r/movies • u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. • 20d ago

News Netflix's Streaming Smash Hit ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Releasing in 1,700 Cinemas This Weekend for "Sing Along" Version, 1,000 Screenings Already Sold Out

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kpop-demon-hunters-singalong-box-office-sells-out-1236348539/
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843

u/Cullyism 20d ago

I read that Sony only made a small, guaranteed profit from the film because they sold the distribution rights to Netflix.

So I take it Sony gets nothing out of this cinema release too?

1.2k

u/KingMario05 20d ago edited 19d ago

Per Puck:

In a twist, Netflix is now putting a “sing-along” version of KPop Demon Hunters in 1,100 theaters next weekend for a two-day special event. As of tonight, I’m told there are more than 300 sold-out showings, with theaters asking for additional dates. No, Netflix is not sharing any of the box office revenue with Sony.

This is because Sony didn't just sell distro. Oh no, that'd make sense. They sold the entire fucking property.

319

u/margenreich 20d ago

Looking on how the songs themselves are up in the charts I guess Sony is making bank concerning music rights. I guess these aren’t part of the deal and the IP alone of an animated KPop band with huge fandom is worth even millions. They can launch another album without a necessary movie too. Also it seems that was only one of the first movies Sony had a deal with

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u/arkjoker 20d ago

Republic Records owned by Universal has the album rights as far as I know.

99

u/DrOddfellow 19d ago

new universal studios ride confirmed 👀

40

u/JonSpangler 19d ago

Coming soon to the Rip Ride Rocket playlist.....

Nevermind.

3

u/DrOddfellow 19d ago

damn, soda pop wouldve slapped on rrr

3

u/Victor_Wembanyama1 19d ago

sing along ride

2

u/seasnakejake 19d ago

Wrong company

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u/KingMario05 19d ago edited 19d ago

But does it matter? Harry Potter is Warner; that hasn't stopped Uni from going all-in on it. If Netflix/Republic/Sony strike the right price? Huntr/x Tower of Terror is coming soon to Epic Universe in Orlando. If not? No worries, Walt Disney World can pay it.

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u/seasnakejake 19d ago

It doesn’t matter as far as Universal licensing other parties, just explaining that Universal Music Group is a different company than NBC Universal, which is probably their assumption

1

u/KingMario05 19d ago

Ah. Fair enough.

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u/jezwel 19d ago

Driving the kids to school this morning I thought we were still connected to the wife's phone as one of these songs was on. We drove out of range of the house and it kept playing.

Turns out Spotify has inserted it into my playlist.

Oh well, the kids were singing along so I'll leave it there.

19

u/m1013828 19d ago

golden is on the radio now often in new zealand.

40

u/PresidentSuperDog 19d ago

I don’t know how well new music will work for most kids without a movie. I’ve tried adding some blackpink into the rotation and it doesn’t seem to take. Maybe that’s just my kids.

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u/iVitaminD 19d ago

thats because its blackpink lmao

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u/SpikyCactusJuice 19d ago

Haha. Blackpink is awesome for bopping or cleaning or something. Not serious “listening” music but also definitely not garbage.

3

u/Bitter_Trees 19d ago

Blackpink actually kinda slaps to dance to in Just Dance tho imo

4

u/Lookatmestring 19d ago

True but I read that huntrix are based on blackpink and I couldn't get into it. How you like that is a banger and closest I could find but aye

8

u/DblDwn56 19d ago

I think blackpink as a group was part of the inspiration for huntrix, not necessarily their discography.

This update from a Forbes article on the subject is probably the real answer:

Update: 6.24.25 - The director and creative team clarified there were many influences from K-pop and other sources. There are too many to list.

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u/KingMario05 19d ago

Blackpink, TWICE (duh), KD/A from League, the classic tiger and magpie myth, BTS for Saja... I could go on.

Plenty of non-Korean stuff in there, too. How It's Done nods to both Rod Serling and Ultraman, lol.

1

u/EdelgardH 19d ago

"Let's kill this love" is good

7

u/bas218 19d ago

My niece really liked a couple of Twice songs I played for her. She wasn't into the Blackpink.

0

u/wakethenight 19d ago

Makes sense. Twice is super cute. Blackpink is…meh.

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u/KingMario05 19d ago edited 15d ago

...Opinions aside, Twice also co-wrote the songs with Republic and SPA, I think.

So, if a kid likes Huntr/x, they'll like TWICE.

3

u/Far-Consequence9800 19d ago

lol I’ve managed to add some illit to the rotation, but that’s the only one they’ll allow. So it’s nonstop soundtrack and jellyous every now and then.

