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Shaudi is a Seattle-based musician, theatre artist, writer and social media marketing specialist. She holds degrees from Berklee College of Music and the University of Washington School of Drama.
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With an ever-growing subscriber base spanning more than 190 countries and thousands of films available to audiences worldwide, Netflix is a dream distributor for scores of producers looking to get their project out into the world.
Netflix’s 2026 Upfronts offered a closer look at the streamer’s upcoming film slate, giving producers valuable insight into how to get a movie on Netflix. In this article, we’ll explore key takeaways from the Upfronts and examine what the newly announced projects reveal about Netflix’s current priorities.
Netflix has been a defining force in the streaming industry since it first introduced streaming content in 2007. Over the decades, it has grown from a DVD rental company into one of the world’s most recognizable entertainment platforms—one so influential that its name has become shorthand for streaming itself.
To understand how you get a movie on Netflix, it helps to look at what’s already succeeding on the platform. Let’s explore the types of films that are delivering results for the streamer right now.
Guillermo del Toro’s lush adaptation of the Mary Shelley classic, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, became one of Netflix’s most acclaimed original films, earning nine Academy Award nominations. Between the iconic source material, the film’s gothic visuals, and the star-studded cast, it offered both prestige and broad audience appeal for the streamer.
Nearly 30 years after the original became a comedy classic, Happy Gilmore 2 reunites Adam Sandler with one of his most beloved characters. The sequel combines nostalgia, a built-in fan base, and Sandler's long-running partnership with Netflix, making it a natural fit for Netflix.
With Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow and star Idris Elba attached, this tense political thriller pairs a high-stakes premise with the kind of prestige talent that makes it an attractive project for Netflix.
While it lacks the marquee names of some Netflix originals, this animated family adventure targets children and families, a demographic that has long been a priority for studios and streaming platforms.
Filmmaker Noah Baumbach has a proven track record with Netflix, thanks to acclaimed films like Marriage Story and The Meyerowitz Stories, and Jay Kelly pairs his distinctive voice with stars Adam Sandler and George Clooney. For Netflix, the film offers both awards potential and recognizable talent that can help attract viewers.
What’s left to say about this global megahit animated K-Pop musical, which has earned awards, critical acclaim, and a massive fanbase eagerly awaiting the sequel? The project initially struggled to find a streaming partner because many executives viewed its genre-blending concept as too risky, but Netflix’s decision to take a chance ultimately paid off as one of its biggest animated successes.
This Cannes Film Festival darling is a black-and-white French-language recreation of the making of Breathless, the 1960 French New Wave classic, making it a natural fit for Netflix’s prestige film lineup.
With acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater at the helm, the film brings auteur-driven appeal and awards potential for the streamer.
This Academy Award-nominated documentary uses largely archival police bodycam footage and other primary-source material to examine a tragic Florida neighborhood dispute and the controversial “stand your ground” laws connected to it. Its timely subject matter and innovative approach to documentary storytelling helped it stand out with audiences and critics alike.
Written and directed by Tyler Perry, Straw stars Taraji P. Henson, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, and Sinbad in a story about a struggling single mother pushed to her breaking point. With Perry’s built-in audience and a recognizable cast, the film demonstrates how established talent and audience demand can make a project attractive to a streamer like Netflix.
This quiet historical drama, based on Denis Johnson’s acclaimed novella and nominated for four Academy Awards, reflects Netflix’s investment in prestige films driven by acclaimed filmmakers, strong performances, and awards potential.
Now that we’ve established what’s been working well for Netflix, let’s look at the biggest film announcements from the 2026 Upfronts to see what these upcoming projects can tell us about the streamer’s current approach to content.
This feel-good sports film brings to the screen the true story of the iconic 1999 U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and its dramatic FIFA Women’s World Cup victory. With a recognizable real-life story, built-in sports fan audience, and the continued cultural momentum around women’s sports, the project has several factors that can help attract viewers.
Set in the ultra-competitive world of college Bollywood dance teams, Best of the Best is a comedy about friendship, growing up, and stellar choreography. The film combines the broad appeal of a coming-of-age story with the growing audience demand for authentic South Asian representation and culturally specific storytelling.
The classic children’s book series about the adventures of a young girl living it up at The Plaza Hotel in New York City is getting a fresh adaptation from acclaimed writer, director and producer Amy Sherman-Palladino. The combination of beloved IP and a creator with a dedicated fanbase gives Netflix a project with strong built-in audience appeal.
The third installment of Netflix’s Enola Holmes series builds on the success of the first two films about the adventures of Sherlock’s younger sister, bringing back a loyal audience of fans.
With Millie Bobby Brown’s star power and a director like Philip Barantini, whose recent work on Netflix’s Adolescence earned critical acclaim, the project highlights the value of proven talent and franchise appeal.
Stars Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, and Golshifteh Farahani reunite with director Sam Hargrave for the third installment of Netflix’s action-thriller franchise about black ops mercenary Tyler Rake. As one of Netflix’s most successful action properties, Extraction 3 demonstrates the value of a proven franchise with an established global audience and room to expand.
