James Cameron Weights in on “Death of Cinema” Netflix/Warner Bros. Merger

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The entertainment world has been closely watching the competition to buy Warner Bros. and its assets. While Netflix recently announced it had won the bid, reports suggest Paramount actually offered a higher price, and the final decision hasn’t been made yet. The news sparked immediate criticism, with some fearing Netflix would gain too much control over an industry already leaning towards monopolization. Others worry the deal could mean the end of traditional movie theaters. Prominent director James Cameron has also shared his strong opinions about the potential Netflix and Warner Bros. merger.

While promoting the new Avatar movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron spoke with Deadline about the possibility of Warner Bros. being acquired by Netflix for $82.7 billion. He acknowledged that Netflix has already made compromises with some directors, like Guillermo del Toro, to maintain a presence in movie theaters, but believes Netflix ultimately wants to move away from theaters altogether. Cameron reiterated his strong opposition to media companies prioritizing streaming over the traditional theatrical experience.

I’m not sure what the future holds, 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 doesn’t replace that experience. I think a balance will ultimately be found, and I’ll continue to advocate for keeping movie theaters around.

Netflix is on the Way To Become the Industry’s Most Powerful Player and “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”

If Netflix acquires Warner Bros., it would likely become the most dominant studio in the entertainment industry. They’d control hugely popular movie franchises and have significant control over future content creation. While some see Netflix as a savior of struggling properties, others are concerned about the potential downsides of this merger. Importantly, any decisions Netflix makes regarding how movies are shown in theaters will have a major impact.

The famous quote, “With great power comes great responsibility,” applies to Netflix right now. If they win the bidding war and become the dominant force in entertainment, they need to consider the potential negative consequences, as audiences are already imagining. Director James Cameron suggests that if Netflix takes on the responsibility of keeping movie theaters alive, it could dramatically reshape the industry, potentially reducing the number of major studios by half. He believes this could happen if Netflix succeeds in this endeavor.

Things will likely work themselves out, but I definitely want to preserve the experience of seeing movies in theaters. That’s really my main reason for making films.

A compelling story remains powerful no matter how you experience it – even on a tiny screen or with limited focus. However, the full emotional impact is truly felt when you’re fully immersed, like watching a three-hour film in 3D in a theater. That uninterrupted experience allows the story to completely envelop you in a way smaller screens and distractions simply can’t.

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2025-12-14 16:17