forbes.com
Netflix's Damsel: A $145 Million Streaming Hit
Netflix's Damsel, a $145.1 million fantasy film starring Millie Bobby Brown and Angela Bassett, became a top 10 Netflix hit despite mixed reviews, generating 138 million views and benefiting from a $35.9 million UK tax rebate.
- How did UK film tax incentives impact the overall cost and profitability of Damsel for Netflix?
- The film's financial success, exceeding initial critical reception (56% Rotten Tomatoes), highlights the unpredictable nature of box office versus streaming success. Netflix's strategic use of UK tax incentives, reducing net spending to $109.2 million via a $35.9 million reimbursement, played a significant role in profitability.
- What were the financial outcomes and global reception of Netflix's Damsel, considering production challenges and budget?
- Netflix's Damsel, despite a seemingly overbudget $145.1 million cost, became a streaming hit, reaching #1 in 79 countries and accumulating 143 million views by June 2024. This success, however, came after production delays due to the pandemic and SAG-AFTRA strikes, impacting release and promotion.
- What long-term implications does Damsel's success and Netflix's investment in UK film production have on the industry and the UK economy?
- Damsel's performance underscores the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution. The UK's film tax incentives incentivize foreign investment, fostering economic growth (generating $10.88 in GVA for every $1.31 reimbursed in 2019). Netflix's substantial investment in the UK ($6 billion between 2020-2023) demonstrates the attractiveness of this model.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames Damsel's success as a triumph against the odds, emphasizing its modest budget and overcoming production challenges. The headline, if present, would likely emphasize the surprising success story, potentially downplaying the mixed critical reception. The focus on Netflix's fiscal gains from UK tax incentives further reinforces this positive framing.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral but employs phrases like "modest budget," "against the odds," and "overnight success," which carry positive connotations and contribute to the positive framing of the film's performance. These phrases could be replaced with more neutral language such as "budget of \$145.1 million", "unexpected success", and "achieved high viewership in its first few days".
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the financial aspects of Damsel's production and success, potentially omitting critical reviews or audience reception beyond the Rotten Tomatoes scores. It also doesn't explore the potential impact of the film's fairytale setting and its target audience. The lack of diverse perspectives beyond the quoted actors and the financial data limits the analysis.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy between the film's modest budget (relative to Hollywood standards) and its unexpected success. It implies that a low budget automatically leads to lower quality (suggested by the critical reception) or that financial success negates critical failures. The complexity of the film's reception (positive audience response despite negative critical reviews) is understated.
Gender Bias
The article focuses primarily on Millie Bobby Brown's performance, highlighting her as the central figure and "appealing action hero." While Angela Bassett is mentioned as an Oscar winner, her role and contribution are not explored in detail. This could be a subtle gender bias, placing more emphasis on the male-dominated aspects of the production and framing the lead role as being that of a female action hero rather than a princess in distress. More balanced analysis of the female cast contributions would mitigate this.
Sustainable Development Goals
The production of the movie Damsel in the UK generated significant economic benefits, including job creation and increased Gross Value Added (GVA). The UK government's Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) incentivized filming in the UK, leading to a substantial economic impact. The article highlights the number of jobs created and the GVA generated by film production in the UK, demonstrating a positive impact on economic growth and employment.