The New York Post. Paramount Skydance had been competing with Netflix and Comcast to buy Warner Bros.

This is not the first time Trump has become involved in an antitrust case. In 2017, he opposed AT&T’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner, saying it was “not good for the country.”

Netflix’s stock price is down about 7% in the past five days, while Warner Bro.’s stock price is up more than 8% in the same period.




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30 classic movies and TV shows that Netflix would own as part of its Warner Bros. deal

  • Netflix is set to acquire Warner Bros. in a $72 billion deal for its streaming and studios business.
  • That means the streamer would own a slew of classic movies and TV shows from the WBD catalog.
  • Titles that would be owned by Netflix include “Casablanca,” “Friends,” and the “Harry Potter” franchise.

In a deal that is sure to disrupt Hollywood, Netflix is buying Warner Bros. for $72 billion.

In the deal, the streaming giant would acquire WB’s over 100-year vault of beloved film and TV titles.

That means that not only would current hits like “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” be owned by Netflix, but so would classic movies like “Casablanca” and “The Matrix,” as well as beloved TV shows like “Friends” and “The Wire.”

Below are 30 Warner Bros. movies and TV shows that are set to become Netflix titles.

“Curb Your Enthusiasm”

Larry David in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Courtesy of HBO

This series focuses on a fictionalized version of Larry David, the retired co-creator of “Seinfeld,” and his daily life in Los Angeles. The semi-improvised comedy series spotlights David’s irritability and cringeworthy social interactions, and helped turn its star into a cultural archetype of petty annoyances.

“Euphoria”


Zendaya as Rue in a first-look image for season three of

Zendaya in “Euphoria.”

HBO

This teen drama follows Rue, played by Zendaya, and her small circle of peers as they struggle with addiction, sexuality, and mental illness. The show’s maximalist aesthetic inspired glittery makeup trends that took over corners of TikTok. The show’s third season is set to air in April.

“Friends”


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“Friends.”

NBC

One of the most iconic sitcoms of all time, “Friends” follows a group of six friends — and lovers, and siblings — living in New York City during their early adulthood.

“Game of Thrones”


game of thrones pilot

Sean Bean in “Game of Thrones.”

HBO

The fantasy drama based on George R. R. Martin’s novel series is known for its plot twists and intricate world-building. Not only did it create a global fan base and help bring adult fantasy to the fore, but the show’s popularity also created real-world travel trends to filming locations, including Croatia.

“Gilmore Girls”


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Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel in “Gilmore Girls.”

The WB

A classic, if not the classic, television portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship, this series follows Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore’s (Alexis Bledel) lives in the sleepy town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Known for its witty dialogue, seemingly infinite references to coffee, and reliable boy drama, it remains a favorite comfort show among original fans and younger viewers.

“Gossip Girl”


Gossip Girl cast leaning against a railing

“Gossip Girl.”

Warner Bros.

This 2000s drama follows a group of ultrawealthy private-school students in New York City as they move through champagne-filled parties, messy relationships, and college applications. All the while, the anonymous blogger, Gossip Girl, dishes out secrets in the background. The show helped launch stars like Blake Lively and a generation of aspirational New Yorkers.

“Pretty Little Liars”


Pretty Little Liars

“Pretty Little Liars.”

ABC Family / Freeform

“Pretty Little Liars” follows four high school girls reeling from the disappearance and assumed death of their friend group’s former queen bee. The girls are being stalked by “A,” someone who seems to know every one of their secrets, past and present. Full of familial and romantic drama, the show created a loyal online fandom who traded theories about A on social media in the 2010s.

“Rick and Morty”


Rick and Morty.

“Rick and Morty.”

Adult Swim

In its eighth season and still going strong, this adult animated science-fiction comedy follows the brilliant alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez and his anxious teenage grandson, Morty Smith, as they navigate multiple universes and their own familial relationships. The show is also relevant beyond the big screen, showing up often in memes.

“Sex and the City”


carrie bradshaw sex and the city

Sarah Jessica Parker in “Sex and the City.”

HBO

This HBO series follows four women in New York City figuring out careers, romance, and friendship. It centers on newspaper columnist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), whose voiceovers dot most episodes. The show is also considered a staple of fashion history, and Carrie herself became a style icon.

“The Sopranos”


James Gandolfini as Tony on

James Gandolfini in “The Sopranos.”

HBO

Few shows are considered as impactful as “The Sopranos,” which follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) through therapy sessions, the management of a sprawling criminal enterprise, and his chaotic relationships. At once depressing and hilarious, it is credited with demonstrating that television can be as artistically complex and ambitious as film.

“Succession”


Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin on season four of

Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin in “Succession.”

Claudette Barius/HBO

This series follows the Roys as the four adult children scramble for control of the family’s media empire. The comedy-drama offers an unflinching portrait of the ultrawealthy, what people will do for power, and familial dysfunction.

“Veep”


julia louis-dreyfus in veep

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in “Veep.”

HBO

This political satire stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a self-centered and power-hungry vice president. “Veep” tracked real-world politics’ slide into the increasingly absurd and was a favorite among DC insiders.

“The West Wing”


The cast of

“The West Wing.”

NBCU

Created and written by Aaron Sorkin, “The West Wing” chronicles the drama of the White House’s senior staff. It follows the president, chief of staff, communications director, and others through both national and personal crises. The show premiered in 1999 and won 26 Emmys.

“The White Lotus”


Jennifer Coolidge with white wine

Jennifer Coolidge in “The White Lotus.”

