The New York Times is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Letterboxd, the social platform for film enthusiasts, for approximately $330 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential deal, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, would bring the popular movie-review and discovery service under the media company's growing portfolio of digital subscriptions. Letterboxd, founded in 2011 in New Zealand, allows users to log films, share reviews and curate watchlists, and has grown dramatically in recent years, surpassing millions of registered users and becoming a cultural force in film circles. Representatives for both The New York Times and Letterboxd declined to comment on the reported negotiations.
The reported talks come as The New York Times continues to expand beyond traditional news into lifestyle and cultural products, having previously acquired sports outlet The Athletic and puzzle game Wordle. For Letterboxd, a sale could provide resources to scale its platform and advertising business while raising questions among its devoted user base about whether a corporate owner might alter the community-driven experience. Industry analysts note that Letterboxd's engaged audience of cinephiles could complement the Times' existing culture coverage and subscription offerings. Neither company has confirmed a timeline for the potential transaction, and the talks could still fall through.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.