Netflix, Apple, Sony, and Warner Bros. Sit Out Super Bowl Film Marketing — Here’s What That Means

As Super Bowl LX approaches on February 8, 2026, Hollywood’s usual Big Game marketing frenzy looks different this year. Some of the biggest names in film; Netflix, Apple Original Films, Sony, and Warner Bros. etc  are reportedly opting out of traditional Super Bowl advertising for their upcoming releases.

The move is striking because for decades, the Super Bowl has been the ultimate stage to debut movie trailers, with over 100 million viewers tuning in worldwide. Traditionally, a well-timed Big Game spot can spark massive social media buzz, drive trailer views, and generate early ticket sales. But this year, these studios are taking a different path.

Reports confirm that Netflix is skipping Super Bowl ad slots for its upcoming films, while Apple Original Films is also sitting out, favoring other promotional channels. Sony Pictures will not be buying movie ad space during the Big Game, and Warner Bros. is absent as well, despite its history of high-profile Super Bowl campaigns. Instead of spending millions on 30-second TV spots, these studios are focusing on digital-first marketing, using online trailers, social media campaigns, and targeted fan events to reach audiences without the massive price tag.

Not all studios are sitting on the sidelines. Disney, Universal, and Paramount are expected to lead the Super Bowl film marketing charge this year, with trailers for major blockbusters. Fans can anticipate promos for Toy Story 5, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and Super Mario Galaxy, among others. This split shows a strategic divide in Hollywood, with some studios viewing the Super Bowl as an essential launchpad while others are betting on digital-first campaigns and extended hype-building.

Several factors explain the shift. Skyrocketing costs make a 30-second Super Bowl ad increasingly expensive, with average prices hitting $8 million, not including production or talent fees. Digital platforms like YouTube and social media allow studios to reach their audiences more precisely. Meanwhile, many franchises are adopting strategies that favor sustained hype through social campaigns, trailers, and exclusive previews rather than relying on a single broadcast moment.

Even without Netflix, Apple, Sony, and Warner Bros. participating, the Super Bowl will still feature high-profile trailers and teasers. For studios that do advertise, the game remains a chance to set the tone for their biggest releases of the year. The takeaway is clear: Hollywood is experimenting with where, when, and how to reach audiences. The Super Bowl remains important, but it is no longer the automatic marketing must-have for every studio.

Marvel Is Launching An Exclusive What If…? Virtual Reality Experience To The Apple Vision Pro

Marvel is bringing its superhero experience exclusively to Apple Vision Pro users.

Apple and Marvel have come together to work on a one-hour mixed-reality MCU experience.

Marvel and ILM Immersive announced they’re working on “What If…? An Immersive Story” for only the $3,500 Vision Pro headset.

The release date for the Marvel ‘What If…?’ experience is yet to be decided. Users must own Vision Pro to enjoy the same experience as in the show or comic.

“The animated series as well as the comic book have always been about looking over the horizon into realities that have yet to be conceived,” Executive Producer Brad Winderbaum says in a statement.

Per description, “from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in unexpected ways. Now, fans have been chosen to step into the leading role of an all-new immersive story that transforms the space around them as they traverse across realities. Throughout their journey, they will come face-to-face with Multiversal variants of their favorite characters, learn the mystic arts, and be tasked with harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones.” Disney EVP and CTO Jamie Voris calls it “a deeply emotional and compelling story.”

https://twitter.com/MarvelStudios/status/1788222425399722487

While other media companies are yet to create apps for the mixed reality headset, according to Marvel Studios director and executive producer Dave Bushore, the project would be a “technological journey into mystery for an entirely new form of Marvel storytelling.” “One, I think we’ve only just scratched the surface of,” he says.

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