Netflix is being sued for $105 million after an unreleased Nicolas Cage film disappeared from its Los Angeles office. The story behind that disappearance is far messier than a simple case of a missing drive. It involves a producer, a promise of confidentiality, and a streaming giant now facing pointed questions about how it handles sensitive material. The details, once laid out, explain exactly why this dispute escalated into a nine-figure legal fight.

While Netflix insists it followed protocol, the filmmakers argue the damage was already done the moment that drive walked out the door.

An unencrypted copy of Fortitude, Nicolas Cage's WWII era espionage thriller, disappeared from Netflix's Los Angeles office last month, landing the streamer in court. Writer producer Simon Afram and his company, Op-Fortitude, are seeking at least $105 million in damages, alleging the disappearance derailed a sale that was already in motion.

"Netflix disputes any claim that it bears the risk of loss for a film delivered without the proper industry-standard safeguards," a Netflix spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter, referring to the company's stance on the matter.

They then added, "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."

Yet that statement barely scratches the surface of what actually unfolded inside Netflix's office that week.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix first showed interest in Fortitude after receiving promotional materials in December, then requested a working cut by June. A producer hand-delivered the drive to Netflix's Sunset Bronson Studios office on June 15, only to learn ten days later that it had vanished from company desks. Sean Berney, Netflix's head of film acquisitions, described the loss as unprecedented in an internal email to the filmmakers. Netflix further alleges that a law firm representing Afram later demanded $165 million, a move it characterized as a hostile push for money rather than genuine cooperation.

Nicholas Cage’s Underrated Cult Action Thriller 'Drive Angry' Finds New Streaming Home

Long before Fortitude, Netflix had already built a track record of courtroom disputes tied to its content.

Netflix has faced several legal battles too. In 2022, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear faced a Netflix lawsuit over 'The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,' a Grammy winning project born from viral TikTok songs that grew into sold out concerts, including a Kennedy Center show. Netflix argued the shows were unlicensed commercial use, and the case ended September when Netflix settled and dismissed the suit with prejudice.

Netflix's legal history stretches beyond entertainment. It has faced privacy suits over viewing data, an accessibility case over inaccurate subtitles, and consumer suits over pricing across several countries. In May 2026, Texas sued Netflix over data practices tied to minors, while antitrust claims accused it of anticompetitive deals against rivals. Against that backdrop, Fortitude stands out, a theft costing Netflix over a hundred million dollars.

Every Court Battle ‘Stranger Things’ Has Weathered on Its Way to Season 5

What are your thoughts on Netflix losing an unreleased Nicolas Cage film? Let us know in the comments.