Originally published April 25, 2019. Updated December 7, 2022.
Legendary director Steven Spielberg has clarified his position on Netflix original movies.
With the increasing popularity of Netflix and their push to create more original films, the clash between this new way of experiencing content and the traditional theatrical release has come to the fore.
Steven Spielberg has spoken less than glowingly about Netflix original films in the past and has led a campaign to make it more difficult for Netflix movies to qualify for the Oscars. The director has now clarified his position, however, in an email to the NYT:
“I want people to find their entertainment in any form or fashion that suits them. Big screen, small screen – what really matters to me is a great story and everyone should have access to great stories. However, I feel people need to have the opportunity to leave the safe and familiar of their lives and go to a place where they can sit in the company of others and have a shared experience – cry together, laugh together, be afraid together – so that when it’s over they might feel a little less like strangers. I want to see the survival of movie theaters. I want the theatrical experience to remain relevant in our culture.”
These comments certainly show that Spielberg is more concerned with the survival of the traditional movie experience than just putting down Netflix but what do you think? Do you agree with what Spielberg has said? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter @flickeringmyth…
