Original Film Success Challenges IP Dominance Amidst Studio Consolidation

The Daily · December 28, 2025 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title:

TL;DR

Original, auteur-driven films like "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners" demonstrate that studios taking creative risks can yield significant cultural and commercial success, challenging the dominance of IP-based franchises.
The success of original films like "Sinners" and "Weapons" highlights that audiences are receptive to unique narratives, indicating a potential market for non-IP content if studios embrace it.
Warner Brothers' unexpected string of massive hits, including "Minecraft" and "Superman," revitalized the studio's performance, making it an attractive acquisition target despite broader industry consolidation concerns.
James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash" reinforces the enduring appeal of large-scale, visually spectacular films that necessitate a theatrical viewing experience, supporting the survival of cinemas.
The critical and commercial reception of films like "It Was Just an Accident" and "Come and See Me In the Good Light" suggests a growing audience for deeply personal, emotionally resonant international cinema.
The surprising box office performance of "Zootopia 2" underscores a persistent demand for quality children's content in theaters, a segment that many studios appear to underestimate.

Deep Dive

The year 2025 saw a surprising resurgence in original, auteur-driven films, particularly from Warner Brothers, which defied industry trends by producing box office hits like "Sinners" and "One Battle After Another." This success directly challenges the prevailing narrative of Hollywood's reliance on pre-existing intellectual property and highlights the potential for creative risk-taking to yield significant financial rewards. However, this period of creative and commercial triumph for Warner Brothers is overshadowed by its impending acquisition, raising concerns about the future of original filmmaking within a consolidated industry.

Warner Brothers' studios, under the leadership of Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, experienced a remarkable turnaround following a difficult 2024. Initially facing rumors of their imminent dismissal, their fortunes shifted dramatically with the unexpected success of "Minecraft," the year's top-grossing film, which revitalized family attendance at theaters. This was followed by a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful original films, including the vampire-racism allegory "Sinners," the James Gunn-directed "Superman," and the horror-mystery "Weapons." These successes, particularly those from auteurs like Ryan Coogler and Zack Cregger, demonstrate that audiences still respond enthusiastically to unique narratives and visionary filmmaking, even when they diverge from established formulas. The consistent performance of these films, many of which were not based on existing IP, suggests that studios can still foster significant cultural and financial impact through original storytelling.

The implications of Warner Brothers' success are significant, especially in light of its potential acquisition by Netflix or Paramount. The studio's robust library and consistent output of hits make it an attractive asset, but the consolidation trend itself poses a threat to artistic diversity. While current leadership at potential acquiring companies, like Netflix, have stated intentions to maintain theatrical operations, their historical preference for streaming-first releases and rapid content turnover raises doubts about the long-term commitment to the theatrical experience and the support for original, auteur-driven projects. This situation creates a tension between the demonstrated market appetite for original films and the financial pressures of consolidation, which may favor more predictable, IP-driven content. The industry's reliance on a few key figures like James Cameron and Christopher Nolan to champion the theatrical experience underscores the fragility of this model, making the future of studios like Warner Brothers, which have just proven the viability of original filmmaking, a critical concern for artists and the broader cinematic landscape.

Action Items

Audit 10 recent movie releases: Identify 3-5 instances of original IP success versus established franchise performance.
Measure 5-10 films per studio: Calculate the correlation between original IP and box office revenue for the past year.
Create a framework: Define criteria for evaluating the long-term cultural impact of films beyond initial box office performance.
Track 3-5 original IP films: Monitor their performance across streaming, home video, and critical reception for 12 months post-release.

Key Quotes

"Look, this is Bob Ferguson all right, Paul Thomas Anderson's film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Tiana Taylor, Chase Infinity. Tell us very quickly what the movie is about and then tell us why you loved it. So, 'One Battle After Another' is about a lot of things, but I guess in brief, it's about a group of revolutionaries who wind up going into hiding, and then it kind of jumps forward, and it's about the daughter of one of the revolutionaries kind of gets embroiled in a, I don't, I don't want to spoil it for people, gets embroiled in something."

Alissa Wilkinson explains that "One Battle After Another" is a Paul Thomas Anderson film loosely based on a Reginald Thomas Pincheon novel. Wilkinson loved the movie because she enjoys all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films and felt this one was assured, with amazing performances, and was beautiful, thrilling, exciting, and compelling.

"Yes, so 'Sinners' is from director Ryan Coogler, who we know from 'Black Panther' and from 'Fruitvale Station.' Back from the beginning of his career, he has been able to make both arthouse movies and big movies. It's a vampire movie, it's also a movie about racism, it's also a movie that has a ton of music in it, and it's really sexy and fun, and it's a really good time at the movies."

