Netflix has acquired the rights to stream Godzilla Minus One globally, which is exciting news. However, their treatment of the film raises several questions, even after the views the film is witnessing.
Would Netflix have done the same for a Western film?
Nowadays, major OTT platforms don’t heavily advertise their licensed content, but we are talking about Godzilla Minus One. The film is considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in the Godzilla franchise, and it had very limited theatrical exposure globally.
This should have been a golden opportunity for Netflix, which is evident from the statistics. In its first week on Netflix, Godzilla Minus One had 6.1 million views. By the second week, it jumped to a staggering 14.9 million views.
Clearly, people are watching it. So, why is Netflix ignoring the advertisement?
Sometimes Netflix seems to overlook their Asian market. Despite its large size, it’s a sensitive market compared to the West. A film like this, as you can see, is adored by both Eastern and Western audiences.
Netflix released the trailer today, exactly two weeks after the film’s OTT release, which seems like a poor strategy. Netflix might have been aiming for organic reach among fans before investing in advertisement, but for such a significant film, experimenting in this way appears misguided.