New York Times In Exclusive Talks To Buy Letterboxd
The New York Times Company is reportedly negotiating a roughly $330 million purchase of Letterboxd, with its founders potentially staying in charge.
The New York Times Company is in exclusive negotiations to buy Letterboxd for around $330 million, according to reports from TechCrunch and The Verge citing The New York Times. The deal is not final, and the Times Company has declined to comment. A purchase would add the film-focused social platform to a company that has previously bought Wordle, Wirecutter and The Athletic.
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The reported deal
Letterboxd lets film fans track and discuss movies. According to The Verge, the negotiations have included a proposal under which Letterboxd’s co-founders would continue running the platform while reporting to a Times Company executive. Letterboxd would likely operate as a standalone product for the foreseeable future and use the Times Company’s advertising technology, The Verge reported, citing the Times.
Those arrangements remain potential terms, not confirmed plans. Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander declined to comment, The Verge reported. Letterboxd and its current parent company, Tiny Ltd., did not immediately respond to the outlet’s request for comment.
Other bidders and Letterboxd’s growth
The Times Company was not the only name linked to a possible purchase. The Verge said Sony Pictures Entertainment and A24 had also been rumored as interested parties. TechCrunch, citing the Times, reported that both film studios were interested and that A24 was priced out.
Letterboxd’s audience has expanded sharply. TechCrunch reported that the platform had 3 million users in January 2021 and 28 million by April 2026. More than half of its users are under 35, the outlet said. Letterboxd is free to use, with advanced features available through a paid subscription.
TechCrunch put Letterboxd’s projected earnings for 2026 at $15 million. The reported purchase price of roughly $330 million is therefore much larger than that annual projection, though neither report described a completed agreement or announced a final price.
Where it would fit among Times acquisitions
If completed, the acquisition would join several other purchases by the Times Company. The Verge listed Wordle, acquired in a deal valued in the low seven figures; Wirecutter, bought for slightly more than $30 million; and The Athletic, bought for $550 million.
For now, the central question is whether the exclusive talks lead to a sale. The reported discussions offer a possible outline for Letterboxd’s leadership and operations under a new owner, but those details depend on a deal being reached.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.