Binge-Watching Has Never Been So Ridiculous: Why Licensing the Sharknado Franchise Is a Smart Programming Move

There are a few constants in the streaming world: content gets old fast – unless it turns classy, but that’s a rare occasion; modern viewers have endless options (and we are not even talking only about TV streaming—see our The Great Media War article); and the pressure to keep your platform fresh is relentless.

But what if licensing a franchise about flying sharks could help solve all three problems simultaneously?

We're talking about Sharknado, the famously absurd film series that defined an entire sub-genre: "so bad, it's good." And with all 6 Sharknado films, plus 2 Sharkverse spin-offs, now available for licensing through allrites, it's the perfect moment to look at how franchises like this can deliver not just entertainment value, but viewer retention, engagement, and operational flexibility for SVOD, AVOD, and FAST channels.

The Franchise Effect: Why Audiences Stick with What They Know

In an increasingly saturated streaming landscape, franchises remain one of the most effective tools for capturing and keeping attention. Viewers who start a film series are statistically more likely to continue watching subsequent installments, especially when those installments are immediately available. According to studies, audiences who binge-watch a title part of a franchise are significantly more likely to go on to the sequel if it's accessible at the time. In contrast, the likelihood of continuing drops considerably if the next title isn't available.

This means having the whole Sharknado franchise available in one place isn't just a bonus—it's a strategic advantage. The same study also found that binge-watchers are more likely to complete franchise extensions once they start them, making a case not just for availability, but also for maximizing completion rates and total watch time.

The Sharknado Franchise Appeal: So Bad, It's Brilliant

First, let’s have a look at what the Sharkverse is all about and name some of the cast:

The franchise started in 2013 with Sharknado, followed by five sequels and two spin-offs (Lavalantula and 2 Lava 2 Lantula!). Over time, the films became known for their escalating absurdity, time travel plots, and all-out weather-disaster chaos. The cast includes Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210), Tara Reid (American Pie), Cassie Scerbo, Vivica A. Fox, David Hasselhoff, and a rotating crew of celebrity cameos—from George R.R. Martin to Tony Hawk.

Of course, Sharknado isn't just any franchise. It's a cornerstone of the "so bad, it's good" genre—a unique category of content in which absurd plots, low-budget effects, and self-aware humor combine to create endlessly rewatchable entertainment.

Think of Sharknado as Scary Movie meets Twister, with a dose of chainsaws and tongue-in-cheek celebrity cameos. It's not designed to win awards, but to hold attention, inspire memes, and entertain. And that's precisely what it does.

This content attracts unpredictably and leads to shared viewing experiences and cultural buzz. Watching Sharknado often sparks the classic online response: "What did I just watch?"—followed by posts, tweets, and tags that build viral momentum. In the age of social media, absurdity isn’t a drawback—it’s a catalyst for visibility.

Consider this: during its first broadcast on SyFy, Sharknado generated over 5,000 tweets per minute at its peak. In total, more than 440,000 tweets were posted in just 24 hours, with 17% of all tweets about television that day attributed to the film. The buzz was so strong that viewership jumped by 26% during the second airing and climbed again for the third, eventually reaching 2.1 million viewers. Even theaters got in on the fun, with Regal Cinemas hosting screenings across the U.S.

These numbers highlight the power of embracing unexpected, socially reactive content. The film’s intentionally campy aesthetic didn’t repel audiences—it drew them in. People wanted to be part of the cultural moment, and they made sure their networks knew it. For platforms, this means higher watch times and stronger engagement than conventional wisdom might predict.

The Sharknado films became viral hits and cult classics. Their absurdity became their greatest asset. For streaming services and channels, licensing the Sharknado universe is a way to lean into high-engagement content that requires little explanation but delivers immediate audience payoff.

Not all content has to be prestigious television. Sometimes, flying sharks are precisely what your audience didn’t know they needed.

Flexible Film & TV Licensing with allrites CaaS

Licensing a strong franchise is step one. Step two is managing your content pipeline with speed and flexibility—and that's where allrites' Content-as-a-Service (CaaS) model comes in.

Traditional licensing can be slow, costly, and inflexible. With allrites CaaS, you can access a global library of ready-to-stream content that can rotate titles on your schedule, not someone else's. You choose how often to refresh, scale up or down as needed, and only pay for what you use.

If you're in broadcast, cable, SVOD, or FAST, the challenges are familiar:

• Viewers churn when content goes stale

• Ads lose effectiveness when the same show loops endlessly

• Licensing is too slow to keep up with demand

  
  

CaaS was built to solve these issues. There's no waiting, no gatekeepers, and no rigid contracts. Just content that moves as fast as your platform does.

This model is particularly effective for FAST channels and AVOD services, where ad revenue depends heavily on watch time and content freshness. Sharknado, with its built-in binge factor and fan base, becomes a perfect plug-and-play option in this setup.

A New Kind of Pipeline for a New Type of Platform

The bottom line: the Sharknado franchise delivers more than campy chaos. It offers strategic value in a licensing landscape that demands adaptability and innovation. And with all rights, CaaS, accessing that value is faster and easier than ever.

So if you're looking to boost engagement, extend watch sessions, and add something unforgettable to your lineup, the storm is waiting.

License the franchise. Refresh your pipeline. Let the sharks fly.

About allrites

Located in Singapore and globally, allrites is a premier marketplace for buying and selling film, TV, and sports rights. We provide a vast catalog of Film and TV content, from major studios to independent producers, available in any language and genre. Our innovative licensing models, including allrites Content-as-a-Service, offer flexible and efficient content monetization and acquisition solutions, accommodating the evolving needs of content buyers and sellers worldwide.

Want to learn more about our content library, licensing models, or industry trends?

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