Letterboxd Acquisition: NYT Near $330M After Studio Bids

Letterboxd acquisition talks have reached exclusive negotiations: The New York Times Company is discussing a purchase of about $330 million, according to a New York Times report on November 5, 2026. Two sources told the paper that a final deal is not done yet.

Exclusive negotiations mean the sides are bargaining together for a set period and usually keep other bidders out. Additionally, earlier interest from Sony Pictures Entertainment and A24 was widely reported; TechCrunch said A24 was priced out. So what would a Times purchase change for the film app's 28 million users?

What has The New York Times offered for Letterboxd?

The Verge, citing the Times on November 5, 2026, said the company entered talks for around $330 million. Letterboxd is a free social network for logging movies, writing short reviews, and following friends. A paid tier unlocks advanced features.

TechCrunch noted the platform grew from 3 million users in January 2021 to 28 million by April 2026, with more than half of users under 35. At that price, the multiple is steep: projected earnings for this year are about $15 million, so $330 million is roughly 22 times that figure. NYT spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander declined to comment. Letterboxd and majority owner Tiny Ltd. did not immediately reply to The Verge.

Would the founders stay after a Letterboxd acquisition?

Reporting around the talks says co-founders Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow could remain in charge while reporting to a Times Company executive. Letterboxd would likely keep running as a stand-alone site for the foreseeable future. The Times would also plug its advertising technology into Letterboxd's systems.

However, that mix matters for fans who worry about paywalls or studio influence. Sony or A24 as owners would have put film studios over a review community. A newspaper company is a different kind of buyer, though ad integration still reshapes the product over time.

How does this compare with other NYT deals?

Therefore, if completed, Letterboxd would sit behind only The Athletic among recent Times Company purchases. Wordle landed in the low seven figures, Wirecutter for slightly more than $30 million, and The Athletic for $550 million. Those deals built a games, reviews, and sports stack; Letterboxd would add a younger film audience next to that mix.

For context on other social platforms chasing paid users, see our note on Snapchat+ hitting 30 million subscribers.

Creator apps are also moving onto bigger screens, including Instagram Edits on Mac.

AI media tools are shifting too, as in our look at the ChatGPT GIF maker.

Our Take

The headline number is large for a niche social app, but the user base is young and habitual. Keeping founders in place and the site stand-alone is the right first message. The real test comes later: whether Times ads, subscriptions, or cross-promotion change the daily habit of logging every movie. Until a signed deal appears, treat $330 million as a negotiating marker, not a close.

NYT Company deal	Reported price
Wordle	Low seven figures
Wirecutter	Slightly more than $30 million
Letterboxd (talks)	About $330 million
The Athletic	$550 million

The Verge published its write-up on November 5, 2026; TechCrunch and Gizmodo carried matching figures the same day. We will update this page if the companies announce a signed Letterboxd acquisition.