For many years now, the most popular way to catch up on new releases was to take a trip to the movie theater and settle down in front of a massive screen with a bucket of hot, freshly buttered popcorn. Now, however, trying to catch up on new releases seems to be more focused on what subscriptions you have, and digital release dates.
For many movie lovers, the switch to streaming services means more luxury at a lower cost. Sophomore Morgan Sell is looking forward to being able to save money and time this year by trading theater tickets for a couch and TV remote.
“I don’t have to worry about showtimes or the drive to the theatre anymore. Watching from home is just easier, and makes me feel more relaxed,” Sell said.
While many people are happy to embrace the convenience of streaming services, others, like Shruthi Jayakumar, are unhappy with the loss of the theater atmosphere.
“I like going to the theater because there’s just something about sitting in a crowd and enjoying the movie together. You sort of bond while you experience the same thing together in the same space, and you don’t really get that feeling when you’re watching something alone on your sofa” Jayakumar said.
To try and keep the tradition of movie theaters alive, Jayakumar hopes to make more plans with friends to watch new releases in theaters, but recognizes that the decline of movie theaters could put a dent in these plans.
“The hardest part is that showtimes are starting to get limited, because movies are leaving theaters for streaming services so much faster than they used to,” Jayakumar said.
As well as having movies released on streaming services earlier than before, another pro for streaming services is the wide variety of content that is offered, with viewers like Sophia Hale hoping that streaming will continue to offer more diverse content that theaters might skip over.
“One of the reasons I really like streaming services is because I can find lesser-known or smaller-scale content, from pretty much all over the world,” Hale said. “It’s nice because movie theaters usually only air movies that have been heavily advertised, and don’t really focus on smaller works.”
While Hale does enjoy the wide variety of content found on many streaming platforms, she also thinks the large amount of options to choose from can get to be slightly overwhelming.
“I think sometimes I end up spending more time looking for a movie than actually watching one,” Hale said.
Whether you prefer the large screen and surround sound system of IMAX, or the simple comfort of a laptop in bed, the way we watch movies is changing, for good. The challenge for this year isn’t only about finding the best movies to watch. It’s about deciding whether we are willing to let go of the movie theater tradition.
