James Cameron Says David Ellison “The Best Choice” to Buy Warner Bros. — Netflix Would Be “A Disaster”

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With Warner Bros.’ future uncertain, director James Cameron has spoken frankly about the situation – and he’s made it very clear how he feels about Warner Bros., Paramount, and Netflix.

I was reading an interview with Cameron over on The Town, and he pretty much shut down any talk of Netflix buying his studio. He feels their approach to making movies just doesn’t align with what a big studio needs to do – especially when it comes to theatrical releases. It’s interesting timing, because everyone’s saying David Ellison from Paramount is a frontrunner to acquire the company right now.

James Cameron’s recent statements have quickly become a hot topic in the film industry because they address the future of Warner Bros. and ongoing debates about streaming. Industry professionals are particularly reacting to his direct criticism of Netflix’s approach to releasing movies in theaters. Throughout his comments, Cameron consistently argued that going to movie theaters should remain a key part of Warner Bros.’ strategy.

Cameron: Netflix Buying Warner Bros. Would Be “A Disaster”

Cameron didn’t mince words regarding Netflix gaining control of Warner Bros.

He believes Netflix is heading for trouble. He specifically called out Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-CEO, and pointed out that Sarandos has publicly stated he believes traditional movie theaters are no longer viable. According to Sarandos, ‘theatrical is dead.’

Cameron also criticized the streamer’s practice of releasing films in theaters for just a short time – usually around a week – to qualify them for Oscar consideration. Many in Hollywood see this as a way to meet the requirements without truly committing to a wide theatrical release.

Cameron rejected Belloni’s point that Netflix intends to show Warner Bros. movies in cinemas if they acquire the studio.

He called the strategy “a trick,” explaining that they planned to release the film briefly—for a week or ten days—just to make it eligible for Oscar nominations. He strongly disagreed with this approach, believing a movie should be intended for the big screen and that the Oscars have lost their meaning if they don’t prioritize theatrical releases. He felt the Academy Awards had been compromised and described the situation as awful.

He pointed out that for the streaming service to be a serious contender at the Oscars, its movies needed to be shown in theaters and generate significant ticket sales.

Look, as a movie fan, I think a fair rule is this: if a film actually gets shown in a decent number of theaters – like at least 2,000 – for a full month, then it should absolutely be eligible for awards. It proves they’re making a real effort to let people see it, you know?

Cameron Has Worked With David Ellison Before — And Strongly Supports Him

James Cameron spoke very positively about David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance and a major potential buyer of Warner Bros. They worked together on Terminator: Dark Fate, and Cameron has often praised their collaboration.

When asked about Ellison’s Paramount purchasing Warner Bros., Cameron offered a clear endorsement.

“I think he’s the best possible choice,” he said.

James Cameron believes Warner Bros., a studio known for big blockbuster movies and long-running franchises, needs leaders who are focused on the traditional movie theater experience to succeed in the future. This view is widely shared throughout Hollywood.

Why Cameron’s Opinion Matters

As a movie critic, I’ve seen firsthand how James Cameron consistently changes the game. It’s no exaggeration to say he’s one of the most influential directors ever when it comes to how movies are shown in theaters. Just look at Titanic and Avatar – they’re still at the top of the box office charts, and Cameron’s always been a pioneer, forcing cinemas to upgrade their technology and embrace new ways of presenting films. He doesn’t just make movies; he reshapes the entire moviegoing experience.

His comments about Netflix reflect a long-standing discussion – one that’s been happening for almost ten years – about whether movies aiming for major awards should still be shown in cinemas.

Netflix famously clashed with the Academy over this, eventually changing its approach. However, many critics, including James Cameron, believe Netflix still focuses more on streaming on its own platform than on showing films in theaters.

With Warner Bros. exploring a sale, James Cameron’s straightforward opinion echoes a feeling across the film industry: the new owner must prioritize movie theaters. Cameron believes David Ellison is best positioned and most eager to do just that.

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2025-11-25 18:57