Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has boldly stated that the streaming giant is "saving Hollywood," asserting that traditional theatergoing is becoming "an outmoded idea for most people." Speaking at the Time100 Summit, Sarandos defended Netflix's role in the industry, despite the exodus of production from Los Angeles, the shrinking theatrical window, declining audience experiences in theaters, and inconsistent box office results. He emphasized Netflix's commitment to being "a very consumer-focused company," saying, "We deliver the program to you in a way you want to watch it."
Addressing the slump in box office sales, Sarandos questioned, "What is the consumer trying to tell us? That they’d like to watch movies at home." While expressing personal fondness for theater visits, he downplayed the overall value of the experience, stating, "I believe it is an outmoded idea, for most people. Not for everybody."
Given Sarandos's position at the helm of Netflix, his views align with the company's goal to prioritize streaming over traditional cinema. Hollywood's challenges have been well-noted, with family films like "Inside Out 2" and adaptations such as "A Minecraft Movie" bolstering the industry, while even Marvel movies, once guaranteed blockbusters, now experience fluctuating success.
The debate over the relevance of cinema continues, with acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe lamenting the shift towards home viewing last year. He noted the difference in attention given to films at home versus in theaters, expressing concern over the loss of communal experience: "Which is tragic, because the kind of attention that people give at home isn’t the same. More difficult movies, more challenging movies can not do as well, when you don’t have an audience that’s really paying attention. That’s a big thing. I miss the social thing of where movies fit in the world. You go see a movie, you go out to dinner, you talk about it later, and that spreads out. People now go home, they say, ‘Hey, honey, let’s watch something stupid tonight,’ and they flip through and they watch five minutes of 10 movies, and they say, forget it, let’s go to bed. Where’s that discourse found?"
In 2022, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh offered insights into the future of movie theaters in the streaming era. He acknowledged the enduring appeal of the cinematic experience, saying, "There's still an appeal to seeing a movie in a movie theater. It's still a great destination." Soderbergh stressed the importance of programming and engagement to sustain cinema attendance, particularly among younger audiences as they age. He believes that theaters and streaming can coexist, with the key being to attract and retain older audiences: "And it really depends, I think, on our ability to attract, to convince the older audiences to continue to come out [...] It has nothing to do with windowing."
