Netflix Exec Bela Bajaria Slams Matt Damon’s “Phone Plot” Claim: Movies Aren’t Made for Scrolling

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Netflix has responded to criticism from Matt Damon and Conan O’Brien, who claimed the platform is making content too simple to hold the attention of viewers.

Earlier this year, while discussing his Netflix thriller, The Rip, Damon explained that Netflix often repeats key plot points in a show’s dialogue. He said this is because they’ve noticed many viewers are distracted by their phones while watching.

During Sunday’s Oscars, host Conan O’Brien made a joke about a recent trend in filmmaking. He said that some studios are now asking directors to repeat key plot points in movies, because audiences are often distracted by their phones and miss things the first time.

I thought it was hilarious when Conan O’Brien and Sterling K. Brown did that bit where they kept retelling the plot of Casablanca – it was a really funny way to make fun of everyone thinking the show was too complicated! But honestly, Netflix seemed a little worried about that perception taking hold, and they quickly tried to counter it.

At a press event on March 18th, Dan Lin, who leads Netflix’s film division, clarified a recent claim about a supposed rule at the company. According to Deadline, he said they were joking when they saw the bit about it at the Oscars and that no such rule exists. Lin emphasized that Netflix doesn’t reuse plots in its movies or TV shows and wasn’t sure where the idea originated, stating their main goal is simply to create high-quality films.

Netflix’s head of content, Bela Bajaria, strongly refuted the claims, calling them insulting to creators and filmmakers. She explained that the idea Netflix would give such poor feedback and have it accepted is simply untrue. Bajaria emphasized that Netflix recognizes fans are engaged and intelligent, and they quickly point out anything that doesn’t seem right.

You can now watch “The Rip” on Netflix, and it’s already appearing on many lists of the best thrillers! Netflix subscribers can check it out, along with other popular shows and movies.

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2026-03-19 19:14