Netflix, as a house for online distributed premium entertainment content has only grown over the past few years. Providing viewers and consumers with a range of content like films and television shows, such as American Vandal, Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why, Daredevil, Triple Frontier, Roma, Bird Box and among many others, Netflix has become known for convenient viewing.
However, with it’s popularity, Netflix only encouraged other streaming platforms to start distributing content of their own. Amazon Prime Video, the only other popular streaming service across the globe has grown from providing pre-released films, to producing original tv shows, like Jack Ryan, The Marvellous Ms. Maisel, Made in Heaven and Hanna. While it has not yet touched films, the prospect seems highly inevitable given Netflix’s success with producing films.
So what is it that has made streaming services at the apex of entertainment distribution, garnered acclaim for it’s films and television shows, getting nominated for awards such as the Golden Globes, Emmys and Oscars? Has it begun to replace the format of cinemas and television viewing. With director Steven Spielberg’s comments regarding the inclusion of Netflix and Amazon films to be considered in prestigious awards ceremonies and the recent announcement of new streaming platforms like Disney+ and Apple tv+, this subject is highly topical.
Why have the online streaming platform captured the attention of viewers? In a recent survey conducted by myself, I found out that a lot of the students opt for streaming instead of going to the theatre as it is highly cost effective and travel-free. These are valid reasons, but why do streaming platforms attract famous film directors, who are willing to make the jump from cinema to providing their films directly at home of the viewers?
The reasons may be plenty. Netflix offers unrated content as well as creative control to directors who may be looking to get away from studio imposed control. In addition to this, factors like worldwide distribution and a better deal with the streaming service do play a role, resulting in famous directors such as Joel and Ethan Coen, Alfonso Cuaron, Martin Scorsese, J.C. Chandor, Zack Snyder and Michael Bay making the switch to streaming.
But this sort of distribution does have certain negative effects on a film’s performance. Films released solely on streaming platforms may result it in being unnoticed by many audiences who are either not interested in streaming platforms or do not have a membership or account on the services. It may also result in the films being illegally downloaded through torrent sites.
A certain section of the film being unnoticed may be attributed to viewers who like watching films in the cinema. A huge point of Steven Spielberg’s argument against Netflix films being considered in award ceremonies was the fact that they were released in a television format and not in the manner films are supposed to be enjoyed – in the cinema. Watching a film in the cinema is the best way to experience a film. And with many aforementioned renowned directors planning to release their films on streaming platforms, the question brought up is why they are hesitant to release their films additionally in theatres as well, given their reputation?
In the survey mentioned before that I conducted, a certain number of answers indicated that they didn’t prefer streaming platforms as they preferred the cinematic experience of viewing a film. These participants also believed that streaming platforms will not replace cinemas in the coming years, a view that was held in majority by the rest of the participants.
To end, I do think that Netflix has taken over entertainment distribution and has oversaturated the market with their films and television shows, with their success attracting other directors. But a certain sect of both filmmakers and audiences do still believe in the cinematic viewing of films, which will provide a foil to Netflix’s distribution for times to come.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 