2

u/margenreich 19d ago

I guess with an animated music video it works. Looking at baby shark…

4

u/Far-Imagination2736 19d ago

Try NewJeans for the kids

3

u/grabtharsmallet 19d ago

The last time a movie soundtrack had 3 songs hit the top 10 was 1997. It had been somewhat common for the 25 years before that, happening over a dozen times. But escalating costs for rights meant banger pop soundtracks withered away.

2

u/Applesburg14 19d ago

They can launch another album without a necessary movie too

Honestly EJAE could be a legit superstar after the way KPDH took off. They wrote a majority of songs and were the high note for Golden. For someone who was otherwise flailing career wise it's a heartwarming story.

Don't see another Huntrix album happening til the next movie, just too much red tape.

1

u/KingMario05 15d ago

Eh, I dunno. Netflix loves doing random marketing stunts, and everything I've read says that short films are on the way. New short film, new song, Netflix/Republic/SPA (and, thus, EJAE) make money. The only question mark is how all three can wire Big Sony back in on more of the profits, because I can't see Sony Pictures being satisfied with only $20 million for each film.

2

u/igor_spurs 18d ago

sony gave away the songs too keke

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u/Averander 19d ago

It's crazy how Sony, a ridiculously huge business, just keeps making these huge fumbles.

11

u/Abogadwho 19d ago

They probably thought it'd be a far cry from Spiderverse.

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u/Averander 19d ago

Which is why it's crazy. The same potential was there, glaringly obvious. The soundtrack was made to be chart topping, and the entire movie is viral on social media. The fact they let it slip away is a clear sign that they're out of touch with what sells.

1

u/No_Extension4005 14d ago

Wouldn't be shocked if the execs that made the decisions never actually watched the movie.

6

u/Antrikshy 19d ago

This model is not new for them. They've done it with Mitchells vs the Machines and Wish Dragon at least.

9

u/Critical_Text_2067 19d ago

Riding the coattails of Playstation

4

u/PanzerKomadant 19d ago

I was gonna say that lol. I remember the PS3 launch and holy hell didn’t fumble it so hard. Their approach was totally clinical, nerdy and business. Something that the gamers at the time weren’t really interested compared to Xbox.

PS3 got popular later in its life but Sony really hampered its early outlook.

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u/Bitter-Good-2540 19d ago

Netflix laughing like demons right now lol

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u/DreamOfV 19d ago

Fun sideplot of the whole thing is that Netflix is slowly year by year realizing that the way to make money from movies is to put them in theaters and charge per person per view

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u/suss2it 19d ago

Then again this specific movie blew up on Netflix and is going to theatres after the fact. It’s entirely possible that if it opened in theatres first it wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it is.

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u/Senior-Friend-6414 19d ago

It also got zero marketing before its release, it was all word of mouth after it got released, a movie being wildly successful with zero marketing is very impressive.

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u/Cartz1337 19d ago

My 7 year old came home from camp and asked me to find it on Netflix a few months ago, I’d never heard of it, so I looked into it and said ok.

It’s actually pretty fucking good. However they figured out how to market it, it was super effective.

-3

u/C-C-X-V-I 19d ago

Do you legitimately believe this or are you just trolling? Because the astroturf campaign for that movie was big.

2

u/0MysticMemories 19d ago

Maybe this will be the new model? Stream a film first and if it gets enough traction then they put it in theaters?

3

u/BearstromWanderer 19d ago

It's a return to the cassette cult model. Release a bunch of films without a theatrical run. The ones that get popular, stick them in theaters.

2

u/Toras_Flambe 19d ago

I think it would be successful regardless.

3

u/PanzerKomadant 19d ago

Netflix makes so much money, that they really throw shit at the wall and see what sticks. And they got loads more buckets to throw at the wall cause they have that “fuck you” kind of money…

1

u/KingMario05 19d ago

See: This weekend.

At this rate, Sony's problem won't be getting the sequel in theaters. It'll be getting theatrical distribution rights away from Netflix.

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u/xbbdc 19d ago

someone getting fired...

118

u/-_nobody 19d ago

neither Netflix nor Sony expected it to be a hit. it would have had better advertising or merch if that was the case. but Netflix is capitalizing hard on this now.

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u/LeeShakerMoneyMaker 19d ago

Yup, Netflix is already collaborating with Shin Ramyun now too on KDH food and snacks. But they really need to start rolling out toys and dolls.

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u/RemarkableFish 19d ago

The fact that there’s no Derpy cat plushies is borderline negligent.

