Idris Elba starred in the film, which had a budget of US$6 million. Producers were wise to go with Netflix, as the film made just US$90,777 at the box office.
The film got rave reviews and even won an Oscar, but it's debatable whether the subject matter would have drawn big crowds at the box office.
See also: A brief history of how Netflix achieved world domination.
How Netflix saves movies from box-office disaster
Netflix is changing the movie industry, a lot faster than expected
MOVIES Netlix
Netflix is changing the movie industry, a lot faster than expected. When a second 'Jungle Book' remake was announced (titled 'Mowgli'), many thought it would bomb upon release. 'The Jungle Book' had previously made nearly a billion at the box office, making 'Mowgli' something of a copycat. Luckily, Netflix picked up the production, and the film hit the streaming service. It isn't the only movie that has been saved from potential box office humiliation. In fact, there have been plenty of films that have found a nice home on Netflix, away from cinematic critics and the pressure of turning a huge profit. Check out this new gallery, and find out just how Netflix saves movies from box office disaster.