The fate of the big screen in the streaming era
As streaming services become more dominant, the age-old ritual of going to the movies faces a new level of uncertainty. Many are questioning whether the days of sitting in a crowded theater are numbered. While some say the magic of the big screen will never die, others believe we’re witnessing the end of an era. I had the chance to ask a student and professor to hear their thoughts. We’ll explore both sides of the debate and ask— is the cinema experience truly dying, or just evolving?
In the last decade, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max have revolutionized how people consume films. With the pandemic intensifying at-home viewing habits, the convenience and affordability of streaming led many viewers to reconsider their need for theaters. NECC Film Studies Professor Alex Bordino says, “Since the pandemic, I don’t really think that the movie industry has rebounded. It rebounded a little bit but not enough and that’s a little disconcerting because I think 2023 was a great year for movies, there were a lot of really great films that came out last year.”
The University of Michigan wrote an article talking about streaming services titled, “The Rise and Fall of Streaming TV?” in which they said, “In 2015, around 50% of U.S. households held subscriptions to streaming services. This number has only seen growth and in 2023, 83% of households owned a subscription to one or more of the major streaming providers,” while theater attendance, despite some rebound in 2023, remains below pre-pandemic levels. Theaters will always have an edge in terms of spectacle, but convenience has changed the game. Why spend $20-50 to watch a movie, (and even for families a normal movie night out is close to $100), when you can wait for the movie to come out and/or find something as good to watch on the services you already pay for?
Theaters are responding to the streaming competition with initiatives to enhance the theater-going experience. Some, like AMC Theatres, have experimented with subscription models, offering up to 3 movies a week for a monthly fee of around $25, which if you even go just twice a month you get your money’s worth. There is still a feeling of magic to be experienced on the big screen, and having a subscription like AMC Stubs is great to be able to afford and be able to still get that experience. Unfortunately, as much as this is an amazing deal for movie lovers, a lot of casual people would never pay another subscription as they already tend to stay away from the theaters unless a blockbuster movie is out.
I don’t think movie theaters invite human interaction like they used to.
-Lucas Bermudez
Independent theaters, meanwhile, often cater to niche audiences, offering special screenings, themed nights, and Q&A events with filmmakers. This personalized approach appeals to movie lovers looking for more than just a standard blockbuster viewing. People really still want the shared experience, and if more theaters could adapt this and make going to see a movie more of a big event, it would not only increase the amount of revenue they rake in but would make even casual movie fans to want to go out of the way to experience the movie a different way.
While it’s undeniable that streaming poses a challenge, the movie theater industry is not giving up without a fight. Rolando Rodriguez, former chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners said, “Most newly built locations will range between 12 and 16 screens and those with larger, preexisting footprints will look to repurpose some space for supplementary activities for moviegoers, like arcades, bowling alleys or bars,” according to the University of Michigan study. Movie theater operators are investing in better technology as well as premium concessions, and again the subscription to theaters like AMC make it so that you can enjoy more movie experiences for a better price.
NECC student Lucas Bermudez says, “I don’t think movie theaters invite human interaction like they used to. I remember Showcase Cinemas in Revere used to have the sprawling open space, and even if you weren’t talking to people, you were always around a bunch of people and that was just a good feeling. AMC Assembly Row just now made it so that you have to buy the tickets and everything is kind of open with the snacks and that felt like a dream for me.”
The question of whether theaters are dying might be premature. Instead, the industry may be on the cusp of a reinvention. Theaters aren’t just battling streaming services—they’re adapting to a new world of media consumption. The future of cinema may lie in its ability to blend the best of both worlds, keeping the magic of the big screen alive for generations to come.
