Summary
Warner Bros. have provided no explanation for this out-of-character move. The company has been criticized in recent years for canceling finished projects, like theBatgirlfilm, and the live-action cartoon hybridCoyote v. Acme, before they could be released to the public. Some have viewed this as a goodwill gesture from the company, after these controversial decisions. Perhaps this is simply Warner Bros. attempting to increase accessibility to its large catalog without a paywall, while also recouping some revenue from Youtube’s advertising system.
The selection of films ranges from cult classics, like 1982 hitDeathtrap, to box-office flops, like 2000’sDungeons & Dragons, and even Leonardo DiCaprio’s climate change documentaryThe Eleventh Hour. The random selection of films makes Warner Bros. choice even more bewildering, with no apparent theme to draw the collection together. The most viewed film on the current list is 1997’sMr. Nice Guy, starring Jackie Chan, which succeeded at the box office upon its initial release. Still popular,Mr. Nice Guyhas chalked up over 16 million views since its upload on January 1st.
Will audiences see more production companies treating Youtube like a streaming service in years to come? Ultimately, it could be a smart move for distributing obscure, less marketable titles that don’t do well on traditional streaming platforms. Warner Bros., for one, seems set on continuing this trend, with a message ontheir Youtube channelreading, ‘Keep an eye out for more feature length films for free, right here.’
Here is the full selection of Warner Bros. movies currently available on Youtube:
Mutiny on the Bounty
1962
The Wind and the Lion
1975
1977
1982
Deal of the Century
1983
1984
1986
1987
1988
1990
1992
1993
Murder in the First
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Dungeons and Dragons
2002
2006
2007
