Which movies is Netflix dropping after Epix film cull?

US version of video-streaming site loses Hunger Games and other films, as rival Hulu fills gap

Hunger Games
(Image credit: OutNow)

Netflix users in the US will soon find their options more limited: the site is to lose thousands of movies after it decided not to renew a deal with distributor Epix. However, the change marks an increased focus on "exclusive content".

Netflix has some 60 million users worldwide - and by commissioning its own shows has emerged as a serious rival to the major TV networks. The jewel in its crown is the Kevin Spacey drama series House of Cards.

Announcing the decision, chief content officer Ted Sarandos said that the films he was jettisoning were "popular" but were "widely available on cable and other subscription platforms at the same time as they are on Netflix".

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He said Netflix will soon carry shows made specially for the streaming site by Ricky Gervais, Idris Elba and Adam Sandler - as well as an exclusive documentary about Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

The films the site is losing, including the Transformers and Hunger Games series, will now be available in the US on Netflix rival Hulu.

Analyst Jim Nail told the BBC that Netflix was making a calculated gamble in handing its competitor this advantage.

He said Netflix was trying to position itself as a premium content provider, adding: "Netflix is a very smart data company. They didn't make this decision without looking at how many people are viewing these titles."

Nail added: "They're not trying to please everyone. They're pleasing people who want premium content. That's not all of America."

The library the company offers is different on this side of the Atlantic: UK deals between distributors and Sky mean Netflix's British offering is already more limited. But the change will affect Britons accessing the site by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to trick Netflix into thinking a viewer is based in the states.

People pulling that trick will now find their viewing options are more limited: though they may be able to watch Netflix's exclusive new content before it is officially available in the UK.

Here is a list of all the titles US Netflix will lose by the end of September, including the Epix films:

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London

Better Than Chocolate

Bratz: Rock Angelz

Care Bears: Big Wish Movie

Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-Lot

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!

Doomsday Preppers: Season 1-3

Electrick Children

FernGully: The Last Rainforest

Ink Master: Season 2

Jackie Brown

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

Mortal Kombat: The Movie

Patch Adams

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Rules of Engagement

Rumpelstiltskin

Sarah’s Choice

School of Rock

She’s the One

Sleepless in Seattle

The IT Crowd: Series 1-4

The Lost Boys

Total Recall

W.

Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This

Dinosaurs: Seasons 1-4

Delta Farce

Marilyn in Manhattan

Ramsay’s Best Restaurant: Season 1

Bratz: Friendship is Always in Style

Kicking It

100 Below Zero

Becoming Chaz

Crash & Bernstein: Seasons 1-2

War Witch

High Fidelity

Corky Romano

Best of Teletubbies

Bratz: The Video: Starrin’ & Stylin’

Coach: Season 1-9

Spiral: Season 4

Valhalla

Hank: Five Years from the Brink

The Slap: Season 1

Reporter

National Geographic: Inside Guantanamo

National Geographic: The Battle for Midway Indy 500: The Inside Line Lethal Force Ron White: A Little Unprofessional LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Seasons 1-2 My Boys: Seasons 1-4

Undeclared: The Complete Series

Bratz: Desert Jewelz

Comic Book Men: Season 2

Coriolanus

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Apocalypse Now

If I Stay

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Nebraska

Saved!

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Star Trek Into Darkness

The Expendables 3

The Good Guy

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Prince

The Skeleton Twins

The Wolf of Wall Street

Transformers: Age of Extinction

World War Z

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