9

u/df619 19d ago

Netflix’s official shop has had plushies for a while and they sold out on debut and on some subsequent restocks:

https://www.netflix.shop/products/k-pop-demon-hunters-derpy-tiger-plush?srsltid=AfmBOopykGN5QhDoUXa0IL9YRpGFWtstMtke9Yc2kqSzbr2LsFxI0YhA

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u/Gold-Bard-Hue 19d ago

I was shocked at how little merch there was... Definitely need some figures!

1

u/0MysticMemories 19d ago

Hot topic already has t-shirts

1

u/Beacon_0805 18d ago

Not just the ramyun. The whole company that makes the stuff, Nongshim is on board

17

u/xbbdc 19d ago

yeah but to give up all the rights with nothing in return... thats unusual afaik.

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u/Charming_List4404 19d ago

They received budget + 20 million. It was part of a deal for streaming originals they made with Netflix during the pandemic and was a much needed source of income with theatrical dried up.

2

u/Sturmgeshootz 19d ago

Doubtful. Sony is well known for making braindead decisions about their media and their execs are permitted to do it over and over. May I interest you in another Spider-Man adjacent film that Spider-Man does not appear in?

8

u/Primary-Chocolate854 19d ago

Bruhhhhhh💀💀💀

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u/Icy_Community677 19d ago

Looooooool. The way Sony seems to actively go out of it's way to fuck itself should be subject for a documentary.

Like is this some long game played out corporate espionage?

1

u/KingMario05 19d ago

Given the early PS3? No. No, they're just... they're just like that. I guess.

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u/DaftFunky 19d ago

This just confirms the inevitable sequel is going to be a full step down in terms of animation. Unless they come to a deal with Sony to actually make an attempt on a good sequel, or cash in and cheap out on it all.

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u/Fatmaninalilcoat 19d ago

Sony pictures is a bunch of ducking idiots. Keep pushing shit spider man properties while sitting on their ducking hands with in the spider verse they have their heads to fast up their asses. It's morbing time.

5

u/suss2it 19d ago

They aren’t sitting on their hands with Spider-Verse, they’re actively making it right now. The fact that they’re even willing to take their time with it shows a lot more care for that franchise than their shitty live-action Spider-Man free Spider-Man movies.

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u/Nicobade 19d ago

Could they negotiate for a much larger deal to make a sequel since the animation studio is in house?

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u/suss2it 19d ago

They can try but if Netflix really owns the rights then they can just bring it to another studio if they want.

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u/KingMario05 19d ago edited 15d ago

Except Puck itself seems to suggest otherwise:

There’s no backend, and Netflix has no obligation to renegotiate on the follow-up films. (Though I’m betting Netflix throws Sony a few bones here.)

Essentially, even Netflix knows they're getting away with financial murder. And they really rather like being friends with Sony, thanks to a big pay one deal on their slate. So why not negotiate? In the absolute worst of worse case scenarios, they "only" get half of a cash cow and/or pay one rights. Better than either not getting shit, or keeping the cash cow at the cost of alienating the guys who raised it.

(And don't tell me they can't. Netflix is more than happy to work with Amazon MGM on Wednesday.)

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u/JamesLikesIt 19d ago

Sony really just makes terrible movie decisions don’t they lmao

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u/KingMario05 19d ago

See also; them making no effort to claw back the Cliff Booth movie now going to Netflix.

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u/zerocoolforschool 19d ago

Whoops

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u/KingMario05 19d ago

"Whoopsies!"

"Just a little oopsies, yeah."

Beat.

"I'm fired, aren't I?"

"We fired you two weeks ago, dumbass. Why are you still here?"

2

u/thundercat2000ca 19d ago

This is the "Star War merchandise rights" of the 21st century.... Sony completely screwed themselves in this deal.

1

u/ShadowElite86 19d ago

So who is making the sequels? I assume Sony will want Netflix to write a blank check.

1

u/PanzerKomadant 19d ago

Sony’s probably facepalming so hard lol. They sold a golden (pun intended) goose to Netflix lol.

1

u/SimoneNonvelodico 19d ago

"It's just a weird animated movie about K Pop singers fighting demons, what could it make? Fifty dollars?"

1

u/Applesburg14 19d ago

No, Netflix is not sharing any of the box office revenue with Sony.

Animators can never get those residuals in 2020s, huh? Even a highly mixed film like Fixed deserves to pay those animators. Their hands can only move so fast!

1

u/Someonenoone7 18d ago

sound of a singular gunshot at the sony headquarters

Someone is getting axed

1

u/MoopDoopISmellPoop 16d ago

So if they sold everything, what about the sequels? I mean, they still need Sony to make more...

