Spielberg: Movies Released by Streaming Services Don’t Deserve an Oscar

I actually agree with his point. If Netflix puts out a movie in theaters just long enough to qualify then releases to netflix, then it shouldn't be up for an Oscar (no matter how good it is), but it should be up for an Emmy. OTOH, if it's a movie like Amazon's Big Sick, which was in theaters for weeks (months?) then that's a different story and the clip above makes it abundantly clear that's what he's referring to.

Essentially he's saying, if NBC has a movie of the week and they put it in theaters for a week(or less) in L.A. and NYC, it shouldn't be oscar worthy. I'm OK with that.

Yep. The establishment, ie. Hollywood is pissed that products like AC can be made when even they couldn't do it. AC for instance was passed around and passed on by the majors.


After a 15-year path to the screen, Altered Carbon will officially launch Friday on Netflix...
Namely, studios weren't exactly scrambling to bankroll an R-rated, thematically complex sci-fi film not tied to an existing franchise. Shoehorning the novel's intricate framework into a two-hour running time posed an additional challenge.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/l...on-inside-dramas-15-year-road-netflix-1080944


It's pretty clear that Spielberg agrees with you
 
I actually agree with his point. If Netflix puts out a movie in theaters just long enough to qualify then releases to netflix, then it shouldn't be up for an Oscar (no matter how good it is), but it should be up for an Emmy. OTOH, if it's a movie like Amazon's Big Sick, which was in theaters for weeks (months?) then that's a different story and the clip above makes it abundantly clear that's what he's referring to.

Essentially he's saying, if NBC has a movie of the week and they put it in theaters for a week(or less) in L.A. and NYC, it shouldn't be oscar worthy. I'm OK with that.

It's pretty clear that Spielberg agrees with you

The Oscar rules are pretty straight forward, originally released to theater for at least 7 days in a theater in LA County. Look it up. He's just being elitist imo. He wants all these other features to be lose their eligibility. I'm pretty sure the Oscars are about quality, not days released to theaters. Conversely anything released to any other media before theater is not eligible.
 
The Oscar rules are pretty straight forward, originally released to theater for at least 7 days in a theater in LA County. Look it up. He's just being elitist imo. He wants all these other features to be lose their eligibility. I'm pretty sure the Oscars are about quality, not days released to theaters. Conversely anything released to any other media before theater is not eligible.

I'm sure the reason for the award exclusivity goes much deeper into the marketing and business model of cinema film. e.g. Subscription to a particular streaming network versus a ticket to a cinema group.

Whether it's an altruistic distinction is to be determined. ;)
 
The movie industry has been controlled by a "certain" group that Spielberg belongs to. They are now afraid of losing their influence over the industry.
 
no one listens anymore to the folks who are top in their field ... we seem to think we know more than they do
 
I can project himself into his mindset and see where he's coming from and sympathize with his point of view. Still, time marches on and the only constant is change.
 
He will soon change his tune when he eventually releases a film or TV series on a streaming service in a few years time.

It’s amazing how a large paycheque can change ones opinions on something so fundamental to someone so self important...
 
I just did a quick search on avatar, and it won 88 awards and got nominated for 128 according to imdb (not specifically Oscars) so who gives a damn about awards anymore when they throw them at you left and right.

I'd rather see a good movie then one with a gazzillion awards that is crap like a lot of Oscars winners are imho.
 
Oscars have 100 categories anyway, what's one more?

SS needs to wake up and smell the 2018's. Everything is shot digitally now anyway unless it's IMAX.
 
I wonder in a way if he's inspired by the fact that watching a movie at home for a lot of people takes away from the directors expected viewing/listening experience. I LOVE streaming services, and we barely see movies anymore, but I do remember Directors like Kubrick who used to make sure that the tech specs for Cinema brightnesss and sound matched their vision.

People are watchign a lot of movie's on sound bars with no subs or tv speakers, and it does kinda kill the awe inspiringness that makes a movie that much better. I remember personally investing into a better sound system for movies like the Matrix, Dark City, etc...to get a better experience.

But whatever, I think the Emmy's and Academy awards are stupid anyways. Rotten tomatoes is stupid also.
 
We could create E.T. Popcorn. "Home" popcorn that costs $20 a bag. Then maybe he'd see some value in a Netflix movie. Add a Gross Encounters sticky floor mat, for that whole at home theater experience.
 
Out of touch old man who hasn't made a decent movie in two decades says dumb stuff about technology. News at 11.
 
Oscars are pretentious worthless trophies for self promotion anyway.
Who gives a shit who gets an oscar. It's not important.

Even Kobe Bryant can get an Oscar. That's worthless.
 
When only 1 film out of the Oscar Nominations was recognizable to the general population.. I think streaming is the least of their worries.
 
The Oscar rules are pretty straight forward, originally released to theater for at least 7 days in a theater in LA County. Look it up. He's just being elitist imo. He wants all these other features to be lose their eligibility. I'm pretty sure the Oscars are about quality, not days released to theaters. Conversely anything released to any other media before theater is not eligible.
It's not elitist. A movie that is essentially a movie for Streaming on TV not what the Oscars are about. The only real exception is shorts and documentaries. I can't think of many (any?) features in the past that were nominated and only in theaters for a week. Yes, they're often released in limited form for a week or so before the New Year, but after that, they typically go wide. Sorry, but if a movie is streaming a week after it "premiered" in L.A., it's not a feature film. More than likely, they just rented a theater to put it in so they could qualify, because most theaters will not show a movie if they don't get a decent window (6 weeks, I think).

