The Future of the Cinema

Over the past decade streaming services have become increasingly popular. Largely forming from the success of Netflix it seems that a new streaming service pops up every several months, housing both TV shows and movies. Whilst Netflix started initially as a dvd rental service, once it branched out to an  internet streaming service it started to produce original content which could not be consumed elsewhere. This was the start of a new movie watching experience. 

Several years after the rise of streaming truly began there are now multiple articles being published and lengthy discussions about the death of the cinema experience which places streaming at the centre of its down fall. Streaming essentially allows the average movie viewer to see a newly released film from the comfort of their homes. This can often be seen as appealing as not only do you not need to travel but the cost of the new movie is covered in a monthly subscription package. Whereas going to the cinema entails one paying far more for a single movie ticket than a subscription fee, which allows you watch dozens of  new releases a month. The cinema also holds the downside of having to spend time, sometimes over an hour, travelling to and from the cinema. So it can easily be seen why the convenience of staying home and watching a film on Netflix can be of more appeal than going to the cinema. 

Initially one could argue that the movies released on streaming services are often not the ones people want to see. Indeed, movies released exclusively on streaming sites often have smaller production values than those which are released in cinemas. Furthermore the biggest blockbusters of the year, those which are often part of  a film series, such as the Marvel movies and James Bond normally are first released in cinemas, encouraging people to go to the cinema or else wait months for a at home release. Of course however such has recently changed due to the pandemic. For example, Marvel released Black Widow on Disney+ with an up charge fee allowing one to view the movie from the comfort of ones home and cutting out any need to travel. If blockbuster movies such as all those produced by Disney were simultaneously released in both the cinema and on streaming services I could see some issues arising for the cinema. However, it does not look like such a fate is on the cards in the near future, as with Marvel's Shang-Chi being released in cinemas three weeks before it was on streaming services and James Bond being pushed back to a later release, indicates that for big movie companies it is far more profitable to release their film in the cinema than straight onto streaming services.  Therefore, if nothing else the cinema will survive because it seems that big film companies are not willing to release their movies on streaming services when they don't have to. Thus people will go to the cinema to see the latest releases to not wait for an at home release. 

Furthermore, I think cinema will also survive because the form of experience it brings. Whilst watching a movie at home is convenient it is often a far worse experience. Most of your time can be spent getting distracted by your phone or by having a conversation with the person next to you. Whereas in the cinema you are restricted by etiquette to do nothing else but watch the movie. Not only does cinema provide the experience of pure movie watching but it also allows you to experience a movie in a way you cannot at home, in a far better quality and on a far larger screen. Indeed, one need only look at sold out showings of classic films at independent cinemas to see the importance that the cinema experience itself holds for some people. As indeed despite one having easy access to movies such as the Shining many would jump at the chance to see it on the big screen. 

It is clear to me that the cinema isn't dying, despite recent discussions claiming it is, rather I think it just has new competition it has not yet faced. Whilst I'm sceptical that all cinemas will survive this influx of streaming services I have no doubt that cinemas in general with survive and remain entertaining people for years to come.