Netflix Buys Two Chris Rock Stand-Up Comedy Specials for a Reported $40 Million
Chris Rock is one of the comedian multi-hyphenates whose skill at stand-up has never been overshadowed by his other work. Netflix knows that.
On Thursday, the world-dominating streaming service snatched up Rock's next two stand-up specials, which will end an eight-year drought, for a reported $20 million apiece. Yes: $40 million for two stand-up specials, which typically range between 60 and 90 minutes for the big-leaguers. The first will arrive next year, after a world tour.
Deadline notes the deal was "an extremely competitive situation," with Rock having done five specials with HBO, the earliest being Big Ass Jokes in 1994, the latest being '08's Kill the Messenger. "Stand-up comedy has become a big draw on [streaming video on demand] platforms over the last few years," Deadline writes, "explaining the big appetite, aggressive bidding and huge price tag for new material from one of the superstars in the genre."
40m
2m
1h 27m
5m
20m
21m
24m
1h 3m
21m
24m
1m
59m
45m
44m
47m
46m
46m
44m
41m
1m
46m
20m
7m
20m
20m
9m
9m
3m
24m
22m
20m
20m
3m
24m
1m
22m
8m
20m
44m
1h 25m
46m
21m
11m
2m
20m
1m
2m
1h 18m
1m
21m
1m
1m
5m
1h 21m
20m
44m
22m
22m
3m
5m
3m
24m
20m
7m
2m
36s
1m
22m
45m
24m
1m
1h 21m
46m
1h 16m
45m
46m
46m
46m
41m
20m
4m
2m
23m
2m
42m
24m
1m
20m
43m
21m
22m
20m
20m
20m
1h 42m
1h 25m
1h 39m