Steven Spielberg has made it clear he is not interested in working with Netflix under its current streaming-only model, unless the company brings back its old DVD-by-mail system.
In an interview with ITV News published on June 8, the legendary director explained that his interest would only be renewed if Netflix returned to distributing physical DVDs to viewers’ homes, a format he believes preserves a more traditional film experience.
“So, the idea of sending little cassettes, little DVDs, you know, to individuals to watch a movie — if I did that, I would be happy to work for Netflix and make a movie for Netflix, knowing that it's only going to be seen by millions of people on their home screens,” he said. “But I'm a movie maker, and I believe in big motion picture, 70-millimeter theatrical experiences.”
Spielberg has long been critical of streaming-first films, arguing that they change how movies are meant to be experienced. In a 2018 interview with Variety, he suggested that films released primarily on streaming platforms should be treated differently from theatrical releases. “Once you commit to a television format, you're a TV movie,” he said at the time. “If it's a good show, you deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar.”
The conversation also touched on his upcoming film Disclosure Day, which is set to release in the United States on June 11. Spielberg said the idea for the project came after renewed public interest in government discussions about unidentified aerial phenomena, which eventually led him to develop a detailed story treatment before bringing in screenwriter David Koepp.
The film features a star-studded cast including O’Connor as a cybersecurity whistleblower, Emily Blunt as a meteorologist, Colin Firth as a corporate executive, and Colman Domingo as a leader in a disclosure movement centered around unexplained aerial activity.
Reflecting on the possibility of public confirmation of alien life, Spielberg said reactions would likely be deeply divided. He suggested that while some people would adjust easily, others could experience what he described as a major psychological disruption to their understanding of reality.
