NEW YORK —In its bid to upend the movie business the way it has television, Netflix has secured one of the big screen’s biggest box-office draws and most irreverent comedic talents.
Adam Sandler has signed a four-film deal with Netflix, the streaming service announced last week. The actor will star in and produce each feature, all of which will premiere exclusively on Net-flix.
“Let the streaming begin!” an exuberant Sandler said in a statement.
Netflix declined to say how much it was paying Sandler.
But the streaming giant has a history of reaching deep into its pocket to lure big-name talent. To land “House of Cards,” with director David Fincher and star Kevin Spacey, Netflix reportedly spent $100 million for the show’s first two seasons.
Sandler is one of Hollywood’s most reliable draws, with films that have collectively grossed more than $2.4 billion domestically.
But his track record has recently been rocky. His last film, the romantic comedy “Blended,” with Drew Barrymore, sputtered with a meager haul of just $46.3 million for Warner Bros.
Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, said Sandler’s films are regularly among the most-viewed by Netflix members.
“People love Adam’s films on Netflix and often watch them again and again,” Sarandos said. “His appeal spans across viewers of all ages. Everybody has a favorite movie, everyone has a favorite line, not just in the US but all over the world.”
The four features, which are currently planned without any theatrical release component, are expected to be comedies.
The first movie in the deal, to be jointly developed between Netflix and Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, could come as early as late 2015.
