Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
New York Times in Talks to Buy Letterboxd for About $330 Million
The New York Times Company is negotiating to buy Letterboxd for a reported $330 million.
The New Zealand-based film community has about 30 million users who track and rate movies they watch.
The deal is not final, and the reported price is more than 20 times Letterboxd’s projected 2026 earnings of about $15 million.
Letterboxd was founded in 2011 and also offers film rentals in 23 countries, alongside free and paid membership options.
Co-founders Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow are expected to stay in charge, reporting to a New York Times executive.
The purchase would expand the Times’ portfolio of subscription-based services, which includes The Athletic, Wirecutter and Wordle; the next step is for negotiations to produce a final deal.
The New York Times Company is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Letterboxd for about $330 million, according to reports citing The New York Times.
No agreement has been reached, and the deal could still fall apart.
The proposed price is more than 20 times Letterboxd’s projected 2026 earnings of about $15 million, according to the reports.
Letterboxd’s co-founders could remain in place under the reported terms, while the platform would likely remain standalone for the foreseeable future.
- Who
- The New York Times Company and Letterboxd. Tiny, Letterboxd’s current parent company, holds the controlling stake that would be acquired.
- What
- The Times Company is in exclusive negotiations to buy Letterboxd for about $330 million. No agreement has been reached.
- When
- The reports appeared on November 5 and 6, 2026. The date of any potential deal is not stated.
- Where
- Letterboxd is an online social platform for movie lovers. The companies’ locations are not stated.
- Why
- The Times Company’s reason for pursuing the acquisition is not stated. Letterboxd has been exploring a sale.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tiny acquired a 60 percent stake in Letterboxd, valuing the website at $50 million.
Tiny began exploring a sale of Letterboxd.
The New York Times reported that it had entered exclusive negotiations to acquire Letterboxd.
News outlets reported the proposed price of about $330 million and said no agreement had been reached.
- Proposed price
- About $330 million
- Projected 2026 earnings
- About $15 million
- Letterboxd stake held by Tiny
- 60 percent
- Letterboxd users
- 26 million, according to IndieWire; TechCrunch reported 28 million by April
- Potential continuing founders
- Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow
6 sources
The New York Times in “Advanced Talks” to Buy Letterboxd
The New York Times reportedly in talks to buy Letterboxd for $330 million
Letterboxd Finalizing $330 Million Sale to The New York Times
The New York Times is in talks to buy Letterboxd for around $330 million
Letterboxd in Negotiations to Be Acquired by New York Times Company
New York Times Enters Exclusive Talks to Buy Letterboxd for $330 Million
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the “foreseeable future