TIFF: Netflix acquires Bruised, Malcolm & Marie and Pieces Of A Woman

Netflix made big moves to start off the Toronto International Film Festival and in the process, they acquired three buzzed-about films with some of them scoring massive deals that have the industry talking. 

The streamer came out the gate swinging when the acquired Halle Berry's directorial debut, BRUISED. "Deadline" reported that Netflix firmed up an 8-figure sum for world rights to the mixed martial arts drama that also features Berry in the lead role. Netflix was able to get a preemptive look at the film which premiered at the festival as a work in progress and they took the movie off of the table before its virtual premiere on Saturday. It's being reported that the deal for BRUISED was close to $20 million which means Netflix really liked that they saw from the work in progress cut of the film. In the movie, Halle Berry plays a disgraced MMA fighter who has failed at the one thing she’s ever been good at – fighting. When 6-year-old Manny, the son she walked out on years ago, returns to her doorstep, Jackie has to conquer her own demons, face one of the fiercest rising stars of the MMA world, and ultimately fight to become the mother the boy deserves. Halle Berry took to Twitter to share her excitement about the deal:

Netflix also scored the worldwide rights to PIECES OF A WOMAN, which stars Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Molly Parker, Sarah Snook, Iliza Shlesinger, Benny Safdie, Jimmie Falls, and Ellen Burstyn. The searing drama made its debut at Venice and was featured during the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Kornél Mundruczó makes his English language directorial debut with the film which follows the implosion of a marriage after a couple’s infant daughter dies shortly after birth. To add to the film's good fortune, Vanessa Kirby was named winner of the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress. You can check out our Tiff Review of the film HERE.

The next film that Netflix scored, in another massive deal, is MALCOLM & MARIE, starring John David Washington and Zendaya. Directed by Sam Levinson, the romantic drama was snatched up by Netflix for a reported $30 million. MALCOLM & MARIE made headlines earlier this summer when it was revealed the film was shot very quietly during the production lockdown on 35mm in black and white. This gives the film the distinction of being the first post-pandemic film to complete production. Apparently MALCOLM & MARIE was a hot commodity because HBO, Amazon, Searchlight, MGM, Apple, A24, and Focus Features all wanted the film but Netflix ultimately won out. By the way, interest in the film was all based on a promo reel that ran for about 20 minutes. This should be an indication that even that brief glimpse of the film showed how strong the final product could be. In the film, Washington plays a filmmaker who returns home with his girlfriend (Zendaya) following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be an imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love.

Netflix certainly knows what they like. Are YOU interested in the three films that the streamer has scored at the start of TIFF?