James Cameron On Netflix & Warner Bros. Merger And The Future Of Theater

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As a total film buff, I was really interested to hear what James Cameron – the director behind films like Titanic and Avatar, and an Academy Award winner, no less – had to say about the recent deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. It sounds like he’s concerned it could be really damaging to the industry, and I’m eager to hear his take.

James Cameron, like most people in Hollywood, is worried the recent merger will harm the film industry, particularly how movies are shown in theaters. However, despite these concerns, the director of Avatar firmly stated he’s committed to preserving the theatrical experience and won’t give up without a struggle.

Cameron recently told Deadline that while Netflix has occasionally released films in theaters—like Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Rian Johnson’s Knives Out—it’s clear their primary focus is shifting towards streaming and away from traditional cinema releases.

It’s well known that Netflix has had to compromise with some filmmakers, like Guillermo del Toro, to maintain a presence in movie theaters. However, their ultimate goal is to move away from theatrical releases altogether.

He acknowledged that the film industry is always evolving, with or without this particular deal. However, he’s passionate about the unique experience of seeing a movie in a theater, and believes streaming services like Netflix can’t recreate that feeling. He’s committed to preserving the theatrical experience and won’t support any attempts by Netflix to eliminate it.

I understand things are changing, and maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I believe there’s something special about going to the movies. While streaming is convenient and widely available, it shouldn’t completely replace the theatrical experience. I think both can coexist, and I’ll continue to advocate for keeping movie theaters alive.

Netflix’s Ted Sarandos recently changed his tune, saying he’s now supportive of movies being shown in theaters, particularly those from Warner Bros. He also pledged to give films a reasonable amount of time in theaters before they become available on streaming. However, many industry experts are skeptical. Reports suggest Sarandos actually prefers a shorter, 17-day exclusive theatrical release, while theaters are pushing for the traditional 45-day window. This shorter timeframe is considered a significant concern for many in the film industry.

Cameron thinks Netflix could help save movie theaters if it takes a bigger role in supporting them, which might mean changing how it currently operates. However, he’s determined to keep the traditional moviegoing experience alive, as most of his films are made for the big screen. He also points out that the possible merger of companies will likely reduce competition in the industry, making it even more important to protect theaters.

Netflix might change its approach if it becomes responsible for keeping movie theaters afloat. If they succeed, they’ll become a dominant force, reducing the number of major studios by half compared to when I started my career. This situation will resolve itself eventually, but I strongly believe we should preserve the traditional moviegoing experience, as that’s primarily what I create films for.

As of today, Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery haven’t finalized their agreement.

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2025-12-14 03:58