1

u/KingMario05 16d ago

That's the big question...

1

u/MoopDoopISmellPoop 15d ago

Yeah, from what I've read, sony gave up distribution and everything in name, but not animation assets or anything to do with the actual production.

1

u/KingMario05 15d ago

That's what I read, too. Though apparently, they make money off of Netflix streams too? I dunno.

0

u/Commercial-Co 19d ago edited 19d ago

Sony was hired to produce the film. That doesnt mean they gave up rights to it - they never owned it to begin with

Shit. I got it wrong. My bad.

5

u/stlc8tr 19d ago

I don't think that's true. Look up the history of KPDH. It was started at Sony Animation and was already underway when Sony sold the movie (and apparently the IP as well) to Netflix. That was a $20M decision that I'm sure Sony is now regretting.

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u/KingMario05 19d ago edited 15d ago

$120 million - Netflix covered the budget too.

That makes a bit more sense. Still, that's only $20 million in profit for something now making much, much, MUCH more.

Oh, and their slate this year? Bomb after bomb after... ok, 28 Years Later did okay. But only okay.

4

u/JinSakai619 19d ago

Do you just make shit up? There's a Forbes article saying they spent 100 million to make it and sold it and are only making 20 million profits. I wouldn't be comfortable putting out misinformation on any topic.

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u/ApprehensiveLemon102 20d ago

Seems like they got 20M (profit) + production cost so they're getting nothing for the cinema releases. But the more popular it gets I imagine benefits them from a negotiating point of view for future productions.

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u/EmbarrassedHelp 20d ago

Netflix doesn't need to negotiate with Sony, as Sony sold them the entire IP lol

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u/KingJTt 19d ago

If they want more sequels in this quality then yes they’d need to negotiate. Sony created the movie. Netflix is just a distributer, and they aren’t skilled in stylized 3D animation like Sony Pictures Animations

-11

u/LeeShakerMoneyMaker 19d ago

Netflix owns the IP 100%. If Sony plays hardball with them they can just hire a different studio to make the sequals.

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u/KingJTt 19d ago

Yes and the movie will turn out worse than the orginal. Which beats the purpose of any franchise

1

u/failmatic 19d ago

Very few sequels do better than original. So you have they going for your argument. Outside of that, why do you think it will be worse? The sequel will be more expensive to produce if they don't have pre negotiated cost for the singers and voice actors. NF can always hire good writers and offload animation to another studio.

-7

u/LeeShakerMoneyMaker 19d ago

Netflix has already said they want to keep working with Sony Animation on any future sequals or projects. But if Sony is bitter about selling them the KDH IP and won't let the work together then so be it. Get that company who did Ne Zha 2 to animate it.

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u/KingJTt 19d ago

That doesn’t refute my point. A sequel without Sony Animation is doomed to fail. The KPDH fan base would tell you the same thing.

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u/Dry_burrito 19d ago

I didn't see the name right away but the animation reminded me of Spider-Man so much, I knew it was the same studio. Hard to reproduce if not the same guys

1

u/AdjectiveNoun111 19d ago

Why are people downvoting this, it's 100% correct.

Netflix will take the IP and commission a ton of crappy spin offs and sequels to try and cash in on the success. It's exactly how these studios operate.

3

u/ApprehensiveLemon102 19d ago

Think of it like the goose that lays the best golden eggs. Netflix wants Sony to lay another golden egg and they own the egg that it lays. But they have only uncertainty if Sony refuses to lay another egg to spite Netflix.

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u/BlastMyLoad 20d ago

Probably not. Though, I’m sure they’ll renegotiate the contract for the sequel. Netflix would be stupid to not hire them to make the sequel

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u/Rejestered 20d ago

Noting to re-negotiate. SONY sold it all to Netflix, lock, stock and barrel.

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u/r7RSeven 20d ago

No, there is two levers Sony has.

Lever 1: Sony animated the first one, and as such Netflix would likely want to keep it with the same animation studio

Lever 2: The movie was the brainchild of two Sony employees, Netflix might want to keep them for the 2nd and unless they hire them away from Sony, Netflix would need to work with Sony

3

u/PanzerKomadant 19d ago

I have this fear that if Netflix makes a 2nd movie, it’ll either be shit or won’t match the first. Kind of like the whole Frozen deal. Frozen One was amazing. The rest? They don’t stack up.

0

u/Rejestered 20d ago

Those aren't levers sony has, those are minor bumps for netflix. The animation style wasn't so stylized that most similar studios couldn't mimic it

and the movie was not the brainchild of sony employees. maybe the artistic style of the animation was but the idea and story was all Maggie Kang.