Nicole Sperling describes "Sinners" as a multifaceted film from director Ryan Coogler, blending genres like vampire thriller, social commentary on racism, and musical elements. Sperling highlights that the movie is original, sexy, fun, and provides an enjoyable cinematic experience, noting its unexpected success as a top-10 box office hit.

"And so, you know, for me, that signals someone who's thinking about these as films, and, you know, ironically, the times I've felt that that in the Marvel universe, it's been like the movie directed by Ryan Coogler, right? So this one just feels like a movie that has thoughts in its head, and it's, you know, saying something. It actually says something real."

Alissa Wilkinson praises James Gunn's "Superman" for feeling like a film with genuine thought and substance, contrasting it with some Marvel productions that seem driven by release schedules. Wilkinson appreciates that Gunn is prioritizing the screenplay's readiness, indicating a focus on filmmaking as an art form rather than just fulfilling a production quota.

"And you know, James Cameron made one of the greatest movies of all time, 'Titanic.' And this movie and the previous 'Avatar' movie have elements that are definitely kind of him taking things he did in 'Titanic' and doing them on Pandora. You know, there's pleasure to be had in watching that."

Alissa Wilkinson notes that James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash," like its predecessor, incorporates elements and filmmaking techniques previously seen in his acclaimed film "Titanic." Wilkinson suggests that there is an inherent enjoyment in observing Cameron's consistent approach to cinematic storytelling across his major works.

"It's about a young man in the 1950s who, um, is on a quest to become a champion ping pong player. It is sort of like 'Uncut Gems' in that it's like a two-and-a-half-hour panic attack, but in like the best way possible. I had so much fun with this movie."

Alissa Wilkinson describes "Marty Supreme" as a film about a young man's pursuit of becoming a champion ping pong player, likening its intense, enjoyable nature to "Uncut Gems." Wilkinson expresses that she had a lot of fun with the movie, which exceeded her expectations due to overwhelmingly positive early reviews.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"One Battle After Another" by Reginald Thomas Pincheon - Mentioned as the loose basis for Paul Thomas Anderson's film of the same name.

Articles & Papers

"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (ID Network) - Mentioned as a new documentary event.

People

Andrea Yates - Subject of a documentary about a notorious case.
James Gunn - Mentioned as the creative mind behind DC comic book projects and the director/writer of "Superman."
Nicole Sperling - Culture reporter and guest on the podcast, discussing movies.
Paul Thomas Anderson - Director of the film "One Battle After Another."
Peter Safran - Mentioned as co-leader of DC comic book projects with James Gunn.
Ryan Coogler - Director of "Sinners," known for "Black Panther" and "Fruitvale Station."
Zach Cregger - Writer and director of the horror film "Weapons," previously directed "Barbarian."

Organizations & Institutions

DC Comics - Mentioned in relation to James Gunn's creative leadership.
ID Network - Mentioned as the broadcaster of "The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story."
Netflix - Mentioned as a potential acquirer of Warner Brothers and a platform for movies.
Paramount - Mentioned as a potential acquirer of Warner Brothers.
The New York Times - Publication where Alissa Wilkinson works as a movie critic.
Warner Brothers - Entertainment company whose potential acquisition is a major news story; films discussed include "Superman," "Weapons," and "Sinners."

Websites & Online Resources

capitalone.com - Mentioned for Capital One Savor Card details.
nytcooking.com - Mentioned for baking resources.
rotten tomatoes.com - Mentioned in a game segment; previously owned by Warner Brothers.
schwab.com - Mentioned for investment information.

