When Netflix Inc. (NFLX) announced its $82.7 billion plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) on Friday, the response was swift and brutal. Lawmakers, labor unions, producers, and Hollywood veterans lined up to warn that this deal could fundamentally reshape the entertainment landscape—and not in a good way.
Warren Sounds the Alarm on Monopoly Power
Senator Elizabeth Warren wasted no time calling out what she sees as a dangerous consolidation of power. In a series of posts on X, the Massachusetts Democrat labeled the proposed merger an "anti-monopoly nightmare."
Her concern? If Netflix absorbs Warner Bros. and HBO, it would create a streaming behemoth controlling nearly half of all subscribers. Warren argues that kind of market dominance inevitably leads to higher prices, fewer viewing options, and American job losses.
Warren also took aim at what she characterized as a compromised antitrust review environment under President Donald Trump, calling on the Justice Department to examine the deal "fairly and transparently" without political interference.
The Consolidation Conversation Gets Louder
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich backed Warren's warnings, placing this merger in the context of a broader consolidation trend. According to Reich, we're watching the same playbook across industries—airlines, meatpacking, and now streaming—where reduced competition translates to more corporate power and fewer consumer choices.
Representative Ro Khanna made a direct appeal to Vice President JD Vance, urging him to oppose the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal. Khanna laid out a cascade of potential harms: damage to movie theaters, AI-driven threats to artists, reduced opportunities for creators, and higher prices for consumers.
Even right-wing commentator and podcaster Benny Johnson jumped into the fray, calling it the most dangerous media consolidation in American history. Johnson framed his opposition around political influence, pointing to Barack and Michelle Obama's production deal with Netflix and former Obama adviser Susan Rice's position on the company's board. He encouraged his followers to cancel their subscriptions and pressure federal regulators to block the merger.
Hollywood Reacts With Anxiety and Anger
Inside the entertainment industry, the response has been equally intense. SAG-AFTRA announced it would conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed deal, emphasizing that any merger must protect jobs and support continued production.
The mood among producers is dark. One U.K. film producer told Deadline this feels like the end of Hollywood as we know it. Another warned that widespread layoffs are inevitable if the deal goes through.
An anonymous letter from Hollywood executives to Congress painted an even grimmer picture. They warned that Netflix could devastate movie theaters by shortening theatrical windows and slashing licensing fees—essentially rewriting the economics of film distribution.
Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance (PSKY)—which had also been bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery—fired off accusations that WBD ran a biased auction process. The company demanded an independent committee to oversee the proceedings, warning that even the appearance of favoritism could damage shareholder value.
Market Response
On Friday, Netflix closed at $100.24, down 2.89% during regular trading hours. The stock recovered slightly in after-hours trading, edging up to $100.60. Warner Bros. Discovery closed at $26.08, up 6.28% during the day, but slipped to $25.89 after hours.
The question now is whether regulators will scrutinize this deal with the same intensity as critics demand—or whether this mega-merger will reshape streaming as we know it.