The Problem with Streaming
Going to the movies has been a staple of postmodern culture for the past fifty years. It’s been the go to for families on the weekend, couples on their first dates, and friends looking for a good time. But with the innovation of video streaming services, many audiences are staying home in lieu of spending time at the theater. Although this alternative is cost effective and has the benefit of ease, so much is lost when the screen becomes small, and the audience smaller still.
The trend doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon either. Since 2009, video streaming has grown exponentially from being in only 10% of houses in america, to 55%. On the other side, theater attendance has slightly dipped from 1.4 billion to 1.2 within this time frame. But I don’t think the theater experience is going anywhere anytime soon. Erik Henriksen from The Stranger agrees, noting that big budget films will always have an audience on the big screen, he says “unless you've spent thousands of dollars on a home theater, these are the kind of stories with images brighter and bigger than your TV can offer, with sounds too complex or booming to be delivered via laptop speakers”.
Roma is a prime example of this. A seemingly unassuming drab foreign film on Netflix that explodes onto the screen with incredible long takes, sweeping controlled shots, and grand wide shots with hundreds of extras. Roma went on to win three academy awards, despite only playing in a handful of independent theaters alongside it’s Netflix debut.
However, North American’s income isn’t a disposable well, and with many of these streaming services siphoning off entertainment budget’s of the average viewer, justifying a ticket purchase becomes harder. However, a Variety article also suggests that measures are being taken to accommodate the growing cost of these streaming services. Many are joining the ‘cord-cutting’ phenomenon, cutting their cable packages in lieu of the endless content found online. Maybe there’s room for big, and small screens all the same?
The audience factor is unavoidable however. Bigger audiences will always ganner a bigger reaction. Films I’ve seen with family and friends have always left a lasting impression on me, from my thoughts, to conversations the rest of the week. The reverse of this however, is the films I choose to watch alone. Everyone has their preferences, and it’s my prerogative to not will these preferences on anyone else. Genre bending French horror films aren’t for everyone, and I shouldn’t expect them to be. It’s in times like these I’m glad to be alone with my laptop, or occupying a single seat in a matinee showing.
Whether you’re a cord cutter, online streaming, or theater patron, the fact that we still gravitate towards an escapist source of entertainment such as movies is comforting. No matter the time, day, or weather; good films will always be available to those who want to see them. So go out there, watch your favorite directors on whichever screen you please, because as long as we’re engaging with and supporting their art, it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
Really nicely written, Brad. I most definitely agree with you on this topic. I've always liked going out to the movies rather than choosing to watch it at home. It's the overall experience and the takeaway you get from it. While it's obviously cheaper to stream a movie for free from the comfort of your own home, or have a Netflix subscription for a small charge per month, there's something nostalgic about going to the theatre.
ReplyDeleteHey Brad,
ReplyDeleteThis was a really thought provoking article and made me think about what it is that keeps people attending the theatre when there is such a huge plethora of streaming services available in the home.
I think what it comes down to ultimately, is that movies are available much sooner in the theatre than they are via other outlets. However , I have a suspicion that this will one day change. In the early 2000's people used illegal services like Napster to download music, not because it was free, but as Steve Jobs demonstrated with the success of ITunes, because there were no legal services available. We see the same trend happening today with video. There are numerous sites on the web run by unscrupulous owners who host all the latest movies for free. When and if a paid service becomes available to stream the latest movies online, I suspect users will be willing to pay a premium considerably higher than a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription.
This was an awesome article. Personally I love going to the movie theatre and find the experience much different and greater then streaming it at home. I enjoy having the experience with other people and being able to talk about it afterwords as well. I also enjoy how in the movie theatre you're not allowed your phone, or to speak loudly which makes for a much more immersive experience. Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteGreat article Brad! I myself still enjoy going to the theatre for specific movies that wouldn’t be done justice on my 22” TV at home. I recently saw the new Captain Marvel movie with a couple friends at the Odeon downtown and it was a topic of conversation for the rest of the week. Although these theatre trips are fun outings, I tend to limit them due to the price. This is why I stick to Netflix because for the price of one movie I can watch endless shows and movies. The one drawback is that you lose the immersive experience of being in a movie theatre with a bigger screen, reclining seats, and better sounds. I still believe that theatres will be around for a long time but in order to remain competitive they may want to lower their prices.
ReplyDeleteGreat article! I totally agree with you in that while I love being able to watch movies at home via streaming services, there's nothing better than seeing a movie in the way it's intended to be seen - on the big screen. Get Out was one of my favourite movies of 2017, and while it's still very enjoyable when watching at home, the movie was so much more enjoyable when experiencing it alongside a crowd who hoots and hollers and screams at every scare. I definitely don't have the money to be going to the theaters for every new movie release though and I have to make sure I pick good movies to see in theater, so I am grateful that there are more options.
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