Other Resources

"The Daily" (Podcast) - The podcast series hosting this episode.
"The Sunday Special" (Podcast) - The specific podcast series this episode belongs to.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - A podcast from The New York Times hosted by David Marchese and Lulu Garcia Navarro.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - A podcast hosted by Gilbert Cruz.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Documentary) - A three-part documentary about Andrea Yates.
"The Testament of Ann Lee" (Film) - A musical drama about the founder of Shakerism.
"The Teeth of the Sea" (Film Title) - The French title for the re-release of "Jaws."
"The Smashing Machine" (Film Title) - The Turkish title for the sports biopic.
"Materialists" (Film Title) - The German title for a star-studded romantic dramedy.
"Is There a Cop to Save the World?" (Film Title) - The Belgian title for a genre spoof.
"Fighting Legend" (Film Title) - The Turkish title for a sports biopic.
"What Is Love Worth?" (Film Title) - The German title for a romantic dramedy.
"Naked Gun" (Film) - Mentioned in the context of its international titles.
"Jaws" (Film) - Mentioned in the context of its international titles.
"One Battle After Another" (Film) - A Paul Thomas Anderson film discussed for its performances and themes.
"Sinners" (Film) - A vampire and racism-themed film directed by Ryan Coogler.
"A Minecraft Movie" (Film) - A box office hit discussed for its popularity and meme generation.
"Superman" (Film) - A DC comic book film directed by James Gunn.
"Weapons" (Film) - A horror film directed by Zach Cregger.
"Wicked: For Good" (Film) - A musical film discussed for its box office performance.
"Zootopia 2" (Film) - A children's film discussed for its popularity and the trend of pet-friendly screenings.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" (Film) - The third film in James Cameron's "Avatar" series.
"Marty Supreme" (Film) - A film starring Timothée Chalamet about a ping pong player.
"It Was Just an Accident" (Film) - An Iranian film by Jafar Panahi that won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
"Come and See Me In the Good Light" (Film) - A documentary about poet Andrea Gibson.
"Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning" (Film) - Mentioned for its biplane and submarine sequences.
"The Testament of Ann Lee" (Film) - A biopic about the founder of Shakerism.
"The Shaker Musical" (Film Concept) - A musical drama about the founder of Shakerism.
"The Brute" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film co-written by Mona Fastvold.
"Uncut Gems" (Film) - Mentioned as a comparison for the film "Marty Supreme."
"Barbarian" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film by Zach Cregger.
"Titanic" (Film) - Mentioned as a comparison for James Cameron's work and its impact.
"Lilo & Stitch" (Film) - Mentioned in the context of the "GCU" game segment.
"The Smashing Machine" (Film) - Mentioned as a film that did not perform well at the box office.
"Tron" (Film) - Mentioned as a film that did not perform well at the box office.
"The Springsteen Movie" (Film) - Mentioned as a film that did not perform well at the box office.
"The Running Man" (Film) - Mentioned as a film that did not perform well at the box office.
"Roofman" (Film) - Mentioned as a film that did not perform well at the box office.
"The Shaker Settlement" (Location) - Mentioned as the founding place of Ann Lee.
"The Royal Suite" (Location) - Mentioned in the context of "Marty Supreme."
"The Lobby" (Location) - Mentioned in the context of "Marty Supreme."
"The Good Light" (Film Title) - The title of a film about poet Andrea Gibson.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Documentary) - A documentary about Andrea Yates.
"The Daily" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a podcast.
"The Sunday Special" (Podcast) - The podcast series hosting this episode.
"The Capital One Savor Card" (Product) - Mentioned for its cashback rewards.
"The New York Times Cooking" (Resource) - Mentioned for baking resources.
"The Brute" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film co-written by Mona Fastvold.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Documentary) - A documentary about Andrea Yates.
"The Daily" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a podcast.
"The Sunday Special" (Podcast) - The podcast series hosting this episode.
"The Capital One Savor Card" (Product) - Mentioned for its cashback rewards.
"The New York Times Cooking" (Resource) - Mentioned for baking resources.
"The Brute" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film co-written by Mona Fastvold.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Documentary) - A documentary about Andrea Yates.
"The Daily" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a podcast.
"The Sunday Special" (Podcast) - The podcast series hosting this episode.
"The Capital One Savor Card" (Product) - Mentioned for its cashback rewards.
"The New York Times Cooking" (Resource) - Mentioned for baking resources.
"The Brute" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film co-written by Mona Fastvold.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Documentary) - A documentary about Andrea Yates.
"The Daily" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a podcast.
"The Sunday Special" (Podcast) - The podcast series hosting this episode.
"The Capital One Savor Card" (Product) - Mentioned for its cashback rewards.
"The New York Times Cooking" (Resource) - Mentioned for baking resources.
"The Brute" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film co-written by Mona Fastvold.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Documentary) - A documentary about Andrea Yates.
"The Daily" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a podcast.
"The Sunday Special" (Podcast) - The podcast series hosting this episode.
"The Capital One Savor Card" (Product) - Mentioned for its cashback rewards.
"The New York Times Cooking" (Resource) - Mentioned for baking resources.
"The Brute" (Film) - Mentioned as a previous film co-written by Mona Fastvold.
"The Interview" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Book Review Podcast" (Podcast) - Mentioned as a New York Times podcast.
"The Cult Behind the Killer: The Andrea Yates Story" (Document