Every big movie studio has a critical flop now and then. Now Netflix, which is trying to join Hollywood's big leagues with the new $90 million (about R1.1 billion) fantasy-action film "Bright," has earned that badge of honour.
The Will Smith vehicle, which mixes "Lord of the Rings"-style mythical creatures into a tale about Los Angeles police officers, has registered 17 percent positive reviews from top critics, according to RottenTomatoes.com. "That old Hollywood standby, the venerable buddy cop movie, may have met its anguished demise this holiday season," wrote Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press. "Will Smith just killed it."
The movie will be available on the streaming-video service starting Friday. It's part of Netflix's attempt to build its own library of programming of all sorts -- big-budget pictures, small documentaries, sitcoms, dramas, reality shows -- so it won't have to rely on shows and films from rivals such as Walt Disney Co.
The company will release more than 80 films in 2018, building on the 50 or so released this year. A handful, like "Bright," are big and expensive enough to be considered major Hollywood productions.
And like a Hollywood studio, Netflix isn't going to let some bad reviews get in the way if it thinks the film is getting results. The company is already planning a "Bright" sequel, Bloomberg reported this week.