Netflix has changed how audiences watch movies. However, according to critic Coleman Spilde, it has also changed what audiences are offered.
In his latest commentary published on Salon, Spilde argues that weak films are becoming central to Netflix’s business model. He points to recent releases such as The Whisper Man, The Last House, and Don’t Say Good Luck. These films feature well-known actors, including Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, Greta Lee, and Wagner Moura. Yet star power does not guarantee quality.
Spilde says Netflix values speed, quantity, and viewer clicks over strong filmmaking. Some films have dull visuals, familiar plots, and uninspired direction. Even better films can struggle to gain attention. Don’t Say Good Luck, for example, offers emotional depth but risks being overlooked among bigger Netflix releases.
The platform’s business model helps explain this trend. Netflix has millions of subscribers. It can attract large audiences without relying on theatrical success. New titles quickly replace older ones. This reduces the pressure to create films with lasting artistic value. The critic also argues that large paychecks attract talented actors and filmmakers to weak projects. At the same time, audiences may become used to mediocre entertainment. If this continues, he warns, low-quality filmmaking could become the industry’s new normal.
Others agree with him:
"What about capitalism is so hard to understand here? Corporations have a fiduciary obligation to maximize shareholder value. Netflix isn’t a FANG stock by accident. Don’t think for a second that Netflix has not thoroughly evaluated the fiscal impact of quantity over quality," wrote Steve Sidwell. "I saw a video about how the streaming model basically depends on everyone watching sh*t TV shows but imagining they will watch a film some time. The model depends on a steady stream of thumbnails of films featuring famous people you will never watch but are comforted exist," Mat CT added.
