The Netflix logo stretching upward and downward on a black screen
By
Abigail Stevens
Published 36 minutes ago
Abigail is an editor for ScreenRant, currently writing and editing movie news. You may also have seen her thoughts on animated television, musical theater, and fantasy literature in Paste Magazine, Fantasy Hive, or The Oxford Blue. She has also written SR lists and op-eds covering movies, TV, and books as well. She is an English major through and through, having graduated with a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara and an MPhil from Oxford University.
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James Cameron comments on the rise of Netflix movies at the Academy Awards in recent years, arguing that they shouldn't be eligible. Cameron's work is inextricably tied to the theatrical experience, as he is known for massive blockbusters and astounding visual feats, including Aliens, Titanic, and the Avatar movies, with Avatar: Fire and Ash releasing on December 19.
Netflix has been a major player at the Oscars for the past several years, with Best Picture nominees including All Quiet on the Western Front, The Power of the Dog, Marriage Story, and Roma. Notably, the streamer has also been the Oscars' "villain" as of late, with 2023's Maestro being seen as shameless Oscar bait and 2024's Emilia Pérez prompting a huge backlash.
As Cameron prepares to release his next big cinematic event, the director criticizes Netflix. During a recent interview on The Ringer's podcast The Town with Matthew Belloni, Cameron spoke harshly about Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos' strategy, saying: "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."
Netflix prioritizes its streaming platform, but it does release some movies in select cinemas ahead of dropping them on streaming, usually for about two weeks, in order for them to qualify. "The Academy Awards, to me, mean nothing if they don't mean theatrical," continues Cameron. "They should be allowed to compete if they put the movie out for a meaningful release in 2000 theaters for a month."
Netflix's Best Picture play for 2026 is complicated because its three major contenders, Frankenstein, A House of Dynamite, and Jay Kelly, are all flawed movies in one way or another, and none are guaranteed a nomination. However, Frankenstein does seem to be closing in on a slot, and Netflix will get at least one Best Picture nod if not multiple.
Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein
Cameron points out the erosion of the experience of seeing movies in theaters, arguing that the Oscars should be reserved for projects that stick to this paradigm. It makes sense, given Cameron's filmography, that he is one of the biggest proponents of the traditional viewing experience. However, he believes Netflix releases movies theatrically only for the Oscars.
With some streaming movies, I would say we were robbed if they were not released in theaters (like Frankenstein), while others are quieter and don't lose anything if you watch them at home. James Cameron's argument indirectly vouches for movie theaters, which have been struggling since the pandemic, and suggests that Netflix might reassess the value of their theatrical runs in the future.
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James Cameron
Birthdate
August 16, 1954
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Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada
Notable Projects
Avatar, Titanic, The Terminal
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6 feet 2 inches
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Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Editor, Explorer
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