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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Netflix does not own Warner Bros. or its franchises. Netflix announced a proposed acquisition in 2025, but Warner Bros. Discovery later agreed to merge with Paramount Skydance. As of October 4, 2026, Paramount and WBD said they expected that transaction to close on October 6, subject to customary closing conditions. The official announcements name major properties such as Harry Potter, DC, and Game of Thrones, but do not rank them or establish title-by-title rights.
Who is expected to own Warner Bros.?
Netflix announced a proposed Warner Bros. acquisition in December 2025. Its announcement described Warner Bros.’ film and television studios, HBO Max, and HBO as part of the proposal, and named properties including Harry Potter and the DC Universe. That proposal did not become the current announced transaction path: Warner Bros. Discovery later entered into a merger agreement with Paramount Skydance. In a September 30, 2026 announcement, Paramount and WBD said they expected the merger to close October 6, subject to customary closing conditions. On the October 4, 2026 information date, the close was still in the future.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qrQaTrIWL._SL160_.jpg)
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Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray] | $259.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Maverick (BD) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Maltese Falcon, The (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Movie Studio Logo Wall Sign Decor Compatible With Warner Brothers Pictures WB Bros 5" x 4 3/8" x... | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Accordingly, the accurate description is that Paramount was the expected buyer under a pending deal—not that Netflix owned Warner Bros. or that Paramount had already completed its merger. The companies’ broad portfolio announcements do not establish exclusive, worldwide rights to every character, film, or series, nor do they determine where individual titles can stream.
Which franchises and properties are named in the deal announcements?
The companies’ announcements identify examples of properties associated with their portfolios. The lists are illustrative, not a ranking of the ten biggest movie franchises. Some entries are primarily television properties or cross-media brands rather than movie franchises of the same kind.
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| Property | What the official announcements say | What that does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter | Named in both Netflix’s proposed-deal announcement and Paramount’s portfolio examples. | A ranking, title-by-title rights schedule, or immediate change in streaming availability. |
| DC Universe | Named in both announcements. | That all DC characters and screen titles have identical ownership, licensing, or distribution arrangements. |
| Game of Thrones | Named in both announcements. | That it is a movie franchise; it is principally a television property. |
| Friends | Named in Netflix’s proposed-deal announcement. | That it is a movie franchise; it is a television series. |
| The Big Bang Theory | Named in Netflix’s proposed-deal announcement. | That it is a movie franchise; it is a television series. |
| The Sopranos | Named in Netflix’s proposed-deal announcement. | That it is a movie franchise; it is a television property. |
| The Wizard of Oz | Named in Netflix’s proposed-deal announcement. | A ranking or a complete account of rights to every related work. |
| The Lord of the Rings | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | A title-by-title rights schedule or evidence that every related screen adaptation is included. |
| Mission: Impossible | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | A ranking or a detailed description of franchise rights. |
| Top Gun | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | A ranking or a detailed description of franchise rights. |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | That the property is solely a film franchise rather than a cross-media brand. |
| Transformers | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | A ranking or a title-by-title rights schedule. |
| Star Trek | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | That it is solely a movie franchise; it is also a major television property. |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | Named in Paramount’s announced combined-company portfolio examples. | That it is solely a movie franchise; it is principally a television and cross-media brand. |
Why there is no evidence-based “top 10” here
Neither the Netflix announcement nor the Paramount/WBD materials rank franchises by box-office gross, film count, audience size, revenue, or valuation. “Biggest” could refer to any of those measures, and the announcements do not provide comparable franchise-level figures. They also mix film series with television properties and wider entertainment brands. A defensible ranking would need a declared metric, a consistent time period and territory, and clear rules for spin-offs and shared universes. The deal announcements alone do not supply that evidence.
What the Netflix deal announcement actually meant
Netflix’s original announcement described a proposed acquisition, not completed ownership. It cited an enterprise value of $82.7 billion and an equity value of $72.0 billion for that 2025 proposal; those figures were not valuations of individual franchises and are not the value of the later Paramount transaction. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos described the appeal of combining Warner Bros.’ library—including Harry Potter and Friends—with Netflix titles. That statement explained the proposal’s rationale; it did not show that the transaction closed.
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What the pending merger does—and does not—tell viewers
A corporate transaction can change who controls a company without resolving every licensing arrangement for its individual titles. The public portfolio examples do not specify territorial rights, exclusivity, existing licensing windows, or a future streaming home for each film or series. They also do not mean that a pending deal immediately changes a streaming catalog. Check current service listings for a specific title and country rather than inferring availability from a company announcement.
Because the announced October 6, 2026 closing date was still ahead on October 4, this ownership status is time-sensitive. The September 30 announcement describes an expected close subject to conditions, not confirmation that closing occurred.
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Rank #3
- Item name: The Maltese Falcon
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: WB
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
