But does Linklater get funding without Netflix ? Bear in mind, filming began early 2022, before Powell hit the big time with Maverick, he got the gig because he starred in Linklater's Everybody Wants Some, the three films Linklater made prior to Hitman all lost significant sums of money. You could argue without Netflix Linklater struggles to make another film, which would be a travesty as far as I'm concerned because I've loved nearly everything he has made.
What you're saying is true, and folk like Jane Campion and Martin Scorsese got their funding from streamers.
But films like Hitman used to have a shot at making some money at the cinema, during a 3-4 week run at least. The habit of going to the cinema to see films like (random list) Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, When Harry Met Sally, Big Trouble in Little China, Gremlins, L.A. Confidential, Fletch, Carlito's Way, Taxi Driver, Ghost,
Bad Boys (lol), Tremors, Twelve Monkeys......is kind of dying.
You'll see Mission Impossible 8 and the next Captain America in the cinema but the mid-range, mid-budget films that might be interesting and grungey.............market is dying off due to streamers changing people's habits.