Mubi
British streaming service and film distribution platform specializing in art-house, independent, and classic cinema with curated selections and film criticism.
Company Type
public
Founded
2007
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
About Mubi
Who owns Mubi?
Mubi is a privately held company owned by its founder Efe Cakarel and private investors including Andreessen Horowitz. The company raised $95 million in a 2021 funding round at approximately a $1 billion valuation. Mubi is not publicly traded.
Mubi is a privately held company owned by its founder Efe Cakarel and private investors including Andreessen Horowitz. The company raised $95 million in a 2021 funding round at approximately a $1 billion valuation. Mubi is not publicly traded.
How many subscribers does Mubi have?
Mubi has more than 12 million subscribers globally, available in more than 190 countries. The platform offers a curated selection of approximately 30 films at any given time, with new films added and older films removed on a rolling basis.
Mubi has more than 12 million subscribers globally, available in more than 190 countries. The platform offers a curated selection of approximately 30 films at any given time, with new films added and older films removed on a rolling basis.
What is Mubi Notebook?
Mubi Notebook is Mubi's film criticism and cultural publication, one of the most respected film criticism platforms online. It features essays, interviews with filmmakers, and critical analysis of films from around the world.
Mubi Notebook is Mubi's film criticism and cultural publication, one of the most respected film criticism platforms online. It features essays, interviews with filmmakers, and critical analysis of films from around the world.
What films has Mubi distributed?
Mubi has distributed numerous acclaimed independent films, including Past Lives (2023, nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture), and films by directors including Pedro Almodovar, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Hong Sangsoo. Mubi co-produced Past Lives with A24.
Mubi has distributed numerous acclaimed independent films, including Past Lives (2023, nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture), and films by directors including Pedro Almodovar, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Hong Sangsoo. Mubi co-produced Past Lives with A24.
When was Mubi founded?
Mubi was founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel in London. The platform initially launched under the name The Auteurs before rebranding as Mubi in 2010.
Mubi was founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel in London. The platform initially launched under the name The Auteurs before rebranding as Mubi in 2010.
What is Mubi Go?
Mubi Go is a benefit for Mubi subscribers in the United Kingdom that provides a free cinema ticket each week at participating cinemas. The benefit is designed to encourage subscribers to experience cinema in theaters as well as on the Mubi platform.
Mubi Go is a benefit for Mubi subscribers in the United Kingdom that provides a free cinema ticket each week at participating cinemas. The benefit is designed to encourage subscribers to experience cinema in theaters as well as on the Mubi platform.
History of Mubi
Mubi was founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel, a Turkish entrepreneur with backgrounds in both technology and cinema. Cakarel, who had studied at MIT and INSEAD, was inspired to create the platform after being unable to find a film he wanted to watch while traveling. He envisioned a streaming service that would curate the world's best cinema rather than simply aggregating large catalogs.
The platform initially launched under the name The Auteurs, reflecting its focus on director-driven cinema. The service offered a rotating selection of films, with each film available for a limited period (typically 30 days), creating a sense of urgency and discovery that differentiated it from services with permanent catalogs.
In 2010, the company rebranded as Mubi, a name chosen to be short, memorable, and globally recognizable. The rebranding coincided with the platform's expansion into new markets and the launch of Mubi Notebook, a film criticism publication that established Mubi as a cultural authority on cinema.
Mubi expanded into film distribution in the early 2010s, acquiring theatrical and streaming rights for independent films and releasing them in cinemas and on the platform. This vertical integration allowed Mubi to offer exclusive content that could not be found on other streaming services.
The company grew steadily through the 2010s, expanding its subscriber base and geographic reach. Mubi established partnerships with film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Sundance, acquiring rights to festival films and building relationships with filmmakers.
In 2021, Mubi raised $95 million in a funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), one of Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capital firms. The investment valued Mubi at approximately $1 billion, making it a unicorn. The funding was used to expand Mubi's film distribution and production activities.
Mubi's most significant achievement in film distribution came with Past Lives (2023), a romantic drama written and directed by Celine Song. Mubi co-produced and distributed the film, which received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. The film grossed approximately $23 million worldwide on a modest budget, demonstrating Mubi's ability to identify and champion exceptional independent films.
Other notable Mubi distributions include films by directors including Pedro Almodovar, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hong Sangsoo, and other internationally acclaimed filmmakers.
By 2024, Mubi had grown to more than 12 million subscribers in more than 190 countries, establishing itself as the world's leading platform for curated cinema.
Brands Owned by Mubi
Mubi owns 0 brands in our database.
Mubi Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +More than 12 million subscribers in 190+ countries demonstrates significant global scale for a niche platform
- +Past Lives (2023) Academy Award nomination for Best Picture validates Mubi's film distribution capabilities
- +$95 million funding round at approximately $1 billion valuation (2021) provides capital for continued growth
- +Andreessen Horowitz investment brings Silicon Valley expertise and networks
- +Curatorial reputation and Mubi Notebook establish the brand as a cultural authority on cinema
Considerations
- -Niche focus on art-house cinema limits total addressable market compared to mainstream streaming services
- -Competition from Netflix, Amazon, and Apple, which are investing in prestige and art-house films
- -Rotating catalog model (films removed after limited period) may frustrate some subscribers
- -Path to profitability is challenging in a streaming market with high content costs and subscriber acquisition costs
- -Private company status limits transparency about financial performance
Frequently Asked Questions About Mubi
Who owns Mubi?
Mubi is a privately held company owned by its founder Efe Cakarel and private investors including Andreessen Horowitz. The company raised $95 million in a 2021 funding round at approximately a $1 billion valuation. Mubi is not publicly traded.
How many subscribers does Mubi have?
Mubi has more than 12 million subscribers globally, available in more than 190 countries. The platform offers a curated selection of approximately 30 films at any given time, with new films added and older films removed on a rolling basis.
What is Mubi Notebook?
Mubi Notebook is Mubi's film criticism and cultural publication, one of the most respected film criticism platforms online. It features essays, interviews with filmmakers, and critical analysis of films from around the world.
What films has Mubi distributed?
Mubi has distributed numerous acclaimed independent films, including Past Lives (2023, nominated for Academy Award for Best Picture), and films by directors including Pedro Almodovar, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Hong Sangsoo. Mubi co-produced Past Lives with A24.
When was Mubi founded?
Mubi was founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel in London. The platform initially launched under the name The Auteurs before rebranding as Mubi in 2010.
What is Mubi Go?
Mubi Go is a benefit for Mubi subscribers in the United Kingdom that provides a free cinema ticket each week at participating cinemas. The benefit is designed to encourage subscribers to experience cinema in theaters as well as on the Mubi platform.
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