Netflix has signed a deal with renowned American director Steven Spielberg. Amblin Partners, Spielberg’s production company, will make at least two films a year for Netflix in the coming years. It has not been disclosed what the deal has cost Netflix.
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The deal is striking, because Spielberg has been negative about streaming services in the past. In 2019, he criticized the organization of the Oscars, because films made by streaming services from that year could also compete for the coveted film prizes. Spielberg believed that only movies that have been screened in the cinema should win an Oscar, Netflix should submit its films to the Emmy Awards or other awards for television programs. Spielberg later emphasized that he had nothing against Netflix specifically, but simply liked to see his films on the silver screen.
‘Great opportunity’
The films that Spielberg will make for Netflix are not tied to a certain budget or a specific genre. It is possible that 74-year-old Spielberg will also direct films for Netflix. Against the American entertainment magazine Variety The director says the contract with Netflix gives him “a great opportunity to tell new stories and reach audiences in a different way.”
Bringing in Spielberg is a major blow to Netflix, which is struggling to hold its own in the increasingly crowded streaming market. Parties like Amazon and Disney have quickly become formidable competitors, offering filmmakers, studios and production companies astronomical sums to tie them to their streaming services.
Spielberg rose to fame as a creator of films such as Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List. Amblin made Green Book, which won the Oscar for best film in 2018, and the war film 1917. Whether the films Spielberg makes for Netflix will be shown in the cinema is viewed ‘per project’ according to the streaming service.
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