Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. is operating under a firm theatrical-first mandate, deploying its new Clockwork label to acquire prestige independent films for North American distribution while holding the line on streaming windows.
Current mandate
Warner Bros. is currently operating under a publicly stated theatrical-first release strategy, with CEO David Zaslav declaring the company is "in no rush to bring movies to Max" and that films perform substantially better on the service after a full theatrical window. The studio's most recent landmark acquisition move is the launch of its Clockwork label, which won a bidding war to acquire Park Chan-wook's "The Brigands of Rattlecreek" for North American distribution in a deal said to be in the $15M range, following Clockwork's earlier pickup of Sean Baker's "Ti Amo!" in April 2026. The studio also brought the 4K restoration of "The Devils" (1971) to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, signaling appetite for prestige catalog and arthouse titles alongside commercial fare.
Over the trailing 12 months, Warner Bros. has logged 565 tracked activity records, with three deals confirmed in the most recent 90-day window. The Clockwork label is the clearest pattern to watch: it is positioned as the studio's arthouse and prestige acquisition arm, targeting filmmaker-driven projects with strong festival pedigree. Separately, the studio acquired titles including "Bitter Christmas," "Night People," and "Shiver," though genre and budget details were not disclosed for those projects. Warner Bros. also handles international distribution for select MGM/Amazon titles, including "Creed III" overseas, indicating ongoing third-party distribution partnerships.
Filmmakers and rights holders seeking access to Warner Bros. should note that the Clockwork label represents the most active and transparent acquisition pathway at present. Clockwork has demonstrated willingness to compete aggressively in bidding situations for auteur-driven projects. The main studio pipeline remains oriented toward tentpole and franchise production, but the Clockwork acquisitions signal genuine openness to independently produced, director-led films with theatrical potential. Unsolicited submissions to the main studio are not a standard pathway; representation or festival positioning is the practical route in.
Signature peaks
- $15M range Clockwork Label Acquisition — Winning bid for Park Chan-wook's The Brigands of Rattlecreek, North American rights
- 3 deals 90-Day Deal Count — Confirmed acquisitions in the most recent 90-day window, per tracked records
- 244 Decision Makers Tracked — Executives and decision makers monitored across Warner Bros. Discovery
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- erotic thriller, psychosexual thriller
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- The Clockwork label is the primary active acquisitions entry point, targeting prestige and auteur-driven independent films for North American theatrical distribution. The main studio pipeline is representation-gated. Festival positioning, particularly at Cannes and other major markets, has proven to be an effective trigger for acquisitions conversations. Warner Bros. also maintains third-party international distribution partnerships, as seen with its handling of select MGM/Amazon titles overseas.
- Deal structure
- Acquisition prices are not disclosed as a standard practice. The one source-grounded data point is the Clockwork label's deal for The Brigands of Rattlecreek, described as "in the $15M range" for North American rights, against a reported $60M production budget. The studio's stated strategy is full theatrical windowing before any transition to Max, meaning acquired titles are expected to carry genuine theatrical release plans rather than streaming-first treatment. Budget details for other recent acquisitions (Bitter Christmas, Night People, Shiver) were not disclosed.
Recent acquisitions
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Bitter Christmas
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Mortal Kombat II
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Night People
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Shiver
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The Brigands of Rattlecreek
Warner Bros.' new label Clockwork has won a bidding war to acquire Park Chan-wook's The Brigands of Rattlecreek for North America in a deal said to be in the $15M range
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The Devils (1971 restoration)
The Devils 4K restoration premiering at 2026 Cannes Film Festival
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Ti Amo!
Clockwork's second major acquisition after nabbing Sean Baker's Ti Amo! back in April
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Warner Bros
Market context
"Right now, good isn't good enough anymore, the bar is high. People have too many choices and so many incredible options to turn to for their entertainment. But if we honor Warner Bros.' unique and powerful legacy by committing to bringing you the unique and powerful films of this century, we will all win together."
