Before “Avatar 3” opens in theaters, James Cameron speaks plainly: Netflix and Co “capture” the Oscars. His demand: Netflix films should run in 2,000 cinemas for at least a month – in order to participate.
James Cameron spoke in a podcast episode about the streaming giant Netflix in connection with the most famous film award – the Oscar. Among other things, he criticized their participation in the procurement process.
“Avatar 3” and criticism of streaming platforms
In the current edition of the podcast “The Town” with host Matt Baloni, the Hollywood director’s “Avatar 3: Fire And Ash” was the focus. The third part of the science fiction series is scheduled to open in German cinemas on December 17, 2025 after several delays. In the hour-long conversation, however, Cameron also expressed clear criticism of productions from streaming providers and how they would exploit the existing Oscar award process to get one of the coveted film awards.
Watch the trailer for “Avatar 3” here:
“Scam” by streaming providers and loss of importance of the Oscar
James Cameron explained what he called the “scam” of streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. In the conversation, he put himself in the common practice of the platforms and said: “We put the film in cinemas for a week or ten days. This means we qualify for the Oscars.” In the same breath, he described the procedure as “completely corrupt”. The 71-year-old is convinced that films are produced for cinemas and should continue to be measured by their success in cinemas.
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The Oscars would lose meaning to him if the awards were no longer about cinema films, he continued in the podcast: “An Oscar means nothing to me if it leaves out the cinema perspective of the production in the evaluation.” In his opinion, the awards ceremony was “hijacked” by Netflix and Co. He finds this development “terrifying”. According to the filmmaker, on-demand giants like Netflix should only be allowed to take part in the Academy Awards process once the productions have been running for “a month in 2,000 cinemas”.
Since 2019, at least one Netflix film per year has been nominated in the most important “Best Film” category of the most famous film award.
James Cameron is working on a concert film with & for Billie Eilish
Recently, Billie Eilish revealed during her final performance of the “Hit Me Hard And Soft” tour in San Francisco that there would soon be a concert film of her. On stage she announced who was and is involved: the singer shared the direction with James Cameron. “Hit Me Hard And Soft – The Tour (Live in 3D)” is the three-time Oscar winner’s first concert film. The director’s music film debut will be released in German cinemas on March 20, 2026.