James Cameron Slams Netflix in Latest Statement

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James Cameron, the director of films like Avatar and Titanic, is worried about the possible $82.7 billion merger between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery. He recently wrote a letter to Senator Mike Lee, who leads a Senate committee focused on antitrust issues, explaining his concerns.

Cameron believes that if one major streaming service buys a historic movie and TV studio, it could severely damage the film industry. He’s spent nearly 50 years working to protect the traditional movie theater experience.

He points out that movie theaters have already seen a 30% drop in business since the pandemic, as more people watch content at home. Cameron fears this merger would be devastating for movie theaters, which he sees as an important part of global culture.

The director explained a key difference in how Netflix and traditional studios operate. Netflix leaders have often described movie theaters as old-fashioned and no longer relevant.

Cameron argued that because Netflix wants to keep people watching on its service, its goals clash with the traditional film industry. A major disagreement in the recent merger involves how long new Warner Bros. films will be shown in theaters.

While Netflix’s Ted Sarandos proposed a 17-day theatrical release, Cameron rejected this as too short and ineffective. He believes a standard release requires at least 45 days and widespread availability in many theaters to truly succeed.

James Cameron cautioned that promises of support for movie theaters could disappear within a few years. He anticipates that once the merger with Netflix is complete and public attention shifts, the company will likely focus on building up its streaming content instead of maintaining traditional cinemas.

This change wouldn’t just affect major film studios; it could also impact the livelihoods of the many people employed at local theaters nationwide. Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo raised the question on social media of whether the opposition is directed specifically at Netflix, or at the idea of any single company dominating the market.

He suggested it would be insightful to learn if Cameron and Senator Lee share similar concerns regarding Paramount’s competing bid. Ruffalo worries that either deal could concentrate too much power in the hands of a few companies, instead of ensuring the film industry benefits everyone.

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2026-02-23 13:15