Anyone think streaming services should replace the theaters?

[KeinanX]

Ok so I think streaming services like Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Hulu are great for watching whatever it is you're looking for, but as for the theaters, ever since covid happened it's been far from the same, I mean as of now the theaters have picked up a little momentum with titles like The Batman, Dr strange, Lightyear, Sonic 2, Death at the Nile and much more, but you know what's funny? You instantly get some of those movies about a month or so after release on streaming services, like the Batman being HBO Max not to long after it's premiere, the same for Black widow (Even though I heard it was sh*t) point is streaming services are the future of newly released Cinema, why travel all the way to your local theater (If it is near that is) when you can sit home with your friends and family, order the movie and watch it day one on services like Netflix and etc, plus no worries of tickets being sold out!

[Stargazer31]

I don't think streaming services will replace the cinema. There's a beauty to 20s-style cinemas that no streaming service can replace, and the physical action of going out makes watching a film a social thing. Streaming services are convenient, but I don't want to ever say goodbye to cinemas.

[Legendofgenii]

In my city there is only one cinema left. I tend to go see the blockbusters at the movies (will definitely go watch Avatar 2 there), but other genres I'll just wait a month or so longer and watch/rent it at home on streaming services.

It's an expensive day out (at least here in the UK) at the cinema, so the movie needs to be amazing to justify going really.

[KeinanX]

Admittingly I do have a soft spot for the cinema especially back in the early 2000s, but the way things are going I wouldn't be surprised if the cinemas became obsolete like TV.

[ar-ninetysix]

Nah.. I'd be depressed as hell if that actually happened.

Truth be told, I've been going to the theaters more often now compared to before the pandemic. As convenient as it is to just watch stuff at home, I'd never get that experience of watching with a crowd that's equally as invested, and there's also the immersion factor of having a massive screen take up your vision and sound taking up your hearing. I don't have a massive TV, and I definitely don't have a surround sound system and speakers so like.. if I can spend a little on a ticket to get both? Why not?

There's just something about that communal experience of a bunch of strangers planning out a night, sitting together in the dark to get away from the world and watch a movie that they've been waiting to see.. idk in some way, that's sorta endearing to me

food and drinks prices can go tho

[KeinanX]

You know now that you mention it, there's also those trailers too, who could forget the trailers, along with the popcorn smell, yeah you guys might have a good point, but like I said before I wouldn't be surprised if later in the future out of some reason, they become obsolete. (Pray for them theaters.)

[Kelheor]

No, absolutely not. Just like movies shouldn't replace the theatre, streaming services shouldn't replace cinemas.
To be frank, I don't visit cinema often, we only go for movies we really want to watch on big screen (like Marvel movies). We went to see Dune in the cinema and I am so glad we did, because when we rewatched it at home it was just not the same, the scenes with Shai Hulud didn't feel as powerful at all and I looooved them on big screen and with that loud cinema sound.
And omg Mad Max Fury Road. We only watched it in cinema once and I am still regretting we didn't get to see it on big screen a few more time, even though it's still fantastic when just watching at home.

[Lensing]

Cinemas are a social thing like going to a concert. It´s already sad that there are not so many cinemas
anymore and I think it would be a big loss.
Next movie I will watch will be the Elvis movie with a couple of rockabilly friends, we´ll meet before and
hang around together after the movie, it will be like going to a party.

But I think streaming services are a good replacement for normal tv channels except the news

[Stargazer31]

I'm looking forward to the Elvis movie too!

[rajillustration]

Depends on the movie, because some movies absolutely don't work on a smaller screen. The theater experience was what the director intended for you, and there have been some movies I watched on the silver screen specifically because it's just a better experience. Like Into the Spiderverse for instance is kind of whatever on a normal TV, but when you see it on a huge screen, you see how the screentone effects really came together. Same with some of the more cinematic adventure movies that have come out like Star Wars or PIxar movies that had a lot of details--you lose all that on a tiny screen and that's a real shame.

Of course the last movie I saw in theaters had the sound all messed up and was a 5 dollar ticket price so I didn't complain. Covid times have done a real number on my local cinema so I've been kind of avoiding it because uh...the theaters broke.

[Lensing]

"because some movies absolutely don't work on a smaller screen" very good point

[Shanny8]

While I agree that I dont feel that streaming should replace movies, I do often a lot cringe when movie studios put all their eggs in the "see exclusively at movie theatres" basket. I have seen a good number of movies at the theater since Covid, but also I've filtered out a lot of stuff that I deemed "I can wait til it hits streaming/blu-ray"

You also have to look at not everyone can afford all these various streaming services...if you go to the movies once or twice a year, that's only anywhere from $24 to $48 depending on if you spend out for popcorn, drinks, & candy- but a streaming service, although cheaper per month ends up costing more annually; factor in that various services only have access to certain movies(Disney gets all the Star Wars/Marvel/Aliens/Predator content, HBO Max gets all the DC/Warner Bros/Matrix/Conjuring [new] content) and to see all the content that you want to see, you're having to get two or more services which is quite costly if you're limited financially.

We're already experiencing this with anime streaming services...

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

why travel all the way to your local theater (If it is near that is) when you can sit home

That sounds like a recipe for making us all become more like hermits than we already are. Why go shopping? Why go out for dinner? Why go anywhere to see anything or anyone? We used to define ourselves (humans) as social animals. Maybe those genes died out.

EDIT: Besides, the theater popcorn always tastes better than home made.

[KeinanX]

I wouldn't go that far, I just think for some people traveling long distances to see a movie can be a pain (especially if it's not good)

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

for some people traveling long distances to see a movie can be a pain

I get that, for folks who live far outside of urban areas but losing a destination for meeting & doing things outside our little hovels would be a pity, I think. YMMV

[Shanny8]

Besides, the theater popcorn always tastes better than home made

MEH. It depends...working at a theater I've learned some of the "tricks" of the trade. Though there is a fresh batch of popcorn popped in the morning, they sometimes mix in last nights leftovers(they put in in a plastic bag, tie it up, and "pepper it" into the next day's batch until its gone).

Some days the popcorn tastes fresh af, and then there's days where the popcorn turns to lead in my stomach- coz it's not so fresh.

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

Could be. There's always so many customers waiting for popcorn when I go there that I think it's always just made. Either way, all-fresh or "watered down", it always seems better & I'll concede that it may be mostly psychological.

[rajillustration]

Oh man my local theater has this popcorn thing where you can put on extra butter oil sauce yourself as if it were like a ketchup pump--so make it as buttery as you want and holy hell it's just the best popcorn. The secret was butter, and I never do it at home haha.

[system]

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