At the Gotham Awards, actor Joel Edgerton defended streaming films' eligibility for the Oscars, responding to James Cameron's recent comments that Netflix productions without theatrical runs do not belong in the awards conversation. Edgerton, whose film 'Train Dreams' is a Netflix release, argued against industry squabbles over what qualifies as cinema. He emphasized the importance of streamers for emerging filmmakers while respecting Cameron's advocacy for theaters.
Background on the Debate
James Cameron recently criticized Netflix's Oscars strategy on the podcast 'The Town,' calling it 'fundamentally rotten at the core.' He argued that films should only compete if they play for a month in at least 2,000 theaters, stating, 'A movie should be made as a movie for theatrical. The Academy Awards to me mean nothing if they don’t mean theatrical.' This comes amid the Academy's updated 2025 rules, requiring best picture contenders to have a one-week qualifying run followed by a seven-day expansion in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets within 45 days.
Netflix has reshaped awards season since 'Roma' in 2019, earning 10 best picture nominations through limited theatrical releases in major cities, though it has yet to win the top prize.
Edgerton's Response
Edgerton, speaking to Variety at the Gotham Awards on Monday night, said, 'None of us should be squabbling with each other over what has a right to be seen or awarded or part of a conversation — because there are some people that only get their chance because of streamers.' He added, 'I don’t necessarily think something should be seen as lesser than.' Edgerton acknowledged Cameron's point about supporting cinemas but warned that stricter rules could hurt lower-budget films. 'I think the point that James is making is there should be more of a robust fight for the survival of cinema, but at the cost of saying that people whose only chance is to get their movies made on a streamer shouldn’t have a chance to also be seen and heard,' he explained.
Edgerton praised Cameron as 'one of the greats' and a pioneer but positioned himself as a pragmatist. He shared a personal anecdote: 'I’ve died on the hill of cinema a few times... Most of my favorite movies were made in the 70s… I didn’t get a chance to watch them until I was watching them on a VHS cassette on a shitty TV. And they’re still my favorite films.'
Other Perspectives
Actor Stellan Skarsgård supported Cameron, saying, 'That’s the only way to make the theater survive. That’s the only way to make cinema survive. And without cinema, you don’t have any Netflix.' Director Park Chan-Wook understood the sentiment but noted, 'Because of the increasing number of great films that have been made for streaming, I just don’t think that fits in with the reality that we’re living in right now.'
A recent AP-NORC survey shows three-quarters of U.S. adults watched a new movie on streaming at least once in the past year, with nearly a third doing so monthly, reflecting shifting viewer habits post-pandemic.