Michael Douglas Believes One Steven Spielberg Decision Cost Him an Oscar

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Michael Douglas recounted an interesting story about an experience he had with Steven Spielberg at the Cannes Film Festival. On the Variety series Actors on Actors, Douglas explained that Spielberg was leading the festival’s jury that year. Douglas believed Spielberg prevented him from winning the best actor award, simply because his film was produced by HBO, which was then considered television, not a traditional movie.

Douglas believed the film industry’s approach was outdated and needed to adapt. He argued that a film deserved recognition, even if it had a limited theatrical run.

Spielberg, known for his traditional views, was hesitant to include streaming services like Netflix in major film award considerations. In a 2018 interview with ITV, he compared the rise of television to a challenge for cinema, similar to how it was during the 1950s when home entertainment became popular.

Spielberg believed major studios were prioritizing large-scale blockbusters over smaller, more unique films. He observed that the kinds of smaller movies studios used to produce were now being made by streaming services like Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix. This concerned him, as he feared these platforms were diminishing the traditional moviegoing experience for his fellow filmmakers. He was frustrated that many films weren’t receiving proper theatrical releases and were instead being released directly on streaming apps such as HBO Max.

The acclaimed director began to feel more hopeful after seeing the success of recent films like Elvis. He told The New York Times that the movie’s strong performance at the box office was encouraging. He was pleased to see older moviegoers returning to theaters and expressed his belief that movies are going to come back. Even someone who strongly prefers traditional filmmaking, it seems, can be optimistic about the future of cinema.

Michael Douglas is currently enjoying a more relaxed pace of life after a demanding few years. He recently received praise for his performance as Benjamin Franklin in the Apple TV+ series, with many critics calling it one of his best roles yet. Speaking at a film festival in mid-2025, Douglas indicated he doesn’t plan to take on any new acting jobs for the time being. After nearly six decades in the industry, he wants to spend time with his family, though he isn’t ruling out a return if a truly exceptional script comes his way.

Steven Spielberg is putting the finishing touches on his new science fiction movie, Disclosure Day, which is expected to be in theaters on June 12th. He wrote the original story, and his frequent collaborator, David Koepp, penned the screenplay. The film boasts a fantastic cast, including Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, and Colman Domingo. Although details are being kept under wraps, it’s believed to be a large-scale film about humanity’s first encounter with aliens – a return to the type of captivating storytelling Spielberg is known for.

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2026-02-04 18:46