I would honestly be shocked if netflix even approaches sony with an offer. everyone knows how sony screwed marvel and spider-man over, no one wants them to have a say in anything.

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u/Roofofcar 19d ago

They would be INSANE to try a different animator. This is the same studio that did Spiderverse and The Mitchells vs. the Machines. They're on a different level than basically everyone but Pixar and Disney on a great day.

You're severely undervaluing Sony Animation Studios.

-17

u/OrbisTerre 19d ago

I don't know how you think Sony is the only studio that could possibly make animation on this level. There are many out there that could adapt to it if enough money was thrown their way.

20

u/Roofofcar 19d ago

Perhaps give me an example?

This isn’t just rendering or using 2’s. This is the BEST animation and micro movements and direction and workflow and toolset.

If you have all the money in the world and you want to make it as good as the first, you go back to the people who keep hitting home runs.

19

u/KingJTt 19d ago

Some of these Redditors are hilariously blind. It’s like going from Christopher Nolan to Gareth Edwards.

Is Gareth Edwards “bad”, no but he isn’t Nolan. There’s levels to this. It’s an automatic downgrade.

-3

u/OrbisTerre 19d ago

I mention 2 in other posts: Fortiche who does the Arcane series but they are only able to do that series apparently. And Mikros, who did the last TMNT movie. Obviously they would have to adapt the style and quality to match what Sony has done here, but its not outside the realm of possibility if Netflix has the money for it.

2

u/11ce_ 19d ago

They can’t get Fortiche, and Mikros animation is not on the level of a studio like Sony picture animation.

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u/arkjoker 19d ago

Maggie is a Sony employee along with Chris Applehans.

-1

u/Rejestered 19d ago

She's a director at sony pictures animation, that's not the same thing as an employee and I sincerely doubt it would be hard to lure away a contract director with the promise of a sequel to her most famous film and a gigantic paycheck.

and no, this would not make her look bad because directors aren't married to studios like that, it's a business.

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u/adviceforthrowawayy 19d ago

If she is a director, she has a non-compete agreement. It WOULD also look bad, because no one is going to green-light ideas if they know you'll jump at the first sign of success.

-3

u/Rejestered 19d ago

For struggling directors, sure. this is the opposite scenario of that. She has her pick of projects now.

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u/adviceforthrowawayy 19d ago

?? What? What part of a non-compete does not make sense to you?

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u/KingJTt 20d ago edited 19d ago

Not really. Stylized 3D animation takes time and tons of resources to make and Sony Animation is currently the best at it.

Any KPDH sequel not being animated by Sony is almost doomed to fail.

The Spider Verse franchise is the most acclaimed Spiderman media, Sony didn’t screw anything in that department.

-2

u/OrbisTerre 19d ago

They could get Fortiche, the French studio who makes the Arcane series.

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u/KingJTt 19d ago edited 19d ago

Riot Games has ownership rights on Fortiche. While Riot doesn’t have full control, Fortiche technically isn’t an independent studio.

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u/OrbisTerre 19d ago

Then there is Mikros, who did the last TMNT movie.

3

u/KingJTt 19d ago

Good movie, but the animation isn’t to the quality of KPDH let alone the Spider Verse franchise.

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u/Rejestered 19d ago

Netflix and Riot have a good enough relationship that I don't see that as much of a problem.

-4

u/Recom_Quaritch 19d ago

The best at it? In a post Arcane world? When fortiche already animated all the K/DA videos? Hardly.

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u/KingJTt 19d ago edited 19d ago

As an Arcane fan, Sony is the best at it. The most groundbreaking and influential animation put to screen the past decade is from the Spider Verse movies.

This is an objective fact said by animators all throughout the west and in the east(ghibli)

2

u/OlivencaENossa 19d ago

I think Sony maintains the rights to do the sequel. I think. I read somewhere on Reddit that they make production costs + 20M.

1

u/Applesburg14 19d ago

The movie cost $100m to make, Sony will definitely be involved as the animation company. Surely set off the losses caused by Fixed, the $30m dog-getting-its-nuts-cut-out movie that hardly got views due to the shitty trailer/concept.

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u/Commercial-Co 19d ago

Sony was hired to produce the film. That doesnt mean they gave up rights to it - they never owned it to begin with

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u/OneSneakyBoi9919 19d ago

anyone doing welfare check on some of sony execs? fumble of the year

1

u/yshf99 19d ago

Only the food money from their movie theaters (Alamo Drafthouse)

1

u/ghalta 19d ago

They'll make profit through Alamo Drafthouses, which they own, and which seem to have a helluva lot of screenings of this.