Warner Bros. Discovery’s Unexpected Move: Uploading Movies to YouTube

In a surprising turn of events, Warner Bros. Discovery has uploaded 30 different movies of varying quality to YouTube over the past month. These films can be watched for free, with no catch or subscription required.

This move is a stark contrast to the company’s previous stance on art and entertainment. Since CEO David Zaslav consolidated Discovery and WarnerMedia into one company in 2021, Warner Bros. has been perceived as aggressively anti-art. The company has shelved several high-profile projects, including the completed Batgirl movie and Coyote vs Acme. However, it appears that Warner Bros. is now willing to take a different approach.

The Full Playlist

The uploaded movies are available on a playlist on YouTube, which can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Eup7JXScZyvRftA2Q5hv69XiegDm6tQ. The playlist is a grab-bag, featuring a mix of cinematic masterpieces, obscure cult cinema, and absolute trash.

A Weird Dumping Ground

Warner Bros. Discovery is in control of multiple YouTube channels and has been uploading these movies onto them over the past few weeks. The list includes Marlon Brando’s Mutiny on the Bounty, Jeremy Irons in Dungeons & Dragons, and Waiting for Guffman. The collection also features David Byrne’s True Stories, which has long been a personal favorite of the author.

A Strange List and an Experiment

The uploaded movies are not available on Max, Warner Bros.’s premier streaming service. Some of them can be purchased or rented on YouTube or Amazon, while others have fancy Criterion releases. The list is a strange mix of obscure gems, total crap, and films that the author has never heard of.

A Back Catalog Experiment

Warner Bros. has a 100-year-old movie studio with a back catalog filled with an uncountable number of films. The studio has long tried to capitalize on this back catalog without breaking the bank. In 2009, it launched the Warner Archive Collection, which allowed consumers to order DVDs and Blu-rays on demand. The Archive later transitioned to streaming, but the service was shut down when Zaslav took over.

Revenue from Views

The uploaded movies are generating revenue from views, with some films having been watched hundreds of thousands of times already. For example, Mr. Nice Guy, a 1997 Jackie Chan vehicle, has 15 million views.

Conclusion

Warner Bros. Discovery’s unexpected move to upload movies to YouTube is a surprising turn of events. The list is a strange mix of films, but it’s clear that the company is trying to find new ways to monetize its back catalog. Whether this move will lead to more films being uploaded to YouTube remains to be seen, but for now, fans can enjoy the collection for free.