Netflix signed a multi-year contract with Kevin Hart and his producer HartBeat Productions for four exclusive films starring Hart and the first films the comedy star develops with his company.
Hart recently partnered with Netflix for his comedy special Zero F ** ks Given, which, according to Netflix, was “Netflix’s # 1 comedy special in 2020,” but this new deal would bring the lucrative comedy star even deeper. Hart’s films grossed a combined total of $ 4 billion at the global box office, according to Netflix, so taking advantage of that star power to lure users to the streaming service and keeping them around makes perfect sense.
Counting on recognizable comedy stars has been a successful formula for Netflix. Adam Sandler’s deal with the company produced films that consistently rank at the top of Netflix’s charts. Sandler’s movies on Netflix were so popular that Netflix renewed its contract with the first SNL star twice just to keep you close. In addition, Hart and Sandler share a similar broad appeal, generally enjoyed by all ages in the United States and fans around the world. As Netflix expands globally, movies with recognizable stars everywhere are becoming increasingly important to continue to grow their subscriber base.
Hart has his controversies – most notably, a pattern of homophobic behavior (and tweets) that cost him a show as an Oscar host in 2019. The star has since acknowledged his mistakes, but Hart’s previous comments may be a concern for some Netflix subscribers.