James Cameron Blasts Netflix’s “Fundamentally Rotten” Approach to Theatrical Releases as It Undermines the Oscars
James Cameron has never hidden his passion for big screen storytelling, so when a conversation turns to theatrical releases and the Academy Awards, you can expect him to bring the heat.
During a recent appearance on The Ringer’s podcast The Town with Matthew Belloni, the filmmaker behind Titanic and Avatar had some choice words for Netflix and the way the streamer handles theatrical exhibition for its awards hopefuls.
Cameron opened the discussion by reacting to the idea of Netflix potentially acquiring Warner Bros, calling the hypothetical deal a “disaster.”
From there, he shifted directly to what he sees as a major problem with the streamer’s release model. Netflix has long relied on minimal theatrical windows to qualify for Academy Awards consideration, and Cameron did not hold back.
He said: “We'll put the movie out for a week, we'll put it out for 10 days; we'll qualify for Academy Awards consideration. See, I think that's fundamentally rotten at the core. The Academy Awards, to me, mean nothing if they don't mean theatrical.”
For Cameron, awards recognition without a genuine theatrical rollout removes the heart of what the Oscars are meant to celebrate. The Academy’s rules technically allow eligibility with a one week exclusive theatrical run and at least three screenings per day.
Films that premiere in any other format before a theatrical release are also automatically out of contention. Netflix has spent years taking advantage of that framework, giving prestige projects like The Irishman and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein limited theatrical engagements to secure a spot in awards season.
While he’s clearly frustrated, Cameron also offered a straightforward solution. If a streaming film wants a place in the Oscars conversation, he believes it should have a substantial presence in theaters.
“They should be allowed to compete if they put the movie out for a meaningful release in 2000 theaters for a month.”
It’s a proposal that reflects his belief in the importance of the communal moviegoing experience, especially for big cinematic stories. And he’s certainly not worried about meeting those expectations himself.
The director is already gearing up for his next massive theatrical event with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third chapter in the long running Pandora saga. The film brings audiences deeper into the world of the Na’vi as they cross paths with the Ash People, and early anticipation suggests it will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors.
Both previously released Avatar films crossed the two billion dollar mark at the global box office and the franchise remains one of the strongest theatrical draws on the planet.
Avatar: Fire and Ash arrives in theaters on December 19, primed for another giant run on the big screen. I doubt Cameron’s critiques will push forward any change in how streaming platforms approach awards qualification, but his message is clear. For him, the Oscars only matter when the movies are truly made and shared for theaters.