Will Netflix and HBO Max Be Combined After $82.7 Billion Deal?
Netflix is set to have control over major franchises like "Harry Potter," "Game of Thrones," and the DC Universe after acquiring Warner Bros.
by Jam Nitura
Published on Dec 6, 2025
Netflix is set to acquire Warner Bros. in a lucrative $82.7 billion deal. The streaming giant announced the news last December 5, 2025, stating that the acquisition includes the latter’s film and television studios, HBO and HBO Max.
“Today’s announcement combines two of the greatest storytelling companies in the world to bring to even more people the entertainment they love to watch the most,” said Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav. As the news comes to light, subscribers of both platforms are now asking if this means that Netflix and HBO Max are merging. Keep scrolling to find out.
Are Netflix and HBO Max Being Combined?
The quick answer is “no,” at least for now. According to Zaslav, the two platforms will be kept separate, so subscribers paying for HBO Max still have the choice to only have HBO Max on their screens. Netflix viewers, on the other hand, can expect their library to expand significantly.
Once the agreement is finalized next year, Netflix will have control over major movie and television franchises and independent titles originally produced under Warner Bros. This means that you might soon see the likes of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Friends, and the DC Universe in your Netflix home screen.
Netflix expounded on this on their official statement: “By adding the deep film and TV libraries and HBO and HBO Max programming, Netflix members will have even more high-quality titles from which to choose. This also allows Netflix to optimize its plans for consumers, enhancing viewing options and expanding access to content.”
What this means for subscription fees is still up in the air. But you might want to start budgeting for a possible increase to your monthly Netflix payments by next year.
The merger has already sparked concerns within the industry. Among the many questions is what this might mean for theatrical movie releases now that a traditional production studio is being handled by a streaming-first company.
Variety reported that a group of “top industry players” has sent out an open letter to the US Congress, stating that Netflix would “effectively hold a noose around the theatrical marketplace." They argued that Warner Bros. films would be given less time in cinemas before they eventually hit the streamer, if the deal pushes through.
In response to this, an insider knowledgeable about the deal has “flatly denied” the accusation.