Netflix Sued for $105 Million Over Stolen Nicolas Cage Movie
The producers behind an unreleased Nicolas Cage World War II thriller are suing Netflix for $105 million after they say the streaming giant lost the only unencrypted copy of the film, stolen from Netflix's Los Angeles office.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California federal court by writer-producer Simon Afram and his company, Op-Fortitude, accuses Netflix of jeopardizing both the film itself and Afram's more than $45 million investment in it. The film, titled Fortitude, took over seven years to make and tells the story of Operation Fortitude, the real-life Allied deception campaign that used a fake army, double agents and false radio traffic to convince Nazi Germany the D-Day invasion would happen elsewhere.
According to the complaint, Netflix requested a working cut of the film in June after first expressing interest following promotional materials sent in December 2025. On June 15, a producer for the film hand-delivered a digital cinema package, industry shorthand for the drive used to screen films, to Netflix's office at Sunset Bronson Studios. The producer told Netflix the copy was unencrypted and asked that the files be deleted after the screening.
Nine days later, when the producer attempted to retrieve the drive, Netflix went unresponsive. The company eventually confirmed via email that the drive had been stolen. "This is a first for us," Sean Berney, Netflix's director of original film, wrote in the message, according to the lawsuit. "Unfortunately, someone stole a good amount of drives from our office desks this past week."
Why the Theft Matters So Much to the Film's Future
The lawsuit argues the theft has effectively destroyed the film's marketability. Because any prospective distributor would now have to be told an unencrypted copy was stolen before release, the producers say the disclosure could affect acquisition negotiations, insurance coverage and marketing plans, while raising the risk the film could leak online ahead of any official release. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs paused sales efforts despite interest from multiple domestic and international distributors, putting both the film's release strategy and potential awards campaign in jeopardy.
The lawsuit also claims Netflix offered to reimburse only the cost of the physical drive itself and referred to the material as "missing" rather than "stolen."
Netflix's Response
Netflix has denied responsibility for the loss. "Netflix disputes any claim that it bears the risk of loss for a film delivered without the proper industry-standard safeguards," the company said in a statement. "While we do not own the rights to 'Fortitude,' we take content security seriously and have taken extra measures to support the filmmaker and his team," including conducting an investigation and monitoring known piracy sites for unauthorized distribution of the film. As of now, there's no indication the film has leaked online.
About the Film
Fortitude stars Cage as Dusko Popov, a real-life World War II spy believed by some historians to have partly inspired the James Bond character. The cast also includes Ben Kingsley, Ron Perlman, Matthew Goode, Michael Sheen and Alice Eve. The film was directed by Simon West, known for Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and was shot on 35mm film to capture an authentic period look.
The lawsuit is seeking at least $105 million in damages, plus additional amounts to be determined at trial, along with interest.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.