This ensemble comedy about a friends’ roadtrip to Vegas gone wrong is built around a recognizable mix of talent both in front of and behind the camera. Eva Longoria directs, and the powerhouse producers include Paula Pell (who also writes), Kim Kardashian (who also stars), and Will Ferrell, highlighting how a strong talent package can help attract attention to a project.
Speaking of big names, this Lena Dunham romantic comedy about a couples’ therapist getting back in the New York dating scene in her forties brings together a star-studded cast. With stars including Natalie Portman, Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, Rashida Jones, and Tramell Tillman, the project demonstrates how recognizable names can help a film stand out in a crowded streaming landscape.
Adam Sandler’s long-running partnership with Netflix continues with this third installment in the Grown Ups franchise about childhood friends reconnecting as adults. Like Happy Gilmore 2, the project shows the value of recognizable comedy brands and a star with a proven ability to attract audiences.
This slapstick buddy comedy, led by Eric André and John Cena, is built around a tested comedic formula: an uptight character’s life is turned upside down by a lovable agent of chaos. With recognizable stars and a familiar premise, the film has a clear audience appeal and an easy-to-understand hook.
Between Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig, a previously unadapted story from a beloved book series, and a cast that includes the likes of Meryl Streep, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew has several factors that could help it attract a large audience on Netflix.
Starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein, Office Romance reflects Netflix’s investment in star-driven, accessible films with built-in audience appeal.
After years of major studios moving away from big, glossy romantic comedies, streamers like Netflix have increasingly stepped in to serve audiences that never stopped loving the genre.
Like Little Brother, Protecting Jared uses the contrast between its stars, Jason Momoa and Andy Samberg, as a key part of its appeal. With a recognizable cast and a broad action-comedy concept, the film fits Netflix’s desire for accessible, star-driven entertainment.
This high-concept survival thriller stars Chris Pine as a father who must battle a Yeti while stranded in the Alps with his daughter. By combining a familiar creature myth with an original story, Yeti offers the audience recognition of IP without relying on an existing franchise.
Successfully figuring out how to get a movie on Netflix represents both the opportunity for significant global reach and the credibility that comes from being associated with one of the most recognizable entertainment platforms in the world.
Netflix entered the streaming market early, launching its streaming service in 2007 and becoming one of the defining forces in the shift away from physical media throughout the 2010s.
Since then, the platform has grown from less than 50 million subscribers in 2013 to more than 325 million paid subscribers around the world as of 2026, establishing itself as one of the largest global entertainment platforms. That scale represents an enormous opportunity—a project released on Netflix has the potential to reach audiences across more than 190 countries.
Beyond its reach, Netflix’s longevity has also built audience trust. Viewers recognize it as an established platform with a proven track record of producing and distributing successful films and series across genres, from popular global hits to more niche critically acclaimed work.
For creators, that combination of reach, visibility, and credibility can significantly expand the impact of a project, making “how do you get a movie on Netflix?” a question worth asking.
Based on Netflix’s upcoming film slate, several themes emerge that offer insight into the types of projects the streamer may be prioritizing. While there is no single formula for how to get a movie on Netflix, these patterns reveal the qualities that may make a project more appealing in today’s streaming landscape.
Netflix has a long history of investing in prestige films, becoming the first major streaming platform to earn major Academy Award recognition for its original content.
However, the 2026 Upfronts slate suggests a stronger emphasis on films with broad audience appeal, recognizable concepts, and commercial potential. While projects like Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew combine prestige talent with major IP, many of the announced films lean toward accessible genres and concepts designed to reach large global audiences.
From South Asian representation in Best of the Best, to the return of big-budget romantic comedies in Office Romance and Good Sex, to women’s sports stories like The 99’ers, Netflix appears interested in projects that serve passionate audiences who have historically been underrepresented or underserved.
When considering how to get a movie on Netflix, think about whether your film serves an untapped audience or offers a perspective that existing content is not currently providing.
With budgets under increasing pressure across the industry, films with clear audience hooks can help reduce risk. Netflix’s upcoming slate includes projects with built-in recognition through existing IP, returning franchises, established creators, and familiar concepts.
The presence of multiple “threequels” on the slate highlights the value Netflix places on projects with existing audience awareness.
When pitching a project, consider what built-in audience appeal you can demonstrate—whether through an underserved audience seeking new stories as discussed in the previous section, recognizable talent, existing communities, source material, or a subject with strong audience interest.
Netflix’s slate also reflects continued investment in genres with broad, reliable appeal. Action-comedies, romantic comedies, survival thrillers, and other familiar formats remain attractive because audiences understand the premise quickly and know what type of experience to expect.
This is a reminder that a strong concept matters. Your project doesn’t need to reinvent a genre to stand out—a clear hook, a compelling reason to exist, and an audience that can immediately understand why they should watch will go a long way in your pitch.
So how do you get a movie on Netflix? It starts with understanding what makes a project valuable to the platform: a strong audience connection, recognizable appeal, and a clear reason for viewers to press play. While Netflix’s priorities will continue to evolve, filmmakers who understand the streaming landscape can make more informed decisions about how to package and pitch their work.
Need help readying your pitch? You can download Wrapbook’s free Pitch Deck Template and watch our expert panel give advice on best practices for packaging your project.
