Sean Baker Urges Filmmakers to Protect Theatrical Releases After Netflix–Warner Bros. Deal
Acclaimed director Sean Baker, who made Oscars history earlier this year with Anora, has weighed in on the landmark Netflix–Warner Bros. acquisition, urging filmmakers to take a stand in preserving the theatrical experience. Speaking at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where he serves as head of the international jury, Baker called on the industry to “put our foot down” against shrinking theatrical windows.
Baker on the Netflix–Warner Bros. Merger
The filmmaker responded to the recently announced deal that will see Netflix acquire Warner Bros., including its film and TV divisions, HBO, HBO Max, and the company’s gaming arm. While Baker said it’s still too early to judge the outcome, he emphasized the importance of defending cinema’s traditional release model.
“We should not be reducing theatrical windows — we should be expanding them,” Baker said. “This is how the filmmaker wants you to see their film. Everybody else can wait for it.”
He added that he plans to insist on at least a 100-day theatrical window for his next project. “That’s just over three months, and I think that’s a good place to start. When you go directly to streaming, it diminishes the importance of a film. The theatrical experience elevates it.”
A Message of Hope for Theaters
Despite industry fears about declining theater attendance, Baker remains optimistic — particularly about younger audiences.
“The biggest audience for Anora was Gen Z,” he said. “There’s this perception that young people don’t go to theaters, but that’s not true. In L.A., when I go to the movies, it’s usually Gen Z. They see the value in the communal experience — focusing on a film without distractions.”
No Interest in $150 Million Studio Films
Following Anora’s unprecedented success — where Baker became the first filmmaker to win four Oscars in one night for the same movie — studios have reportedly flooded him with offers. But the director insists he has no plans to pursue blockbuster-scale projects.
“I’m not going for the next $150 million studio thing,” he said. “With Anora, I worked with a small, passionate team that believed in a guerrilla-style approach to filmmaking. The outcome was incredible — why not try to repeat that?”
He confirmed that his next film will be similar in scope and tone to Anora, focusing on grounded stories that “stay in the same wheelhouse in terms of content.”
Reflecting on His Historic Oscar Wins
Baker admitted he only recently had time to process Anora’s record-breaking awards sweep. Within 36 hours of Oscar night, he and his producing partner and wife, Samantha Kwan, were traveling to Tokyo for the film’s Japanese release, followed by the Cannes premiere of Left-Handed Girl, a film he co-wrote, edited, and produced.
“There was no slowing down,” Baker said. “When the Palme d’Or happened, that was my dream come true. I thought that was it. But my friends texted me saying, ‘Get ready for the next eight months — it’s going to be crazy.’”
Supporting Emerging Voices
As jury head at the Red Sea Film Festival, Baker said he’s passionate about supporting independent filmmakers and helping new voices find international recognition.
“Independent film is a struggle,” he said. “My life was basically saved when I won cash awards back in the day — they don’t exist much in the U.S. anymore. That’s why I love that this festival gives real prizes, up to $100,000. I know how life-changing that can be.”
He concluded that his goal in Jeddah is to “elevate new filmmakers” in the Arab region and beyond.
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