Artists Equity Signs First-Look Streaming Deal With Netflix

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale’s Artists Equity has signed a multiyear streaming first-look, production and distribution agreement with Netflix. Under terms of the partnership, Artists Equity will be the lead studio on the films its produces for Netflix.

This deal comes off the success of Artist Equity’s The Rip, which premiered on Netflix on January 16 and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the streamer’s Global Weekly Top 10 chart, amassing 112.3 million views over six weeks.

The action thriller directed by Joe Carnahan stars Damon, Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle and Catalina Sandino Moreno, with Scott Adkins and Kyle Chandler. It was produced by Artists Equity’s Affleck, Damon and Luciana Damon, along with Dani Bernfeld,

“This is an incredible milestone for Artists Equity and one that validates the vision we’ve been working towards since 2022,” said Affleck and Damon in a statement Monday. “From the jump, we’ve seen this growing need for an independent supplier comfortable across the entire creative process, from development to final cut. Netflix is a great match for our work. [Netflix Chairman of Film] Dan [Lin] and his team have a unique connection with the modern viewer and the ability to unite audiences over a shared cultural moment. Pairing that with our future-facing, artist-first approach, we’re confident The Rip’s success will prove to be just the beginning. We can’t wait to create many more ambitious, globally resonant stories together.”

Artists Equity has an existing theatrical feature film agreement at Sony Pictures, under which Artists Equity develops and produces theatrical films that Sony will distribute globally. The films from Artists Equity’s theatrical deal will come to Netflix via its Pay-1 deal with Sony.

“We’re expanding our partnership with Artists Equity because they share our mission – to make bold, original films,” said Lin. “Ben and Matt don’t wait for opportunities, they create them: from making and starring in ambitious, original films, to building an innovative studio model. Audiences worldwide are loving The Rip, and we can’t wait to share the thriller Animals later this year. Formalizing this relationship means we will be making even more memorable movies together.”

Later this year, Netflix will release Affleck’s next directorial feature, the Artists Equity film Animals starring Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher and Matt Gerald, with Luis Gerardo Méndez and Yeun.