When a new movie from the Marvel Universe costs $200 million to produce, it hardly raises more than a shrug these days. Big blockbusters are made with big budgets. But woe betide someone who comes up with the idea of investing something in the nine-figure range in a RomCom.
That’s exactly what Netflix is planning: As the Hollywood Reporter reports, Paris Paramount, the new film by Nancy Meyers, will cost 130 million US dollars. Based on Puck, the director had even hoped for a budget of 150 million US dollars. That’s far too much for a romantic comedy, so the outraged calls.
Paris Paramount on Netflix: Why is the new Nancy Meyers rom-com starring Scarlett Johansson so expensive?
Admittedly, this is a considerable sum that no traditional film studio would currently wave through. But here we are at the point: Netflix is not a traditional studio and pursues other goals than Disney, Warner and Co. But how does the large sum for Paris Paramount even come about?
The film’s story revolves around a young filmmaker who falls in love with a producer. The two implement several projects together before the relationship crumbles and they go their separate ways. As is often the case in a RomCom, one day they cross paths again and things get complicated.
Here you can watch the trailer for the last big Nancy Meyers RomCom:
You never stop learning – Trailer (German) HD
The first thing that gets expensive at Paris Paramount are the stars: Scarlett Johansson, one of the most in-demand actresses in Hollywood, plays the leading role. Joining them are Penélope Cruz, Owen Wilson and Michael Fassbender, not to mention the fee Meyers takes as director, screenwriter and producer.
With streaming productions, there is hardly any options for profit sharing, since the films do not have a classic theatrical release. Bonus income from particularly high sales cannot be used as a lure. That’s why streamers like Netflix pay their stars above-average fees in advance.
New subscriptions and a double standard: you can learn a lot about Netflix and Hollywood at Paris Paramount
Netflix uses different metrics than cinema. A $130 million film doesn’t have to gross a specific amount to be considered a success. The streaming service is fine about new subscribers – and you can reach them through big names like Nancy Meyers, Scarlett Johansson and Co.
In addition, the Paris Paramount dispute reveals a double standard. Directors like Martin Scorsese can easily spend comparable budgets on films like The Irishman. A director who wants to shoot a RomCom as a passion project, on the other hand, does not fulfill that supposed prestige requirements.
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The irony is: Scorsese is no guarantee of success. Meyers, on the other hand, has directed only box-office hits that have a long life in home cinema, from A twin rarely comes alone to Love doesn’t need a vacation to You never stop learning. A Meyer RomCom starring Scarlett Johansson as an exclusive original owning it – that should be a worthwhile and sustainable investment for Netflix.
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