The new Netflix movie The Harder They Fall proves that the platform is the future of representation in the entertainment industry. Directed by Jeymes Samuel in his feature debut, The Harder They Fall is a post-Western film following infamous outlaw Nat Love as he pursues his notorious life-long rival, Rufus Buck, and seeks revenge for the murder of his parents. Featuring a mostly-Black cast and boasting some of the biggest names in the industry, the movie is in many ways a watermark for representation both within the Western genre and the film industry as a whole.
Based on real-life American Old West historical figures, The Harder They Fall’s characters and their backgrounds are only creatively redefined to suit the film’s tone. An ensemble cast portrays these cowboy and outlaw legends of the 1800s, including Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, and Delroy Lindo. However, despite its all-out production, the film only had a one-day theatrical release before streaming on Netflix. As it turns out, there was a deliberate reason for the film’s release strategy, which centers on The Harder They Fall’s core message.
Upon encountering these legendary Old West characters, Samuel realized just how little mainstream representation there is of people of color in that era. As he helmed The Harder They Fall with an all-Black star-studded cast, he also acknowledged the built-in racial biases that would come along with the film. That is why the producers opted for a streaming release on Netflix. Despite being in the 21st century, some studios and theaters still outrightly reject movies when they come from a Black filmmaker with an all-Black cast, and talk about Black history. Meanwhile, Netflix has built a reputation for housing and creating inclusive shows and films, so it is a much suitable home for the revolutionary narrative of The Harder They Fall.
Although there are Black-led films that proved to be both commercial and critical successes, like the record-breaking Ryan Coogler film Black Panther, The Harder They Fall still needs help to break into the industry. After all, the film is a standalone, not included in a cinematic franchise with millions of fans, so it really calls for a wider reach — which Netflix offers. Considering that The Harder They Fall navigates an underrepresented and uncharted part of history, its release on Netflix gives everyone in the world access to its story. The film’s instant availability and convenience guarantee that more people will see it, compared to a theatrical release.
Ever since Netflix started to produce its original programming, it remains committed to championing stories of diversity and representation. In fact, a February 2021 Netflix-commissioned study from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative revealed that “across 19 of 22 indicators we included in this study, Netflix demonstrated improvement across films and series from 2018 to 2019” (via The New York Times). Aside from more inclusive and diverse casts, there is also a significant increase in films and series written, produced, and directed by women and people of color. Indeed, Netflix is changing the future of representation, prioritizing narratives and talents rarely acknowledged by Hollywood. The streaming platform sets itself apart from traditional distribution models by encouraging creative freedom from studios. Therefore, no matter how big or small the projects are, there will always be room for them on Netflix, especially a film as important as The Harder They Fall.
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