HBO

Since its first season premiered in 2021, Mike White’s vacation anthology series “The White Lotus” has developed a cult following. Each season of the dark comedy-drama takes place at a different luxury resort around the world, and follows wealthy hotel guests and employees over the course of a week leading up to a death. The show often boasts big stars, like Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Imperioli, and Parker Posey.

“The Wire”


Michael B. Jordan (left) alongside Tray Chaney, Larry Gilliard Jr, and JD Williams in “The Wire.”

HBO

This crime drama set in Baltimore follows a wide cast of characters and explores city bureaucracy. Each season focuses on a different topic, from the drug trade to the school system.

“2001: A Space Odyssey”


“2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Stanley Kubrick’s space epic pushed the limits of visual effects, resulting in one of the most groundbreaking works ever put on the big screen. Kubrick’s other classics — “A Clockwork Orange,” “Barry Lyndon,” “The Shining,” and “Full Metal Jacket” — were also made at Warner Bros.

“Blade Runner”


blade runner the final cut

Sean Young and Harrison Ford in “Blade Runner.”

Warner Bros.

Ridley Scott’s trippy tale starring Harrison Ford as a detective in search of synthetic humans in a futuristic Los Angeles has inspired countless other sci-fi stories.

“Casablanca”


Casablanca Warner Bros

Claude Rains, Humphrey Bogart, and Ingrid Bergman in “Casablanca.”

Warner Bros.

With an all-star cast made up of Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorrie, Claude Rains, and Sydney Greenstreet, this drama set against the backdrop of World War II is regarded as one of the greatest love stories ever put on screen. It also features not one but two famous movie lines: “Here’s looking at you, kid,” and, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

“Citizen Kane”


Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) makes a stirring campaign speech before a larger-than-life portrait of himself in a scene from Citizen Kane.

Orson Welles in “Citizen Kane.”

Warner Bros.

Orson Welles became a sensation in Hollywood when he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this movie about the life and times of fictional newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane. The movie’s non-linear storytelling and unique camera angles inspired countless filmmakers in the decades since; many regard it as one of the greatest movies ever made.

“The Exorcist”


The Exorcist

“The Exorcist.”

Warner Bros.

Before “Jaws” or “Star Wars” became blockbusters, this was the movie audiences lined up around the block to see. William Friedkin’s supernatural horror about a young girl (Linda Blair) possessed by the devil became a box office sensation and the first-ever horror movie to be nominated for a best picture Oscar.

“Gone with the Wind”


Gone With The Wind

Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in “Gone With The Wind.”

Loew’s Inc.

This best picture-winning epic set in the South during the Civil War made icons out of Vivien Leigh as the strong-willed Scarlett O’Hara and Clark Gable as the dashing Rhett Butler. The two would be immortalized in movie lore thanks to the famous line delivered by Gable to Leigh, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

“Goodfellas”


Goodfellas

Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta in “Goodfellas.”

Warner Bros.

Martin Scorsese’s beloved gangster movie is highlighted by powerful performances from Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci, who play based-on-real-life despicable mob wiseguys who cause mayhem from the 1950s to the 1980s.

“The Goonies”


sean astin the goonies

Sean Astin in “The Goonies.”

Warner Bros. Pictures

Under the watchful eye of Steven Spielberg, who came up with the story, director Richard Donner’s classic follows a group of teens who set out on a treasure-hunting adventure to save the small neighborhood they live in from foreclosure.

“The Matrix”


Keanu Reeves as Neo blocking bullets in The Matrix

Keanu Reeves in “The Matrix.”

Warner Bros.

Starring Keanu Reeves as a man who awakens from what he realizes is a simulated reality, “The Matrix” features action sequences and never-before-seen CGI effects that redefined the action movie genre overnight.

“Rebel Without a Cause”


rebel without a cause james dean

James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause.”

Warner Bros.

Nicholas Ray’s groundbreaking work didn’t just successfully tap into teenage life, it also turned its star, James Dean, into a matinee idol.

“The Searchers”


John Wayne standing in a doorway holding his arm

John Wayne in “The Searchers.”

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. is responsible for one of the greatest Westerns ever made. In this essential John Ford movie, John Wayne plays a Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his abducted niece (Natalie Wood). Along with its powerful performances, the film’s lush vistas of Western terrain have stood the test of time.

“The Shawshank Redemption”


tim robbins and morgan freeman in the shawshank redemption

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in “The Shawshank Redemption.”

Columbia Pictures

Based on a Stephen King novella, “The Shawshank Redemption” stars Tim Robbins as banker Andy Dufresne, who is sentenced to life for the murder of his wife, though he’s actually innocent. In his two decades at Shawshank Penitentiary, Dufresne befriends an inmate (Morgan Freeman), launches a money laundering scheme with the warden, and plans a daring escape.

The “Harry Potter” franchise


ron weasley, harry potter, and hermione granger

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

Warner Bros. Pictures

All the titles from the beloved fantasy franchise will soon belong to Netflix. Presumably, so will HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

“The Lord of the Rings” franchise


lord of the rings gollum new line cinema

“Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

New Line Cinema

So will Peter Jackson’s trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterwork.

Any version of Batman ever made


Michael Keaton with Batman symbol behind him

Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne.

Warner Bros.

Batman has been a cash cow for Warner Bros. all the way back to when Michael Keaton put on the cape in 1989. Whether it’s Keaton, Christian Bale, or Robert Pattinson, Netflix will soon be home to whatever version of the Dark Knight you’re a fan of — not to mention Superman and any other DC Comics character.




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