Warner Bros. is currently operating under a publicly stated theatrical-first release strategy, with CEO David Zaslav declaring the company is "in no rush to bring movies to Max" and that films perform substantially better on the service after a full theatrical window. The studio's most recent landmark acquisition move is the launch of its Clockwork label, which won a bidding war to acquire Park Chan-wook's "The Brigands of Rattlecreek" for North American distribution in a deal said to be in the $15M range, following Clockwork's earlier pickup of Sean Baker's "Ti Amo!" in April 2026. The studio also brought the 4K restoration of "The Devils" (1971) to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, signaling appetite for prestige catalog and arthouse titles alongside commercial fare.
Common questions about Warner Bros.
Does Warner Bros. accept unsolicited scripts?
Warner Bros. does not operate an open unsolicited submissions pipeline for the main studio. The practical pathway is through established representation (a WGA signatory agent or entertainment attorney) or through festival positioning that attracts the attention of the studio's acquisitions teams. The Clockwork label, the studio's newer arthouse arm, has shown willingness to engage with independently produced, director-driven projects, but those deals have originated through competitive marketplace situations, not cold outreach.
What budgets does Warner Bros. acquire at?
Budget details were not disclosed for most recent acquisitions including Bitter Christmas, Night People, and Shiver. The clearest data point on record is the Clockwork label's acquisition of The Brigands of Rattlecreek, which carried a reported $60M production budget and a North American acquisition price said to be in the $15M range. The studio's main pipeline targets tentpole and franchise-scale productions, while Clockwork appears to operate in the prestige independent space with significant acquisition capacity.
Does Warner Bros. acquire films from festivals?
Yes. The Clockwork label's acquisition of The Brigands of Rattlecreek and the studio's presentation of The Devils 4K restoration at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival both point to active festival engagement. Clockwork in particular appears to be the studio's primary vehicle for festival-circuit acquisitions, having also picked up Sean Baker's Ti Amo! in April 2026. CinemaCon is another key venue where Warner Bros. has historically announced and touted its theatrical slate and distribution strategy.
How do I reach Warner Bros. acquisitions?
The most active and transparent acquisitions pathway currently is through the Clockwork label, Warner Bros.' prestige and arthouse distribution arm, which has completed multiple deals in 2026 and has demonstrated willingness to compete in bidding situations. For the main studio, access runs through established talent representation. Key tracked decision makers include distribution chiefs Jeff Goldstein (domestic) and Andrew Cripps (international), though 244 decision makers are tracked across the broader organization. Festival premieres remain a reliable trigger for acquisitions conversations.
What genres is Warner Bros. focused on right now?
The studio's recent acquisition activity spans Western/thriller (The Brigands of Rattlecreek), drama (Ti Amo!), and drama/horror (The Devils restoration). The content focus flagged in current tracking includes psychosexual thriller with themes of voyeurism set against a corporate backdrop, and the erotic thriller genre more broadly. The main studio continues to prioritize franchise and tentpole fare. Clockwork's early acquisitions suggest a preference for auteur-driven, filmmaker-led projects with strong critical positioning and theatrical potential.
Is Warner Bros. actively acquiring right now?
Yes, according to recent coverage. Three deals have been confirmed in the most recent 90-day window, with the latest tracked signal recorded in late June 2026. The Clockwork label is the most visibly active acquisition vehicle, having closed deals on The Brigands of Rattlecreek and Ti Amo! in 2026 alone. The studio's overall 12-month activity log shows 565 tracked records, indicating sustained market engagement. Deal velocity in the most recent 30-day window is reported at 3, consistent with recent pace.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Focus Features — Focus Features is doubling down on experiential brand-building and festival acquisitions to court th
- Roadside Attractions — Roadside Attractions is a North American boutique distributor actively acquiring festival-originated
- Fox Entertainment — Fox Entertainment is running a deliberate, low-volume acquisition strategy built around creator-led,
- 20th Television — 20th Television is actively building its overall-deal roster and deepening its animation pipeline, w
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