Netflix’s Missed Opportunity With The Bird Box Franchise

by

As a movie fan, I really thought Bird Box had franchise potential for Netflix, so I’m still baffled by how they dropped the ball on it. Before that, back in 2017, they took a big swing with Bright, starring Will Smith. Even though critics hated it and most people have forgotten about it now, it actually ended up quietly changing the game for how movies get made.

The impressive number of viewers who watched Bright on Netflix showed that the company didn’t need to release movies in theaters to create a big hit. However, Bright never turned into a full-fledged series – except for a little-known anime adaptation – and Netflix has struggled to build successful, original movie franchises since then.

While films like Red Notice and The Gray Man were popular, Netflix hasn’t made sequels to them. Extraction and The Old Guard are the only real examples of movies that have gotten follow-up films, meaning Netflix generally struggles to create long-lasting movie franchises.

The 2018 horror film Bird Box offers a good example of this trend. Its intriguing premise involved characters who had to avoid looking at terrifying creatures that drove people insane. Despite receiving somewhat mixed reactions from critics, the movie, starring Sandra Bullock, quickly became incredibly popular on Netflix.

Bird Box Could Have Given Netflix A Major Horror Franchise

The movie Bird Box came to Netflix just before Christmas 2018 and quickly became incredibly popular. For about a year, it seemed like everyone was talking about it – even those who didn’t particularly enjoy the film found themselves discussing it and speculating about the creatures you never actually see. Plus, the viral “Bird Box Challenge” added to the buzz.

The trend started with people recording themselves doing everyday things while blindfolded. However, it quickly became problematic as people began getting hurt, leading to accidents and injuries. Netflix even issued a warning about the dangers of participating.

This naturally led to even more interest in Bird Box, and many expected a sequel. But despite the anticipation, a follow-up film hasn’t materialized, and it’s starting to seem unlikely that one ever will.

The movie is based on Josh Malerman’s novel of the same name, and discussions about a Netflix sequel began when Malerman released a follow-up book, Malorie, in 2020. This new story takes place years after the first one, showing Malorie and her children having to escape their safe haven when the creatures find them.

The second book hints that the creatures have become more dangerous and can now kill with just a touch. There was discussion about Netflix making a Bird Box 2 based on the character Malorie, and the director, Susanne Bier, expressed interest in returning. However, five years have passed, and there’s still no progress on a sequel.

The Poorly Received Bird Box Barcelona Arrived Way Too Late

Rather than a sequel starring Sandra Bullock, a spin-off film called Bird Box Barcelona was released in 2023. The movie was designed to be the first in a planned series exploring how different countries dealt with the mysterious creatures.

While Bird Box Barcelona had a surprising twist at the beginning and explored the monsters’ backstory with some interesting concepts, it ultimately felt like a weaker version of the first film. It didn’t feature any characters that really stood out, and overall, it was just a fairly typical horror thriller.

Bird Box Barcelona didn’t receive very positive feedback, and it’s likely many people have already forgotten about it. This is especially disappointing considering it was a sequel to the hugely popular horror film, Bird Box, from the 2010s.

While a series expanding the world of Bird Box seemed promising, fans weren’t interested in a spin-off that didn’t involve Sandra Bullock’s character. Plus, the idea came out too long after the original film’s popularity to really gain traction.

A Direct Bird Box Sequel Would Have Had Challenges

It’s tempting to think Netflix should have quickly started working on a sequel to Bird Box and provided its creators with a large budget. However, the situation is more complicated than that. Sandra Bullock is known for being hesitant about sequels, largely because of her negative experiences with Speed 2: Cruise Control and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.

Although Bird Box was a hit, Sandra Bullock has turned down other potential sequels and follow-ups, so she likely didn’t even consider a Bird Box 2 (no offense intended!). However, a sequel could still have worked by focusing on her children, with a different actor playing her character.

A sequel to Bird Box would face a challenge because the core idea—being blindfolded to avoid a mysterious threat—has already been thoroughly explored. The original movie squeezed every bit of suspense out of that concept, meaning any follow-up would need a new and inventive angle. While the sequel novel, Malorie, was well-received, it didn’t significantly build upon the initial premise.

It’s surprising Netflix didn’t even try to make a sequel to Bird Box. Barcelona seemed like a way to test the waters – a compromise to see if people were still interested in the story, since a full sequel wasn’t going to happen. Unfortunately, it turned out there wasn’t much interest after all.

While a Bird Box sequel might still be popular, it would likely feel like it’s arriving too late. The initial excitement has faded, and unless the new film offered a truly captivating and unique approach, it’s probably best not to make it.

Read More

2025-12-11 02:02