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The industry conversation around streaming has long been dominated by “prestige” series, but fresh data suggests the spotlight is shifting back to the feature film.
While the move toward reliability over experimentation is a known industry trend, new figures from Digital i reveal that original movies are increasingly being used as the primary engine for platform growth and risk mitigation.
Movies as "event" content
One of the most significant takeaways from Digital i’s 2025 original content analysis is the resurgence of original streaming movies.
As revealed in our trend report, Streaming in Flux (which you can read HERE), the volume of new series has fluctuated. However, the number of original films launching on Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video in 15 measured markets (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland and The Netherlands) hit 480 in 2025 - a notable increase from 432 in 2024 and 450 in 2023.
Streamers are increasingly leveraging movies as high-impact "event" content. These films allow platforms to drive immediate engagement through concentrated spikes in viewership and social conversation.
Movies also provide a "one-and-done" engagement hook without the multi-year financial and production commitments required for multi-season series. For a risk-averse platform, a single high-quality film is often a more efficient investment than a ten-episode series gamble.
The decline of season ones
This pivot toward movies is happening as the appetite for new series reaches a five-year low. In 2021, Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ launched 546 season one originals in those 15 measured markets. By 2025, that number dropped to 395 - representing a sharp 27.6% decline over that period.
The data suggests that the "pilot" era is over. Rather than launching a high volume of unproven series, streamers are funneling those resources into "event" movies that can stand alone or serve as tentpoles for existing franchises.
Relying on what works
Even within the series space, the focus has shifted toward what already works. The number of titles returning for season two or beyond is rebounding, rising to 297 in 2025 from 271 in 2024.
When paired with the growth in movies, a clear picture of the 2026 landscape emerges: the market is being built on established IP and self-contained cinematic events. For creators and distributors, the "barrier to entry" is higher than ever, and the path to a green light now increasingly leads toward the movie format.
