Notable early reaction to Netflix's deal to acquire Warner Bros.

NEW YORK — Netflix's $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. studio and its film and television operations drew quick reactions Friday.

Film and television industry entities including guilds and the lobbying group for movie theater owners criticized the deal, warning it would harm consumers and cinema owners.

In announcing the deal, Warner Bros. and Netflix executives touted the deal's benefits. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said the deal ''will ensure people everywhere will continue to enjoy the world's most resonant stories for generations to come,'' while Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said it would ''give audiences more of what they love.''

Here's a roundup of notable early reactions to the deal:

Michael O'Leary, CEO of Cinema United

''Netflix's stated business model does not support theatrical exhibition. In fact, it is the opposite. Theaters will close, communities will suffer, jobs will be lost.''

Producers Guild of America

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.

''Netflix's $82 billion attempt to buy Warner Bros. would be the largest media takeover in history — and it raises serious red flags for consumers, creators, movie theaters, and local businesses alike. One company should not have full vertical control of the content and the distribution pipeline that delivers it. And combining two of the largest streaming platforms is a textbook horizontal Antitrust problem. Prices, choice, and creative freedom are at stake." — in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

''This deal looks like an anti-monopoly nightmare. A Netflix-Warner Bros. would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market — threatening to force Americans into higher subscription prices and fewer choices over what and how they watch, while putting American workers at risk.'' — in a statement.

Writers Guild of America

U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Calif.

''Repeated consolidation in this industry has already cost so many film and television jobs, and any merger should be evaluated on its impacts on competition and employment.'' — in a statement. Her district includes Hollywood and the areas where Netflix's headquarters and the Warner Bros. studio are located.

Jason Kilar, former WarnerMedia CEO and a Hulu co-founder