Story perspectives

Mubi Leads Hunt for Amazon MGM’s “Artificial” After Buyers Bail

6/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Amazon MGM Studios dropped Luca Guadagnino’s $40 million drama “Artificial,” set for early-2027 SXSW.
Netflix, A24, Focus Features, Warner Bros.’ Clockwork and other major buyers passed after private screenings.
Mubi leads the search for a new distributor, with Neon also rumored to be interested.
Mixed test screenings may prompt producers to tweak the final cut if a studio signs it.
A Mubi deal could launch the film at Venice and keep Oscar contention.

History

Historical Context

Netflix launched a streaming service in January 2007 with about 1,000 titles, far fewer than its 70,000 DVD catalog, prompting studios to prioritize digital releases. The move spurred hardware partnerships, including Amazon’s cloud support, and set a streaming-first model that now pressures Amazon MGM Studios’ $40 million drama “Artificial” to seek non-theatrical distribution.

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Story summary

Amazon MGM Studios dropped Luca Guadagnino’s $40 million drama “Artificial,” set for early-2027 SXSW.
Netflix, A24, Focus Features, Warner Bros.’ Clockwork and other major buyers passed after private screenings.
Mubi leads the search for a new distributor, with Neon also rumored to be interested.
Mixed test screenings may prompt producers to tweak the final cut if a studio signs it.
A Mubi deal could launch the film at Venice and keep Oscar contention.

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