Hello friends how are you all? Today we are going to talk about The Impact Of Streaming Services On The Movie Industry. Streaming services have cemented themselves as top sources of entertainment.
Millions of users worldwide now have access to Netflix and its competitors. Original and existing content keeps them interested in their offerings. The instant availability made things easier for customers but changed the landscape of the movie industry.
Of course, not all changes are necessarily bad. Movie studios and actors still earn from platforms by showing their content. But there are several issues that shape how the industry will look in the foreseeable future.
The Impact Of Streaming Services On The Movie Industry
Lack Of Original Ideas
In the past, film studios carefully tailored each film. Much like a modern essay writing website, they took extra time to ensure the quality of their work. From writing a script to editing the final cut, it took a film several years to be finished. Decorations, costumes, lighting, and locations, had to fit perfectly. In the 1980s and 1990s, this attitude led to great film franchises, including:
- Jurassic Park
- Terminator
- The Matrix
- Toy Story
While some of them have deteriorated over the years, others still shine to this day. Their creators dared to make something new and push the boundaries of what’s possible. This was achieved through creative and practical means.
Even the early to late 2000s saw the release of critically acclaimed pictures. People still talk about No Country For Old Men, The Gladiator, and There Will Be Blood. The rise of streaming platforms changed the course of the movie industry to a safer and more profitable route.
Overuse of Old Franchises
The reach and the revenue race took some of the originality out of the movie industry. Several film franchises have become stale and predictable over the years. But, they remained a huge source of income for platforms and movie studios. Both parties feel there’s no need to invent something new if old ideas still work.
This quantity-over-quality approach caused a serious drop in box office results. People began to lose interest in new Marvel or Disney projects. The comics giant seems to push out a new show and movie almost every month to a dwindling audience. The likes of She-Hulk, Inhumans, and Iron Fist failed to meet the desired viewership numbers.
Disney also struggles to find an audience for its Disney+ service. In the last quarter of 2022, almost 4 million paid subscribers parted ways with the platform. That’s despite the solid run of such series as “The Mandalorian” and “Andor,” both Star Wars entities. There seems to be a clear desire for original content corporations fail to address.
Oversaturated Market
The rise of streaming platforms made the competition between movie studios even more combative. Viewers are always looking for something new, so it’s vital to release new content to keep them interested. Every month the platforms add dozens of new titles to their catalogs. The audience often can’t keep up with this volume of content.
In March alone, Netflix added hundreds of new shows and films for its customers to enjoy. That’s not even taking the vast libraries of Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, and other platforms into account. There’s too much competition and not enough audience to cover it. This trend puts many good shows at risk of being canceled, despite having great reviews.
This barrage of content also makes it harder for small-budget and independent movies to make a dent in the market. They often get buried under old and new high-cost titles that are being thrown at viewers.
Content-Tired Audience
In the past, movies were events audiences looked forward to attending. They booked tickets in advance and waited in huge lines just to see the next film starring their favorite actor. After watching the picture, they had time to appreciate and process what they’d seen. It also placed most of the population in a shared cultural moment.
This is no longer true with the current streaming landscape. Netflix alone has over 17,000 titles in its library. There’s no way a single person can watch all of them in their lifetime. This leads to a more segmented audience with its own tastes and interests. The scale is so big that two Netflix users may not name a single series they both watched.
The Decline Of The Movie Star
Back in the day, studios treated famous actors like rock stars. Having the likes of Clooney, Stallone, or Pitt would almost certainly guarantee the success of a film. Nowadays, they’re no longer tied to major productions or movie studios. This allows more creative and financial freedom. For example, Pedro Pascal appeared on:
- Disney’s The Mandalorian
- HBO’s Game Of Thrones
- HBO’s The Last of Us
- Netflix’s Narcos
On the one hand, it gives actors more say in the projects they wish to pursue. They are free to work on several series at a time. On the other hand, movie studios can no longer use their status to bring in crowds. The lack of classical stardom doesn’t keep actors from having large fanbases. Just look at any convention that hosts them.
Extinction of Movie Theaters
Movie theaters used to be the only place where people could catch a new flick. Of course, it soon changed with the advent of television and individual video carriers. Still, people had to leave their homes to buy physical copies of films. The rise of streaming platforms and the last pandemic all but wiped out the movie theater scene.
In the past couple of years, over 2000 movie theaters have closed forever in the US. Today most people watch movies and series from the comfort of their homes. While convenient, this development decreased box office numbers. While damaging to movie theaters, it opened up new income streams for the companies.
Conclusion
The advent of streaming platforms has irreversibly changed the movie industry landscape. While people welcome the wide choice of content, big studios struggle to keep up with the competition. Time will tell if these platforms end the content race and return to more thoughtful and well-produced movies. Hope you enjoy reading our article The Impact Of Streaming Services On The Movie Industry 2024.
