NY Times in talks to buy Letterboxd for about $330 million

The New York Times Company is in exclusive negotiations to buy Letterboxd, the social network for film enthusiasts, for roughly $330 million, the newspaper reported. Earlier speculation named Sony Pictures Entertainment and independent studio A24 as possible bidders, but the Times is now the front‑runner. The deal would let Letterboxd’s co‑founders stay on as heads of the service while answering to a senior Times executive, and the platform is expected to operate as a standalone brand for the foreseeable future. Integration plans include linking the Times’ advertising technology with Letterboxd’s site. New York Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander declined to comment, and neither Letterboxd nor its parent company Tiny Ltd. responded to requests for comment. If the purchase goes through, it joins a series of recent Times acquisitions such as the word‑game Wordle (bought for a low‑seven‑figure sum), product‑review site Wirecutter (just over $30 million) and sports‑media outlet The Athletic ($550 million).

Context

Letterboxd lets users log movies, write reviews and follow friends, making it a valuable source of audience data for media publishers. The Times has been expanding its digital presence by buying niche online brands that attract engaged communities. Acquiring Letterboxd gives the newspaper a foothold in the film‑lover niche and access to its ad‑tech integration opportunities.