There once was a time when the lines at the theatre were long, seats were full, and the audience witnessed magic.
The true cinematic experience is one that we lost since the start of COVID-19. But that is when the streaming services got the most hype.
Hollywood was full of curated production houses that delivered great experiences in theatre.
That’s when streaming services like Netflix decided to jump into the world of production and streaming some major hits.
We’ve seen many productions like Netflix’s Birdbox, Marvel’s The Defenders and they have swept the places and needs of cinemas.
Here, we will talk about some of the reasons why streaming apps have commenced the downfall of the cinema world.
Convenience over Cinematic Experience
It is a fact that people opt for instant gratification, be it any aspect of life.
Whenever people plan to go to cinema theatres, they prepared themselves for long traffics, no breaks between movies, and expensive popcorn purchases. Netflix abolishes all that struggle.
With its instant access and features, there feels no need to go to the cinema. It is still arguable that a true cinema experience can never be replaced by a streaming service.
Steven Spielberg, the award-winning director of Schindler’s List & Jurassic Park, once said “there’s nothing like going to a big dark theatre with people you’ve never met before and having the experience wash over you”.
Variety of Options
If you’ve ever found yourself regretting the ticket purchase just halfway into the movie, you know there’s no turning back.
In theatres, you pay for the movie you watch. Netflix feeds that regret feeling with options of variety.
In just a few taps, you can switch from one movie to another. If you are using a VPN or proxy service, you can even unblock content not available in your region.
One psychological reason why this spells trouble for cinemas is that most movies require a certain amount of time before they get the audience riled up and excited.
This is the case with many of TV’s best choices. But if the user gets bored too early, the person may not feel the urge to complete the series or movie.
Two fine examples of this scenario are Breaking Bad and The Office. They both were acclaimed to be ‘slow’ in the first season, but they gained the highest viewership afterward.
Sometimes, it is the movie’s credentials that keep the audience awaiting till the climax. This is how Netflix takes advantage of your binge-watching nature.
The point is, giving a variety of options is good in terms of marketing, but will badly affect the user’s interest.
Price
Before 2020, there was the struggle of sneaking snacks inside the theatre, to avoid paying for overpriced popcorns.
Not to mention the travel cost to, and back from, the theatre and the ticket price. All this got reduced to a monthly payment thanks to Netflix.
Netflix travels with you on your devices and gives the user the cheaper form of theatre. Not to mention, many upcoming releases are on Netflix, and you’re not stuck watching old movies.
Netflix saves us the trouble of buying tickets to every upcoming release. Of course, some movies are exclusively released for cinema, but they make their way into a streaming site one way or another.
Experience
To be honest, COVID-19 has divided the world and has taught a lot of people about enjoying solitude.
The cinema experience, which was the blasting speakers, the big comfy chairs, the big screen, the 3D glasses, is not something one can experience in Netflix. Somehow, people are okay with it.
The Netflix experience can be that the person chills with family and friends on their couches/beds. It sounds comforting but it is not comparable to the theatre.
A horror movie on Netflix vs. in cinema has a far different effect. Recently, there has been the development of many drive-in cinemas across the world.
This would give an unparalleled experience and revive the cinema lovers.
Conclusion
Streaming sites are paving the way for a future that is comfortable, relaxing, and convenient. However, it should not be perceived as a threat to the cinema.
The cinema industry has started taking lessons from Streaming sites and is implementing them.
One initiative was taken by Regal Cinema that enabled monthly memberships at the theatre.
The membership would offer access to more than 500+ cinema locations, including birthday discounts, promotions, and concessions.
This is an example of how one can learn from the rise of streaming apps and adapt accordingly.
