Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Steven Spielberg Is Leading The Charge To Change Oscars Eligibility, And Fans Are Divided

Steven Spielberg Is Leading The Charge To Change Oscars Eligibility, And Fans Are Divided
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

One of the biggest debates of the streaming age is whether original films produced by streaming juggernauts such as Amazon, Netflix and Hulu, should be eligible for the Oscars or not.


On one side, there are those who believe that only films that have had a theatrical release deserve to be in the running. On the other, there are those who believe that streaming is the future and awards shows should get with the program. As it stands, a film must have a theatrical release of at least one week in a major city to be eligible for an Academy Award.

This year, Netflix released Roma, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and Birdbox in a limited fashion so that they could be eligible. Roma succeeded in not only gaining a nomination in the Best Picture and both Best Actress categories, but it won in the Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Foreign Film categories.

However, for Oscar winning director and producer Steven Spielberg, Roma's award show success was not met with excitement.

According to Indie Wire, a spokesperson for Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment stated...

"Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation. He'll be happy if the others will join [his campaign] when that comes up [at the Academy Board of Governors meeting]. He will see what happens."

Indie Wire also reports that among the grievances major film studios have with streaming platforms are these particular issues...

"Netflix spent too much. One Oscar strategist estimated "Roma" at $50 million in Oscar spend, with "Green Book" at $5 million. (The New York Times reported $25 million; Netflix insists awards were folded into their entire marketing budget.)
The massive "Roma" push crushed foreign-language distributors. Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker said he had no financial option but to release Oscar nominees "Never Look Away" and "Capernaum" when theaters opened up after the holidays, which meant fewer Academy voters had a chance to see them.
"Roma" only spent three weeks as a theatrical exclusive.
Netflix doesn't report box office.
Netflix doesn't respect the 90-day theatrical window.
Netflix movies are available in 190 countries, 24-7."

However, by current rules, films can be eligible with only one week of exclusive theatrical play, and there is no box office requirement. Spielberg is adding to a growing sense that the rules were made in an era when streaming platforms were inconceivable. Given the growth of streaming platforms creating their own content, new clarifications may be needed.

Many people disagreed with Spielberg.


Many pointed out how Netflix gives many underrepresented filmmakers a voice.




Though some did understand where he was coming from.



Many pointed out that the aggressive awards campaigns mounted by companies like Netflix actually disenfranchise those filmmakers on the platform who don't get the full-court treatment.



And most thought that this was going to be one of the defining film debates of the 21st Century.


One Twitter user placed the whole debate into a very real market context.




He went on to explain how major film studios exacerbate the issue.



Before finally closing with this message to Spielberg.


How this all plays out in the coming years is going to be fascinating.

You can find some of Steven Spielberg's movies here.

More from Trending

Donald Trump
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Trump Dragged After His New Jersey Golf Club Gets Absymal Score From Health Inspector

A new Forbes report revealed that President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, had 18 health code violations, receiving the lowest score in all of Somerset County.

The Bedminster property is owned through a network of companies and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, from which Trump can derive income while in office.

Keep ReadingShow less
person lying on bed reading book
Dessidre Fleming on Unsplash

People Who Sleep Naked Describe The Times It Backfired—And Oof

I make it a habit to travel with nice pajamas that I don't mind having other people see.

One reason why is because years ago on a business trip to St. Louis, Missouri, one of the other hotels near where we were staying had a minor fire in the middle of the night.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kate Shaw; Josh Hawley
C-SPAN

Law Professor Bluntly Debunks Hawley's Conspiracy About Why Number Of Trump Injunctions Is So High

On Tuesday, Kate Shaw, law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, testified before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the role of the federal court system.

The Republican majority focused primarily on federal judges issuing nationwide injunctions that block the unconstitutional executive orders of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump and the Trump administration's illegal or unconstitutional actions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @joyfullykrisandra's TikTok video
@joyfullykrisandra/TikTok

Mom Slams Bakery's Epic Fail After Ordering $200 Cake For Son's Graduation Party

The time of year has come for major celebrations, especially among families with graduates in their midst.

For those who want to throw a party to celebrate, they have to prepare one of the central features: a cake.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @tallertoddlers' TikTok video
@tallertoddlers/TikTok

Woman Horrified After Accidentally Shattering Roommate's $249 Louis Vuitton Chocolate Purse

There are a few "roommate etiquette" rules we should all be able to agree to: don't use or take something that doesn't belong to you, at least without asking; don't eat your roommate's food; and honestly, don't touch their food, especially with your bare hands.

A leading rule, however, should be: If you break something that belongs to your roommate, you should replace it.

Keep ReadingShow less