James Cameron Says Netflix Movies Shouldn’t Qualify For The Oscars

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There’s been debate about whether films released by Netflix should qualify for Academy Awards. Director James Cameron believes films are best experienced in theaters, a sentiment reflected in his work on large-scale, visually impressive blockbusters like Aliens, Titanic, and the Avatar series. The newest Avatar film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is scheduled to be released on December 19th.

Netflix has become a significant contender at the Oscars in recent years, earning Best Picture nominations for films like All Quiet on the Western Front, The Power of the Dog, Marriage Story, and Roma. However, the streaming service has also faced criticism, with some accusing it of strategically creating films solely to appeal to Oscar voters – a perception that arose with 2023’s Maestro and intensified with the 2024 release of Emilia Pérez, which sparked considerable controversy.

I’m really excited for Cameron’s new movie, but I was surprised to hear him come down so hard on Netflix. He was on a podcast called The Town and basically said that Netflix’s strategy of releasing movies for just a week or so to qualify for the Oscars is, in his opinion, a really bad idea and goes against what movies should be about. He thinks it’s fundamentally flawed, and honestly, I kind of see his point!

Netflix mainly focuses on streaming, but sometimes releases films in a limited number of cinemas for around two weeks before they become available online. This is often done to make the films eligible for awards. As director James Cameron puts it, awards don’t hold much value unless they consider films shown in theaters. He believes a movie should qualify for awards if it’s released in at least 2000 theaters for a month.

Netflix is aiming for a Best Picture win in 2026, but it’s proving tricky. While three films – Frankenstein, A House of Dynamite, and Jay Kelly – are in the running, each has weaknesses, and none are certain to be nominated. Frankenstein currently looks like the strongest candidate, and Netflix is likely to receive at least one Best Picture nomination, possibly more.

James Cameron has noticed that going to the movies isn’t what it used to be, and he thinks the Oscars should primarily recognize films that are shown in theaters. This makes sense considering his career has always focused on the big-screen experience. He feels that Netflix only releases movies in theaters specifically to qualify them for Oscar consideration.

Some movies really deserve to be seen in a theater – think classics like Frankenstein – while others are perfectly enjoyable at home. James Cameron has been arguing in favor of movie theaters, which have faced difficulties since the pandemic began, and his point hints that Netflix might start considering whether releasing films in theaters first is worthwhile.

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2025-11-25 16:48