Cinema has changed the world forever, and many films fans are undoubtedly grateful for the impact it has had since its inception. Even when they had no sound or colour, audiences were still being amazed by stories told through the medium and the pure skill of the actors that made this possible. Today, cinema is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world and it is not showing signs of declining, despite the recent pandemic that managed to stop the production of many films across the world. Despite the strength of the industry though, there is a clear problem facing cinema that may have consequences for everyone.
In the past, the problem with cinema used to be piracy. Many will remember the countless advertisements that arose in the 00’s that encouraged people not to pirate films and warned them of the danger of doing so. While this was a problem at this time, it might pale in comparison to what the industry is facing at the moment. Streaming is a service that allows people to watch films on a multitude of devices, which means that they do not have to go to the cinema alone to watch films anymore. All of it is possible from home now, thanks to streaming services like Netflix. This would have been useful during the recent pandemic as people were searching for ways to pass the time. Activities like online gambling, more about sports betting in Tennessee is available, would have been done, but streaming arguably remains as the most popular activity during this time.
It must be said that going to the cinema is an unbeatable experience. Especially when it comes to the opening night of a popular series; the theatre is always packed with like-minded fans that are all excited as each other. Apart from this though, it is easy to see why more people are beginning to use streaming as a way of getting their film time in. This is because the form offers film lovers more convenience when compared to going to the cinema. This can be seen through no travel time, an increased range of options, and the ability to pause and rewind. All these benefits are simply not present when it comes to cinema, and the industry will need to make changes that make these benefits seem less attractive in comparison.
This is not to say that streaming does not have its downfalls either though. While the cost of going to the cinema can often prove extortionate through ticket, travel, and snacks costs, the same can be true for opting for the streaming approach. This is because there is usually a monthly reoccurring cost, and people will often need more than one service in their repertoire if they want the greatest number of films possible. New films are typically only released in cinemas too, meaning that people will still need to go to their local theatre to see new releases, though this is changing as some studios opt for a ‘hybrid release’ on both platforms.
Streaming is a clear problem that the film industry will need to overcome, by either changing its model or following in the footsteps of the pioneer studios that are releasing new films onto certain services. Whatever happens, audiences can expect good things from this competition as it forced both platforms to stay sharp.