The deal between Warner Bros. and Netflix has drawn criticism from many in Hollywood, and Sinners star Michael B. Jordan is adding his voice to the ever-growing rift. Many were initially opposed to the acquisition, as it would give a streaming giant control over a massive cinematic powerhouse, posing untold fallout for theatrical distribution. Recent reports indicate that Netflix will trim theatrical release windows to just 17 days, which could be detrimental to theaters worldwide and to those who make their living producing content.
While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Jordan was asked about the Netflix and WB deal, given that his upcoming reboot of The Thomas Crown Affair is through another streaming service, being produced by Amazon MGM Studios. The Black Panther star noted that he advocates theatrical film releases, stating, “Movies need to be seen on a big screen.” Jordan went on to say that’s what makes cinema “so great.” The Creed star shared:
“As long as the care of film and cinema is a priority at the forefront, that’s what I feel is most important right now as an actor, as a director. Movies need to be seen on a big screen. That communal experience is what makes Sinners so great, [what makes] One Battle After Another so great, [what makes] Marty Supreme so great. What makes all these movies so great is that you get a chance to go to theater with people and watch it and have a moment to laugh together, to cry together, to cheer together. That’s why I love going to movies is for those storytelling experiences. That’s the priority. All the other business stuff is a little bit beyond me.”
While Jordan notes that the business side of things is “beyond me,” his love of cinema is evident, putting the lauded Sinners star in line with many others. He’s not even the only actor in recent memory to make similar bold claims about the importance of theatrical distribution.
The gravity of the Netflix and Warner Bros. deal can’t be overstated for the future of movie releases. The acquisition is already trending toward streaming releases over theatrical ones. While many think it could be a fresh boost for the film industry, there has been an outcry from many industry icons. Avatar director James Cameron, who recently became the first director to release four movies in a row to gross over $1 billion at the box office, threw his comments into the debate while speaking with Deadline, stating:
“I happen to think that there’s something sacred about the movie-going experience and just the ease and broad access of streaming is not the complete answer. Maybe the universe adjusts around those two principles, but you can’t just steamroll theatrical out of existence, and I’m going to stay opposed to that.”
Comedy actor and all-around beloved personality Jack Black has even recently mirrored Jordan’s comments about the importance of movies playing in theaters. In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb surrounding Black’s recent Anaconda reboot, the actor said:
“I’m proud to be in a movie that really plays with live audiences in a big theater, and the premiere was super fun in that way. And I cherish these moments even more now, I’m like, ‘Are we in the last days of theater?'”
Black’s comments even contemplate the end of theaters, which is the biggest question posed by the Netflix-WB deal. What comes to fruition remains to be seen, but the outlook could be grim, with more actors like Jordan throwing their support behind movie theaters.
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