Thoughts on Theaters and Streaming: What’s the Best Way to Watch Content?

Back with another episode of One Moore Hollywood Podcast, this one discusses the advantages and disadvantages of watching films in theaters or at home via streaming services. 

Our hosts, Chris Moore, Katie Marpe, and Dennis De Nobile, all have differing opinions. Let’s hear what they have to say.

The Introduction of Streaming

While home viewing has been an option since VHS tapes were introduced to the world, the development and subsequent popularity of streaming have exponentially increased the ability and temptation to watch what you want on your couch versus going to the theater. The amount of new content available now, at the click of a button, vastly outweighs that of the past, when the choice would be between seeing one of four movies in theaters or popping into the local Blockbuster to rent an old film. 

The advancement of COVID-19 put further strain on the theaters by forcing everyone to remain home for a year. Now Hollywood is trying to figure out the best strategy for film releases, whether through movie theaters, direct-to-streaming, or a combination of the two.

Many people have embraced the technological advancement of streaming; some lament it, while others want streaming and theater-going to exist in harmony.

Do People Still Like Going to Theaters?

Marpe, a self-declared theater person, likes to stream movies at home, but at the end of the day, wholeheartedly loves the routine of going to the movies on a Friday night. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I stream a lot of movies, but I’m definitely a theater person.”

–Katie Marpe

For Marpe and her friends, the tradition has stayed the same over the years, even with the interruption of the pandemic. Once she felt safe returning to the theater, she and her friends went right back.

“I have very little trust that people won’t ruin the experience…watching [a movie] in a theater and having all those people around you can be a blessing and a curse.”

–Dennis De Nobile

Going to the theater was a beloved pastime for De Nobile, but it's gotten stale for him over the years. The experience he wants out of a film is often at odds with the crowd’s antics, inserting their emotions and reactions into his viewing experience. Watching movies at home allows him to curate the experience in a way he can't when surrounded by people at a theater.

“For me, anywhere and anytime I can get a good story, I’m psyched.”

–Chris Moore

Moore is reluctant to choose a side. While he believes the technological advancement of streaming has been incredibly valuable in allowing people to watch stories wherever they are at whatever time, he also wants theaters to survive. In contrast to Marpe’s experience, Moore has noticed a significant drop in interest in going to the theater among his family and friends over the past five years. Whereas he used to go a couple of times a week, these days, he rarely does.

Straight to Theaters or Straight to Streaming?

Since 'straight-to-DVD,' there's been a stigma associated with films bypassing their stint in a theater and going right to home video. The extravagant costs of marketing a theater release mean this notion isn't entirely justified–many independent films don't have access to that option, and it has nothing to do with their quality.

Netflix combated the stereotype in 2019 by premiering Martin Scorcese’s star-studded film ‘The Irishman’ on their service. Interestingly, the esteemed director himself has stated that cinema has been ‘devalued’ by streaming. 

Marpe, whose dissertation focused on streaming and streaming's effect on independent films, has debated whether streaming has devalued cinema. In many ways, it has allowed independent film companies more options for distribution, giving them the ability to get their films out in public. On the flip side, the monetary discrepancy of seeing a movie in theaters vs. at home means that the films on streaming aren’t making nearly as much money. Additionally, as Moore points out, more availability doesn't necessarily mean more views. 

"Just being available doesn't mean anyone sees it…word of mouth and marketing is important…there's just too much [content], and we haven't figured out how to make the fact that it’s available move people to watch it."

–Chris Moore

The truth is, as much content as these streaming services have on them at once, likely only a fraction of it gets watched significantly, leaving new content mostly unseen or forgotten. Since streaming services don't share viewing numbers publicly, knowing the exact number of views is impossible. 

As theaters continue to heal after the pandemic, the coming year will tell us more about how much people still like going to the theaters. After the massive Barbenheimer weekend last month, it’s looking pretty hopeful.

Listen to the entire episode here: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or iHeartRadio.