Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Slammed for Bragging That His Son Watched ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on His Phone: ‘Actually Made My Skin Crawl’
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos found both his business instincts and his parenting called into question over the weekend after admitting in a new interview that his son, who is a film editor himself, watched “Lawrence of Arabia” for the first time on his phone. For one specific film fan, the admission “made my skin crawl.”
In a new interview with The New York Times, Sarandos maintained that Barbenheimer, the name affectionately bestowed upon the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” double feature of last summer, would’ve done just as well had the films been released on Netflix rather than in theaters.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that certain kinds of movies do or don’t work. There’s no reason to believe that the movie itself is better in any size of screen for all people,” he said. “My son’s an editor. He is 28 years old, and he watched ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on his phone.”
The admission prompted both outrage and mockery, as fans of “Lawrence of Arabia” quickly decried the idea of watching David Lean’s epic masterpiece (which is presented in ultra-wide 2:20:1 aspect ratio) anywhere but on a big screen.
“I tried to watch it three times at home and never finished it. I was always tempted to pull out my phone or my roommates were playing music so I’d turn it off,” one person wrote. “I saw it in 70mm at my local theater and it was INCREDIBLE.”
Similarly, another fan argued that “seeing a 70mm print of this film in a theater singlehandedly changed my relationship with movies.”
Lawrence Of Arabia is the PERFECT film to talk about this.
I tried to watch it three times at home and never finished it. I was always tempted to pull out my phone or my roommates were playing music so I'd turn it off.
I saw it in 70mm at my local theater and it was INCREDIBLE. https://t.co/NsoGPkF3cL— Mia Moore (@StopTweetingMia) May 26, 2024
Please don't watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on your phone, tablet or TV. Seeing a 70mm print of this film in a theater singlehandedly changed my relationship with movies. https://t.co/dT4JmM3QPy pic.twitter.com/VC7ATY4KuK
— Glen Lakin (@iwritewrongs) May 26, 2024
Others argued that watching the film on a small screen is fine, but that realistically, a film like “Lawrence of Arabia” wouldn’t even be made for streaming.
“This man’s bad-faith BS is going to give me a heart attack. Yes, you can watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on a TV or a phone and still enjoy it,” another user wrote. “But in a world without theaters, NOBODY MAKES LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.”
This man’s bad-faith BS is going to give me a heart attack. Yes, you can watch LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on a TV or a phone and still enjoy it. But in a world without theaters, NOBODY MAKES LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. https://t.co/C2VNprcDmL
— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) May 26, 2024
Mostly, the admission drew mockery. One person even translated the statement as “I’m wrong. But don’t worry I raised my son wrong too.”
“I’m wrong. But don’t worry I raised my son wrong too.” https://t.co/9qzmOfWBeM
— Coy Jandreau (@CoyJandreau) May 26, 2024
"My sons an editor; he watched Lawrence of Arabia on his phone" is not the point you think it is https://t.co/HwWFuO6tTp
— Lizzie Logan (@lizzzzzielogan) May 26, 2024
As someone who wrote her Master's thesis on Lawrence of Arabia, I can confirm that watching it on your phone comes with a jail sentence. https://t.co/Gr7jFx1MNy
— Kayleigh Donaldson (@Ceilidhann) May 26, 2024
You can see more reactions to Sarandos’ sentiments below.
“He watched Lawrence of Arabia on his phone” actually made my skin crawl. https://t.co/nSb4p3fKiC
— Erick Lorinc
(@ErickLorinc) May 26, 2024
watching LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on your phone? that’s disturbing to my spirit. https://t.co/Kl5cHy5tPQ
— jourdain searles (@judysquirrels) May 26, 2024
this is how I watched Lawrence of Arabia https://t.co/d92wIcUa1k pic.twitter.com/A6HT6KYA0x
— sequel guy 2: revenge of sequel guy (@TubiDefender) May 27, 2024
“My son’s an editor, he watched ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on his phone” is about the saddest thing I’ve read in a while. https://t.co/ujpsbT1wHX
— Stacey Russell (she/her) (@staceycrussell) May 26, 2024
Great movies are great movies in whatever format you are able to find them but I think we can all agree that some billionaire’s son watching LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on his phone is just trying to be an asshole. https://t.co/oIZluuEKx2
— Sean Burns (@SeanMBurns) May 26, 2024
The post Netflix’s Ted Sarandos Slammed for Bragging That His Son Watched ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on His Phone: ‘Actually Made My Skin Crawl’ appeared first on TheWrap.