Netflix and Academy Award-Winner Tim Robbins Join Forces for the Exclusive DVD Release of Embedded/Live

Netflix and Academy Award-Winner Tim Robbins Join Forces for the Exclusive DVD Release of Embedded/Live

LOS GATOS, Calif., May 24 -- Netflix, the world's largest online movie rental service, and Havoc Films, the production company of Academy Award-winning actor/director/writer Tim Robbins, today announced a promotional agreement through which Netflix will distribute and merchandize the DVD release of his project Embedded/Live. The film was shot before a live audience during its off-Broadway run in New York.

The Embedded/Live DVD will be available exclusively to more than three million Netflix members beginning May 31, 2005. Netflix will utilize members' past film rating and rental histories to identify and promote Embedded/Live to viewers with a penchant for such projects. For his part, Mr. Robbins will actively promote the film, and its availability via Netflix, through a series of national media appearances.

"The Embedded/Live project is a perfect example of how Netflix is bringing the widest variety of films to its members and offering producers a platform to promote their high quality, challenging films to a broader audience," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer of Netflix.

Embedded/Live, which is written and directed by and stars Mr. Robbins, is a satirical look at the events surrounding the women and men on the front lines of an unnamed Middle-Eastern war based on the current Iraq conflict. It explores the lives of soldiers and their families, parodies compliant embedded journalists and casts a critical eye on government officials. The film features members of The Actors' Gang theater company.

"I am thrilled that Netflix is going to premiere Embedded/Live in the U.S.," said Mr. Robbins. "From the very first performance of the play at our Actors' Gang theatre in July 2003, it has been the audience that has determined its life. Our sold out shows made it apparent that there was something in Embedded/Live that was needed, something that was not available in other entertainment or satire or news. From Los Angeles to New York to London to Phoenix, Seattle, Minnesota and Boston, Embedded/Live has had a life of its own, and now and thanks to Netflix, will continue its life and continue to find its audience."

The Embedded/Live promotional agreement is part of Netflix's strategic pursuit of unique and exclusive content as a way of further distinguishing the company as a leader in the home entertainment arena. Through such efforts, Netflix gives powerful films the ability to perform on par with their big-budget counterparts. Netflix promotes these films under the Netflix First(TM) category on its Website.

To date, the Netflix First initiative has taken an active role in broadening the audience for a diverse roster of films including Academy Award-winning documentary Born Into Brothels (2004), the Academy Award-nominated film Daughter from Danang (2002), Eve Ensler's V-Day: Until the Violence Stops (2003), Patton Oswalt's Comedians of Comedy (2005) and many more.

About Netflix

Netflix is the world's largest online movie rental service, providing more than three million subscribers access to over 40,000 DVD titles. Under the company's most popular program, for $17.99 a month, Netflix subscribers rent as many DVDs as they want and keep them as long as they want, with three movies out at a time. There are no due dates, no late fees and no shipping fees. DVDs are delivered for free by the USPS from regional shipping centers located throughout the United States. Netflix can reach nearly 90 percent of its subscribers with generally one business-day delivery. Netflix offers personalized movie recommendations to its members and has more than 500 million movie ratings. Netflix also allows members to share and recommend movies to one another through its Friends(TM) feature. For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

About Havoc Films

Havoc Films, the production company of Actor/Director Tim Robbins, was founded in 1994 around the release of the film Dead Man Walking. Subsequent Havoc productions include the documentaries The Typewriter, The Rifle and The Movie Camera (2004), profiling the life of director Samuel Fuller (Cable Ace Award 1996), The Spectre of Hope (2000), about the life of photographer Sebastiao Salgado (2000), as well as the film Cradle Will Rock (1999) which was written and directed by Tim Robbins.

Media contacts: Fenot Tekle Jennifer Turner
Netflix Inc. Wolf-Kasteler-Van Iden Associates
408-317-3787 310-205-0618
ftekle@netflix.comJenniferT@wkvia.com

PRNewswire -- May 24

Source: Netflix, Inc.

Web site: http://www.netflix.com/

-------
Profile: intent