Netflix Gets Blasted by James Cameron Over “Rotten” Oscars Push

Filmmaker James Cameron has criticized Netflix’s approach to theatrical releases and Oscar eligibility, describing the streaming giant’s strategy as “rotten to the core.”

In an interview with World of Reel, the director said Netflix should not qualify for Academy Awards unless its films receive a substantial nationwide release. “They should be allowed to compete if they put the movie out for a meaningful release in 2,000 theaters for a month,” Cameron said. He argued that the company’s limited theatrical runs in select cities amount to little more than a tactic to meet minimum Oscar criteria.

The comments followed a discussion on The Town podcast, where host Matt Belloni asked Cameron for his thoughts on the ongoing bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, which involves Netflix, Paramount Skydance, and Comcast. Cameron said he supports a bid led by Paramount Skydance, calling Netflix’s potential purchase “a disaster.”

“Sorry, Ted [Sarandos], but geez,” Cameron said, referring to the Netflix co-CEO. “Sarandos has gone on the record saying theatrical films are dead. ‘Theatrical is dead. Quote, unquote.’”

Belloni noted that Sarandos has reportedly promised to maintain theatrical releases if Netflix acquires Warner Bros., but Cameron dismissed the claim as “sucker bait.” He argued that brief one-week releases to secure award qualification are not genuine theatrical runs. “See, I think that’s fundamentally rotten to the core,” he said. “A movie should be made as a movie for theatrical, and the Academy Awards mean nothing to me if they don’t mean theatrical. I think they’ve been co-opted, and I think it’s horrific.”

Cameron’s stance echoes earlier criticism from director Steven Spielberg, who in 2019 stated that Netflix productions should be considered television content, not feature films competing for Oscars. “Once you commit to a television format, you’re a TV movie,” Spielberg said at the time. “You certainly, if it’s a good show, deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar.”

Both directors have defended the idea that motion pictures made for streaming should be recognized separately from traditional films. Cameron argued that theatrical exhibition remains central to the art form and that the Academy risks undermining its credibility by expanding eligibility to films that do not engage with the box office market in any meaningful way.

As reported earlier, Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, is believed to have the strongest position in the current bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. The New York Post reported last week that the Ellison group’s interest includes acquiring CNN, which they reportedly view as a profitable cable operation despite its challenges in recent years.

“They see CNN, warts and all, as a very profitable business worth saving,” the Post reported. A broadcast executive told the outlet that former President Donald Trump would welcome a deal that reduces CNN’s anti-MAGA tone, noting that Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a major Republican donor, is considered “the perfect vehicle to set CNN straight.”

Reports also indicate that the Ellisons view CNN as a sustainable business with global reach and significant infrastructure. Despite declining ratings, the network still generates roughly $500 million in annual profits, making it an attractive asset within the broader Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio.

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