What Did Christopher Nolan Say About Netflix’s Movie Streaming Strategy? (Photo Credit – Instagram)
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Christopher Nolan has always been a staunch defender of the theatrical experience, from the massive IMAX spectacle of Dunkirk to the intricate storytelling of Inception. So, when he lashed out at Netflix for its streaming-first approach, it was no surprise. “Netflix has a bizarre aversion to supporting theatrical films,” Nolan asserted in an interview with IndieWire.
“They have this mindless policy of everything having to be simultaneously streamed and released, which is obviously an untenable model for theatrical presentation.” For Nolan, cinema’s magic is in theaters—big sound, towering visuals, and shared vibes. Streaming doesn’t compare. Dunkirk proved it, with its land, air, and sea action peaking on IMAX.
Netflix backed films like Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories, but Nolan wasn’t sold. “The investment that Netflix is putting into interesting filmmakers and interesting projects would be more admirable if it weren’t being used as some kind of bizarre leverage against shutting down theaters,” he alluded.
Christopher Nolan was quick to contrast Netflix’s approach with Amazon’s, which gave its films a 90-day theatrical window before hitting the platform. “Amazon is very clearly happy to not make that same mistake,” he noted, calling the model “perfectly usable” and “terrific.”
This wasn’t Nolan’s first jab at digital distribution. At CinemaCon, while Warner Bros. executives touted “more choices” for consumers, the Oppenheimer director didn’t mince words. “The only platform I’m interested in talking about is theatrical exhibition,” he declared, doubling down on his belief that movies should be experienced in theaters.
His stance on Netflix came with a historical perspective, too. “I grew up in the ‘80s, the birth of home video,” he explained. Back then, the nightmare for filmmakers wasn’t streaming but having their movies go straight to video. “There’s nothing new in that.” Nolan saw Netflix’s model as less about innovation and more about disruption. “Corporations portray this kind of behavior to Wall Street as ‘disruptive.’ But it’s always been about lowest common denominator stuff.”
For Christopher Nolan, the solution was simple: let great films shine in theaters first. “If Netflix has made a great film, they should put it in theaters. Why not? Stream it 90 days later.” Nolan’s dedication to the theatrical experience is a bold stand in a world where convenience often wins. His point is clear – cinema, at its best, isn’t just about the story. It’s about the screen, the sound, and the shared experience. And no streaming strategy can replace that!