When only 1 film out of the Oscar Nominations was recognizable to the general population.. I think streaming is the least of their worries.
I guess you don't get out very much. I saw all but 2 of them last year (though I didn't see Get Out in the theater...think I was out of the country during it's window).
 
He's an idiot. A movie is a movie. It doesn't matter if it's released on PornHub or only projected in a XXX theatre.

Totally agreed, any movie regardless of how and who releases it should be able to run for an oscar. Though oscar has been a joke for a long time so who really cares anymore?
 
Totally agreed, any movie regardless of how and who releases it should be able to run for an oscar. Though oscar has been a joke for a long time so who really cares anymore?

Pretty much. A movie about a fish boning a woman won.
 
I don't think all that many people care much anymore. I used to watch the Oscars and care... then a few years ago I realized I was only watching to see if anyone would train wreck or fall on the way to the stage.

Stevens point is valid, and I guess the Academy and the Emmy people will have to figure it out. I mean its a good question when is a Streaming movie a feature and when is it a "TV movie". Really is Netflix renting out a token number of theaters for a week really all it takes to go from TV flick to Motion Picture ? It does sound lame on its face.

I am a huge Spielberg fan, hey a lot of us around here grew up on his flicks. For those saying hes jelly don't be silly... if Spielberg wanted all the money just imagine how much Netflix would toss at him for even a 1 movie deal. I mean consider what Netflix is paying people like Seinfeld, Chris Rock... and Sandler. If Spielberg called they would back the money semi truck up to the gates of his Pacific Palisades mansion and even make Sandler his own personal water boy if he where to ask.
 
These dickheads running the biz take themselves entirely too seriously. You make movies not perform miracles. I never cared for Oscar or similar award shows because they are literally pointless. Most of the movies there have to be either financially successful or critically acclaimed to be nominated. If your movie is in either or both categories, what the hell do you need an award for? You've already won. All of them make huge amounts of money pretending to be something/someone else for a living, and they need more adulation on top of that?
 
So the oscars are really about those who had connect$ion$ to get distribution to the theaters for the duration he feels are adequate. Sounds almost like a ponzi/pyramid scheme. I pay you, you pay someone else, and eventually I get gold colored plastic crap where some other payer's applaud for it.

I used to respect this guy, somehow I still might, but not for this.
 
I don't really see your problem. He did not say that those movies are bad or unworthy (he did not say anything about quality at all) he just said that they do not fall into the same category, which is totaly true. Making Movies with the big screen and especially the big sound equipment in mind is a totaly different thing. The budgets are hugely different (expcept some indimovies) and the setup is also totally different. Thats why Star Wars for example sucks balls on television. The experience just can't be deliverd and thats what cinema is mostly about: a great experience that you cannot have at home, but for this experience to work the movie must be tailored to it. There are also some movies where watching them in the cinema is a complete waste of money. Those usually don't get an award...

Emmy is the right choice or maybe a streaming award all by it self (organized by amazon/netflix) with user Votes.
 
It's not elitist. A movie that is essentially a movie for Streaming on TV not what the Oscars are about. The only real exception is shorts and documentaries. I can't think of many (any?) features in the past that were nominated and only in theaters for a week. Yes, they're often released in limited form for a week or so before the New Year, but after that, they typically go wide. Sorry, but if a movie is streaming a week after it "premiered" in L.A., it's not a feature film. More than likely, they just rented a theater to put it in so they could qualify, because most theaters will not show a movie if they don't get a decent window (6 weeks, I think).


I guess you don't get out very much. I saw all but 2 of them last year (though I didn't see Get Out in the theater...think I was out of the country during it's window).
The only qualification to be nominated for the Academy Awards is to open in Los Angeles County and play for 7 consecutive days. "Feature" is simply defined by the length of the film, requiring a minimum of 40 minutes. The amount of time it is playing in theaters, or how soon it changes formats, has nothing to do with it.

I see at least one movie a month at the theater, averaging 20-30 a year, and I only saw 6 of the nominated films. Out of the ones nominated for Best Picture I only saw 2.

Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Logan
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
 
Bottom line - these more independent productions are much more creative and original than the remake after remake coming out of Hollywood these days and we don't dare allow them to compete for awards. Just say what you REALLY mean, Steve.
 
Bottom line - these more independent productions are much more creative and original than the remake after remake coming out of Hollywood these days and we don't dare allow them to compete for awards. Just say what you REALLY mean, Steve.
Not all the time. I saw a trailer for a new Netfilx series. It said "A Netflix Original."

...

It was a trailer for Lost in Space. I guess all you need is a shiny coat of paint these days to declare a creation an original.
 
<sarcasm>
Gone with the Wind in paperback is so substandard to the hard back edition.
</sarcasm>
 
Wonder if he paid Kathleen to tank Star Wars because he's jealous almost all his movies were one and done.
 
Who the fuck cares about what Steven Spielberg thinks and what any of the awards shows do?

Too much free time and all that chaps.
 
Lighten up Steve-o... i called Charlie Chaplin, he thinks "talkies" should get academy awards either... and don't get him started on color....

I think Chaplin was just fine with talkies



Just being glib, I agree with your point. Just your exemplar and the thought of that speech made me smile
 
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