Steven Spielberg, the Oscar-winning filmmaker, has responded to Timothée Chalamet's controversial remarks comparing moviegoing to opera and ballet. During a panel at the 2026 SXSW Conference and Festival, Spielberg mentioned the importance of moviegoing and the universal unity of feelings that occur in both art forms. He also encouraged the use of ballet and opera in movies and concerts. Many members of the entertainment industry have publicly objected to Chalamelet's comments, including ballet stars Misty Copeland and Tiler Peck, opera singers Andrea Bocelli and Isabelle Leonard, and the Metropolitan Opera itself.