You may not know who Warwick Davis is, but there’s a strong chance you’ve seen at least one of his movies. He’s starred in some of the biggest movie franchises of all time. And he’s been in some B-movie dreck. And he’s been the star of a recent streaming reboot. In each case, his career mirrors the various tiers of content, and the inherent problems for each of them in the streaming landscape.
Tier 1: 4-Star IP on One Platform
Davis’ breakout role was as the lovable Ewok Wicket in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.” As part of the Star Wars franchise, the movie remains safely locked within the gates of Disney+. Although the film does air on broadcast TV from time to time, we expect it will never appear on another streaming platform.
Most streaming platforms have at least a handful of standout titles they will likely never share. If you like Star Wars, you pretty much have to subscribe to Disney+ to watch it. That’s a definite value for subscribers. But it illustrates one of the main frustrations of streaming in 2023. In order to watch everything you like, you either need a bouquet of streaming services or you have to churn between them periodically.
The days of Netflix as the one-stop movie shop are over. The problem is that this IP no longer has the reach it once did. While 146 million homes can still access the Star Wars films as Disney+ subscribers, everyone else either needs to rent it, buy it digitally, or invest in physical media to see it.
In the same way that boxing used to be broadcast nationally before going behind ever-higher PPV paywalls, Star Wars has become something of a luxury for families who can afford it.
Return of the Jedi
Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, while the Emperor seeks to destroy the Rebellion once and for all with a second dreaded Death Star.
Tier 2: Beloved IP That Bounces Around
When you watch the Harry Potter films, you’ll see Davis in two roles: Professor Flitwick and Griphook. But where can you find the Hogwarts saga? Right now, the films are available on Max and Peacock, but they have historically been on one or the other or neither.
While there aren’t too many franchises that move from streamer to streamer, this sort of thing has become an increasing headache. We always know Marvel movies will be on Disney+, but other franchises are nomadic. The Transformers, Mad Max, and Fast and the Furious franchises aren’t even available to stream on one provider right now. You’d need several subscriptions to binge them all. If you want to watch The Hunger Games series, it’s not even available on an SVOD as of today.
This is a terrible user experience, but one we’re likely to encounter as long as smaller entertainment companies exist.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle’s house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he’s a powerful wizard — with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As he learns to harness his newfound powers with the help of the school’s kindly headmaster, Harry uncovers the truth about his parents’ deaths — and about the villain who’s to blame. This first chapter in J.K. Rowling’s wizard saga was a cultural phenomenon.
Tier 3: Critical Favorites You Can’t Find
Warwick Davis played a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series “Life’s Too Short.” The show originally aired on BBC Two in England and HBO in the U.S. While the show itself didn’t gain much traction, its celebrity cameos were remarkable. Now, you can only find them on YouTube.
Not every standout movie or TV show is assured a home on streaming services, but there are far larger cultural landmarks you can’t stream. Right now, you can’t stream a commercial-free version of Best Picture winners like “12 Years a Slave,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Departed,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “Braveheart,” “Out of Africa,” “Amadeus,” “Gandhi,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” You can’t even find “The Godfather” trilogy on SVODs today. You won’t find “Citizen Kane” or “Lawrence of Arabia” or “West Side Story” or “The Sound of Music” on any SVOD platform.
We’re not comparing “Life’s Too Short” to those movies, but they all suffer the same fate: curious exclusion from the major streaming services.
Life’s Too Short
Life’s Too Short is a British sitcom mockumentary created and written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant from an idea by Warwick Davis, and is as described by Gervais, about “the life of a showbiz dwarf”.
Tier 4: Bargain Bin Content on Multiple Platforms
Even the best actors take gigs just because of the money. Davis is no exception. He was the star of the low-budget “Leprechaun” movie franchise. Unlike other titles we’ve discussed, you can find “Leprechaun” movies almost everywhere. The first film is available on Hulu, Peacock, STARZ, AMC+, and Hoopla.
While our favorite movies are often available on one platform, you’ll find B-movies cluttering an endless list of platforms. Prime Video and Tubi seem willing to host any movie, no matter how badly produced. This leads to “library bloat,” which can make it harder to find the true gems available on a streamer.
You currently live in a world where five streamers have “Leprechaun” and none have “The Godfather.” Go figure.
Leprechaun
A demonic leprechaun terrorizes a group of young people whom he believes stole his gold.
Tier 5: Streaming-Original Titles Erased from Existence
The most recent category of entertainment is perhaps the most infuriating. After starring in 1988’s “Willow,” Davis became the star of the Disney+ original series of the same name. The series debuted on November 30, 2022. Less than six months later, Disney+ completely pulled the “Willow” TV series from its library.
You can’t stream it.
You can’t rent it digitally.
You can’t buy DVDs or Blu-Rays.
It’s just… gone.
And Davis himself is frustrated.
I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus Series was made. Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing pic.twitter.com/tUu9gstkbS
— Warwick Davis (@WarwickADavis) October 14, 2023
Some creators who’ve had their work purged by streamers have gone so far as to advocate piracy. Sometimes, it’s the only way to see these series.
Streamers don’t have an obligation to carry movies or shows forever, but it’s frustrating for fans and creators when this art is erased entirely.
Davis is not alone. Most actors don’t have 40 years worth of work. Some have one shining moment. Some are household names. But whether you’re an industry giant or a character actor, you’re living in a world where your exposure is now frustratingly limited by the streaming titans.