Steven Spielberg referenced Timothée Chalamet’s comments about ballet and opera during SXSW 2026 last Friday (13), during a panel with writer Sean Fennessey.
It all began when the 30-year-old actor appeared at the CNN & Variety Town Hall Event alongside veteran Matthew McConaughey at the end of February. On that occasion, the two were discussing the film industry.
Citing Frankenstein, released by Netflix, as a “serious film” that can succeed, Chalamet expressed his belief that audiences “want to be entertained—and quickly.”
“I’m right in the middle, Matthew. Because I admire people—and I’ve done it myself—[who] go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we have to keep movie theaters alive.’ You know: ‘We have to keep this genre alive,’” he said.
“And another part of me feels that if people want to see it—like Barbie, like Oppenheimer—they’ll go see it, go out of their way, and be loud and proud about it.”
“And I don’t want to work in ballet or opera, or in things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive.’ Even if it’s like, nobody cares about it anymore. With all due respect to the ballet and opera folks out there. I just lost 14 cents in audience,” Chalamet stated.
That comment was subtly jabbed at by Spielberg, who, in a broader reflection on the theatrical experience, noted: “Netflix is a great company to work with, but the real experience comes when we can influence a community to gather together in a strange, dark space.”
“It happens in movies. It happens at concerts. And it happens in ballet and opera, by the way. We want that to be sustained. We want that to last forever,” he added.
Audience members applauded Spielberg’s remarks in a clear recognition that he was referring to the Call Me By Your Name actor.
Although Chalamet’s comments seemed primarily driven by concerns about “mainstream” appeal and the financial longevity of cinema, his remarks were widely criticized as a dig at the value and quality of the performing arts, prompting backlash from artists and ballet and opera companies, as well as enthusiasts of both disciplines.
Last Sunday (15), during the 2026 Oscars ceremony, Spielberg and Chalamet nearly came face to face following the director’s sharp comment. On the red carpet, Spielberg was heading into the theater with his granddaughter, Eve Gavigan, when Chalamet nearly brushed shoulders with them as he was being escorted inside.
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Photo and video: Creative Commons / X @jadabird. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
Steven Spielberg throwing shade at Timothée Chalamet, praising a kind of communal experience that only happens in a dark theater. “It happens in movies, it happens at concerts, and it happens in BALLET AND OPERA” #SXSW2026 pic.twitter.com/UVyOPBv9vO
— Jada Yuan (@jadabird) March 13, 2026
