New York Times Enters Exclusive Talks to Buy Letterboxd for $330 Million

Skip to content The potential deal would expand the New York Times Company’s digital portfolio with a film-focused social platform November 5, 2026 @ 3:08 PM (Photo credit: Getty Images) The New York Times Company is in exclusive talks to acquire Letterboxd, the popular social platform for movie lovers, for roughly $330 million, bringing the publisher closer to a deal that would expand its growing portfolio of digital businesses. The negotiations, reported Thursday by the Times, follow months of interest from Hollywood studios and investors competing for access to Letterboxd’s devoted community of film fans. TheWrap reported in October that the Times was viewed as a leading contender because it could preserve the platform’s independence without the conflicts of interest facing studio buyers. TheWrap had previously reported the Times’ interest alongside A24 and other bidders in September. An acquisition would extend the publisher’s strategy of expanding beyond news through subscription and advertising businesses, following its purchases of The Athletic, Wirecutter and Wordle. The proposed price represents roughly 22 times Letterboxd’s projected annual adjusted earnings of $15 million, according to the Times, which cited two people familiar with the discussions. The companies have discussed keeping co-founders Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow in charge, with Letterboxd likely remaining a standalone platform while incorporating the Times’ advertising technology. No agreement has been reached, and talks could still fall apart.