James Cameron Warns of 'Disastrous' Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal

Filmmaker voices concerns over potential merger's impact on theatrical experience and movie industry jobs.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 8:39am

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Acclaimed director James Cameron has written a letter to a U.S. senator expressing his concerns about Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Cameron argues the merger would be "disastrous" for the theatrical film business, predicting it would lead to job losses, theater closures, and a reduction in big-budget blockbuster movies.

Why it matters

Cameron is a highly respected and influential figure in the film industry, known for blockbuster movies like Titanic and Avatar. His strong opposition to the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal highlights growing concerns that the merger could fundamentally reshape the movie landscape and threaten the traditional theatrical model that many filmmakers and actors rely on.

The details

In his letter to Senator Mike Lee, the chair of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, Cameron warned that the theatrical experience could become "a sinking ship" if the streaming service was allowed to buy the movie studio. He argued the merger would cause huge job losses, change the theatrical landscape, and reduce the number of movies made per year. Cameron also took issue with Netflix's pledge to release movies in cinemas for at least 17 days, calling it "ridiculously short" and predicting the commitment is "likely to evaporate" within a few years.

  • On February 10, 2026, Cameron wrote a letter to Senator Mike Lee expressing his concerns about the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. deal.
  • In December 2025, Netflix announced its intention to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valued at $82.7 billion.

The players

James Cameron

An acclaimed filmmaker known for blockbuster movies like Titanic and Avatar, who has dedicated his life's work to the theatrical motion picture business.

Senator Mike Lee

The chair of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, competitive policy and consumer rights, who has received outreach from various industry figures about the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.

Ted Sarandos

The CEO of Netflix, who has pledged to release movies in cinemas for at least 17 days, a commitment Cameron believes is "likely to evaporate" within a few years.

Netflix

The streaming service that has announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valued at $82.7 billion.

Warner Bros. Discovery

The movie studio that Netflix has proposed to acquire, which Cameron argues is directly at odds with Netflix's business model and could lead to job losses and theater closures.

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What they’re saying

“I believe strongly that the proposed sale of Warner Brothers Discovery to Netflix will be disastrous for the theatrical motion picture business that I have dedicated my life's work to.”

— James Cameron

“Many jobs will be lost. Theaters will close... The job losses will spiral.”

— James Cameron

“We have received outreach from actors, directors, and other interested parties about the proposed Netflix and Warner Brothers merger, and I share many of their concerns.”

— Senator Mike Lee, Chair of the Senate subcommittee on antitrust, competitive policy and consumer rights

What’s next

The Senate subcommittee on antitrust, competitive policy and consumer rights is expected to hold a follow-up hearing to further address the concerns raised about the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.

The takeaway

James Cameron's strong opposition to the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal highlights the deep concerns within the film industry about the potential impact of the merger on the traditional theatrical model and the broader movie ecosystem. The outcome of this deal could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the film industry and the moviegoing experience.