Netflix plans for future without movies from Epix

Netflix issued a programming heads-up to subscribers that the streaming video leader will part ways with cable movie channel Epix at the end of September.

So if you haven't watched -- or want to re-watch -- movies such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, World War Z and Transformers: Age of Extinction, you have a month to do so.

Netflix signed a deal with Epix in 2010, reportedly worth about $1 billion over the life of the agreement, to stream the movies 90 days after they appeared on the Epix channel (Epix is a joint venture between Viacom, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Lionsgate). But in 2012, Epix signed a deal with Amazon's streaming service.

Netflix will increase its own original programming and highlight films from Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel, for which Netflix becomes the exclusive streaming home for new releases, said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos in a post on the Netflix blog. "While many of these movies are popular, they are also widely available on cable and other subscription platforms at the same time as they are on Netflix and subject to the same drawn out licensing periods," he said. "Through our original films and some innovative licensing arrangements with the movie studios, we are aiming to build a better movie experience for you."

Films headed to Netflix -- via Universal, Sony and DreamWorks Animation -- include including Minions, Hotel Transylvania 2, and Home through arrangements with Sony Pictures Animation, Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation.

Among the upcoming Netflix original programming, Sarandos noted:

-- Beasts of No Nation, a war drama starring Idris Elba (Luther) from director, Cary Fukunaga (True Detective), in October.

-- Ridiculous Six, the first of four new comedies from Adam Sandler, featuring Taylor Lautner, Luke Wilson, Steve Buscemi, Nick Nolte and Whitney Cummings (December).

-- A Very Murray Christmas, a holiday show starring Bill Murray and directed by Sofia Coppola (December).

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