Netflix has set its sights on the film industry with the release of War Machine, a big-budget war comedy starring Brad Pitt. Directed by David Michôd, the film is based on Michael Hastings' book The Operators, which details the controversial tenure of US Army General Stanley McChrystal. With a budget of around $60 million, it is Netflix's most expensive feature to date.
The film explores the absurdity of war and the ambition of men, set across Afghanistan and Washington D.C. Michôd, known for Animal Kingdom, said the project was the kind of movie that studios no longer make. He and Pitt's production company, Plan B, signed over distribution rights to Netflix in 2015, allowing them to create risky, unusual films with proper resources.
Not everyone in the industry is welcoming. The Cannes Film Festival has announced that, from next year, Palme d'Or contenders must have a theatrical release in France, effectively barring Netflix films due to the country's 36-month window between theatrical and streaming release. At Cannes, Netflix's logo was booed during a screening of Okja. Directors like Pedro Almodóvar oppose the streaming giant, while Will Smith, starring in Netflix's Bright, supports it.
War Machine will have a limited theatrical release in the US and UK for Oscar qualification, but its main premiere will be on Netflix to its 100 million subscribers. Its success will be measured by new subscriber numbers rather than box office takings. Michôd, a former film journalist, sees Netflix as a saviour for idiosyncratic films that would otherwise not get made, citing the decline of indie cinema opportunities since the 1990s.
