Netflix warns people against attempting Bird Box challenge

Once memes go viral and spawn ridiculous challenges, it’s hard to slow these down—no matter how stupid or dangerous they might be. Netflix is feeling the negative effects of how viral its horror film Bird Box became. The streaming service had to warn people to not take part of the “Bird Box challenge,” where people walk around with blindfold at all times as they attempt to go about their lives. Some took more extreme approaches, like YouTube creator Morgan Adams who attempted a 24-hour challenge. In a tweet released on its official account, Netflix says, “Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.” Whether that warning makes a difference or not, we can’t say. But we have to side with the streaming service on this one, just don’t do it.

Source: The Verge

3 Netflix films get exclusive theatre run ahead of streaming debut

In what’s seen as a bid to help its Oscar aspirations, Netlfix will be giving three of its films an exclusive theatre run ahead of its release on the streaming service. This includes Roma, Bird Box, and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma will be playing in cinemas in Los Angeles, New York, and Mexico on November 21 and will come to other cities and countries as well as Netflix on December 14. The Sandra Bullock-starring thriller Bird Box is coming to theatres on December 13 before it hits Netflix on December 21. And the Coen brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs will be hitting theatres this November 8 before it debuts on Netflix on November 16.

Up until this moment, Netflix would insist to simultaneously release its films in theatres at the same time as it did for its streaming service. Most large theatre chains oppose this approach. Some prominent directors have also objected to the idea of their films just being released mostly on the small screen. This change in strategy according to Netflix is to help serve both its viewers and filmmakers.

Source: Reuters