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Nuremberg Today
By the People, for the People
Netflix Unlocks Sony Movies for Ad-Tier Subscribers Early
Subscribers on Netflix's ad-supported plan can now access recent Sony Pictures releases and legacy catalog titles.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:18pm
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A conceptual illustration capturing the unexpected move by Netflix to unlock Sony Pictures movies for its ad-supported subscribers, opening up access to major franchises and new releases.Nuremberg TodayNetflix has quietly removed the 'padlock' icon from Sony Pictures movies, unlocking both legacy catalog titles and recent Pay-1 window releases for ad-tier users much earlier than expected. This change applies to two major categories of Sony content: older licensed movies and fresh-from-the-theater blockbusters. Subscribers on the ad-supported plan can now access recent additions like '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', 'Clika', 'Nuremberg', 'Annaconda', and 'Sisu: Road to Revenge', as well as older catalog titles like 'Pixels', 'Vertical Limit', 'The Glass House', and 'The Brothers Grimsby'.
Why it matters
This is a significant and unexpected move by Netflix, as the company had previously confirmed that Sony Pictures movies wouldn't be integrated into the ad-tier until 2027. The early unlocking of this content gives ad-tier subscribers access to major blockbusters and franchises, including upcoming Spider-Man and Legend of Zelda releases, without having to upgrade to a premium plan.
The details
Ever since Netflix struck a global deal with Sony Pictures in 2021 to bring all of Sony's theatrical output to Netflix, there has been a catch for ad-tier subscribers. Due to pre-existing licensing constraints, those massive theatrical releases were kept strictly behind a paywall, available only to Premium and Standard ad-free subscribers. However, Netflix and Sony have now gone back to the negotiating table and successfully cleared the licensing hurdles to allow ads to run alongside these titles much earlier than anticipated.
- Netflix and Sony struck a global deal in 2021 to bring Sony's theatrical output to Netflix.
- Netflix previously confirmed that Sony Pictures movies wouldn't be integrated into the ad-tier until 2027.
- The change to unlock Sony Pictures movies for ad-tier subscribers happened overnight on April 3, 2026.
The players
Netflix
A major streaming platform that has struck a global deal with Sony Pictures to bring the studio's theatrical output to Netflix.
Sony Pictures
A major Hollywood studio that has licensed its theatrical releases to Netflix, including franchises like Spider-Man and the upcoming Legend of Zelda.
What’s next
Netflix and Sony may continue to negotiate and refine the terms of their licensing agreement, potentially leading to further changes in content availability for ad-tier subscribers in the future.
The takeaway
This unexpected move by Netflix to unlock Sony Pictures movies for ad-tier subscribers much earlier than planned is a significant win for that segment of the Netflix user base, as it provides access to major blockbusters and franchises without requiring an upgrade to a premium plan.
