Netflix’s Bela Bajaria Believes ‘Oppenheimer’ Would Have Had the Same Impact as a Netflix Original

In a recent interview, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria stood by the company’s decision to focus on streaming over theatrical releases.

When the conversation turned to the impact of films like Oppenheimer, Bajaria argued that a Netflix version of the movie would still have made a huge impact, with millions watching it.

While Netflix has succeeded in pulling in huge viewing numbers, the conversation often turns to the cultural impact of its movies.

Unlike its popular shows like Squid Game, Bridgerton, or Stranger Things, many of Netflix’s big-budget movies seem to fade into obscurity. Take Red Notice, the platform’s most-watched film ever. Despite racking up 230 million views, it hasn’t sparked much conversation or cultural relevance.

Bajaria insisted that a filmmaker’s goal should be getting their work seen by a huge audience, and Netflix provides that opportunity. Some filmmakers, like David Fincher, have praised Netflix’s platform, even calling it the ‘future of cinema’.

But Quentin Tarantino disagreed, pointing out that big-budget Netflix films featuring stars like Ryan Reynolds don’t seem to stick in people’s minds. Tarantino highlighted that, despite the big numbers, movies like Red Notice fail to make any lasting impact.

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