James Cameron Warns Netflix and Warner Bros. Amid Merger: The Big Screen Isn’t Going Anywhere

So, about that Netflix-Warner Bros thing. It is not locked yet — Paramount just lobbed a hostile takeover bid into the mix — but if the pieces line up, Netflix is expected to end up owning Warner Bros. That possibility has everyone wondering what happens to physical media, to the big legacy franchises, and to theatrical releases. James Cameron has not exactly been quiet about it; he once called the idea of Netflix controlling Warner Bros a 'disaster.' Now he is clarifying where he stands.

James Cameron is not buying the 'streaming replaces theaters' dream

Speaking with Deadline, Cameron said Netflix has made occasional exceptions to keep certain filmmakers happy — think Guillermo del Toro getting a real theatrical footprint — but he still sees the company’s long game as pushing past theaters. In his view, streaming is convenient, but it is not the whole answer, and the communal moviegoing thing still matters. He also admits he might sound a little old-school, but he is not backing off.

'You can't just steamroll theatrical out of existence, and I'm going to stay opposed to that.'

• He believes Netflix ultimately wants to replace theatrical even if it keeps a toe in theaters for directors like Guillermo del Toro.
• Streaming is easy and widespread, but in his mind it does not replace the sacredness of seeing a movie in a theater.
• Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has talked about the theatrical window 'evolving.' People in the know say he might push for a 17-day exclusive theatrical window on Warner Bros movies — Cameron hopes that does not happen.
• If Netflix actually wins this fight, it becomes a major studio. Cameron notes that would leave roughly half as many majors as when he entered the business.
• He is hoping that if Netflix is suddenly responsible for a studio’s fate, it will adjust the plan and actively protect theatrical rather than shrink it.

Where the deal stands (and why filmmakers are twitchy)

Again, none of this is done. Paramount launching a hostile bid means there is a lot to shake out before anyone plants a flag. If Netflix does prevail, the big open questions are not just about windows — they are about what happens to disc releases, how huge franchises are handled, and whether Netflix keeps, trims, or supercharges theatrical runs for Warner Bros titles.

Meanwhile: Cameron’s own movie lands next week

Avatar: Fire and Ash hits theaters on December 19. Early reactions are mostly positive. One critic, Chris Bumbray, raved about it as a must-see in IMAX 3D, said it is unbelievably immersive much like The Way of Water, called it a slight step down from that film, and added that the 3-plus-hour runtime flies by and he is happy to head back to Pandora anytime. The visuals are, predictably, a flex; the harsher takes say it is too long and leans a little too hard on familiar beats. The only real question left is whether Pandora fever is still strong enough to shove this one into the $2 billion club like its predecessors.