Netflix fires back at Steven Spielberg’s Oscars rule change proposal

March 4, 2019

Netflix has fired back at Steven Spielberg’s expected petition to keep movies made by streaming services out of the Oscars.

Reportedly, Spielberg will voice his concerns at the Academy’s post-Oscars debrief.

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The concerns come after Netflix’s Roma won big at the Oscars this year. The film was nominated for 10 awards and took home three for best foreign language film, best cinematography and best director.

“Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation,” a spokesperson for Amblin, Spielberg’s production company, said.

His complaints are due to the nature of streaming-based films. They have a wider global distribution model than traditional films.

Additionally, Spielberg thinks that all films made under a streaming giant should instead be eligible to win an Emmy, the Oscar’s television counterpart.

After the rumors circulated about Spielberg’s plans, Netflix fired back on Twitter.

“We love cinema. Here are some things we also love: -Access for people who can’t always afford, or live in towns without, theaters – Letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time -Giving filmmakers more ways to share art,” the tweet reads.

We love cinema. Here are some things we also love:

-Access for people who can’t always afford, or live in towns without, theaters
-Letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time
-Giving filmmakers more ways to share art

These things are not mutually exclusive.

— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) March 4, 2019

This year, The Favourite and Netflix’s Roma tied for the most Oscars nominations. Plus, some of our favorites—A Star Is Born, A Quiet Place, Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, Incredibles 2—were nominated for a handful of awards. You can check out a full list of Oscar nominees and winners here.