<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Gigaom]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://gigaom.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Janko Roettgers]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[http://search.gigaom.com/author/jankor/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Netflix buys <em>Beasts of No Nation</em> for theaters and your queue]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Netflix has acquired another movie, and it would like you to watch it in theaters, and then one more time online: The company will bring its new drama <em>Beasts of No Nation</em> in select theaters in the U.S. later this year, while simultaneously releasing it on its streaming service worldwide.</p>
<p><em>Beasts of No Nation</em>, which tells the tale of an African child soldier, stars Idris Elba, who previously won a Golden Globe for his leading role in <em>Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom</em>. The movie cost <a href="https://search.gigaom.com/company/netflix/">Netflix</a> $12 million &#8212; a major investment for a company that has mostly concentrated on original TV show productions and has only recently begun to spend money on movies.</p>
<p>Last fall, <a href="https://pr.netflix.com/WebClient/getNewsSummary.do?newsId=1631">Netflix announced</a> that it has acquired the rights to a sequel of <em>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</em>, which will be shown simultaneously in select iMax theaters and online. Netflix was planning to bring the movie to additional screens. However, <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amc-theatres-boycotting-crouching-tiger-736983">AMC said that it wasn’t going be part of the release</a> because Netflix isn’t honoring the traditional release windows, which give theaters a couple of months before a movie is available on DVD, and eventually on streaming services as well.</p>
<p>So why is Netflix going through the trouble of a theatrical release, if most theater chains won’t be playing ball? One word: awards. <em>Beasts of No Nation</em> only qualifies for the Oscars and other major motion picture awards if it is shown in theaters &#8212; even if most consumers may opt to watch it in the comfort of their own living room, as part of their Netflix subscription.</p>
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