by Andy Slater
Watch from home right away
What changed the most is the fact that now anyone can watch anything from home. Even movies that had their theatrical releases just a week ago – can be available on demand right after its premiere. And we’re not talking about these recorded clips out of hiding with poor quality and shaking screens. We’re talking about 4K quality movies with a bunch of available subtitles one can access with just a click of a button. The thing that Theatrical Releases are competing with is comfort, and it is hard to compete with.
And what is interesting, the movies that are low- to mid-tier budgets that weren’t meant for a massive box office are usually the ones that are streamed or available on-demand almost immediately after the release. The more high-profile and big-budget the film is, it is more likely to not be available on-demand until the theaters won’t stop profiting from it.
How live-streaming is changing the entertainment industry
We have already touched upon the streaming technology which makes Netflix so popular and because of that is being widely adopted by other sectors of the entertainment industry. For example – online casino providers offer a variety of live formats, which thanks to live-streaming, allow players to play against a real dealer in real-time. Because of that, the whole experience is more immersive. Gambling enthusiasts do not have to leave their homes – they can play from the comfort of their own couch. They can choose from a variety of available casinos – such as casino NetBet – and play whenever they want from wherever they want. Live-streaming is truly changing how the sector is operating – online casinos often offer greater bonuses and rewards than the traditional ones due to lower expenses.
Classic or new release – Netflix have you covered
What is great about Netflix is that they not only are releasing its own movies and TV series but as well as streaming the newest Hollywood production – they also stream classics. If the movie was released, let’s say in 1998 like the movie Croupier which was a hit in the USA, there is little to no chance that we would be able to watch it in theaters in 1999, 2000 or… 2022! But thanks to Netflix, it is now possible to watch these films. We can enjoy this late ’90s noir film, starring Clive Owen, from the comfort of our couch. Travel back in time and have a unique insight into the casino’s world back then – placing him right in the middle of the game, between the house and the gamblers.
It’s all about the money
Netflix got us used to having any film we want, where we want it, and how many times we want it, almost for free – or it feels like free. The platform users only pay once a month and usually, the payment is automatic via a card, and the fee itself is not high – sometimes it’s even cheaper than a single movie ticket! And mind you, you only pay once for an unlimited amount of movies and TV series. And the snacks – at home, they are also basically free. You don’t have to wait in line to get them.
When it pays off for the viewers, it does not pay off for the studios – not even close. Especially opening a blockbuster at a cinema. In 2021 the best-selling movie in theaters was Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has made a whopping $573 million at the US Box Office alone. So the stakes are really high, but there are fewer and fewer theaters around, and the studios are making tough decisions on what movies should be deleted or even canceled.
