Strictly Business Daily Variety – David Ellison Tries to Pry Warner Bros. and HBO From Netflix; ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ Impresses at Box Office
Dec 8, 2025
Brent Lang, Variety's executive editor and box office reporter, dives into the heated rivalry between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery as they eye Netflix's turf. He discusses the impressive $63M debut of 'Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,' highlighting its success with budget-friendly filmmaking. Lang also examines the thriving trend of video game adaptations and their appeal, particularly among younger audiences, and expresses hopes that upcoming releases like 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' will revive annual box office totals.
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Bidding War For Warner Bros. Escalates
- Netflix pursued Warner Bros. and HBO Max seriously, not merely to spoil the deal.
- David Ellison's Paramount Skydance bid launched a hostile counter that could extend the takeover fight into 2026.
Value Narrative Matters In Takeovers
- Consider that takeover decisions weigh more than price when unique legacy assets are involved.
- Expect strategic narratives about stewardship and creative legacy to sway boards alongside financial bids.
Sequel Outperforms On Small Budget
- Five Nights at Freddy's 2 opened at $63 million versus $35–$40 million projections.
- Its low budget made the sequel an economical, outsized hit for Blumhouse and Universal.