Theaters vs. Streaming By: Kenzie Ford

Over the past decade, the way people watch movies has changed dramatically. While movie theaters used to be the main place to watch new films, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Max have become extremely popular. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, and the choice often depends on what someone values most in their experience.

Gabrielle Fisher, a student attending Hillgrove High School speaks about the advantages of a movie theater that streaming just cant replicate. "I just feel like they have better sound systems and sometimes they have cut scenes that you wouldn't really be able to see at home." The Fordham University website continues a similar conversation, “Some filmmakers and industry professionals argue that the cinematic experience, complete with large screens, immersive sound and communal viewing, cannot be replicated at home; however, the downfall of movie theaters says otherwise. The skyrocketing ticket prices have been discouraging people from attending movie theaters. This led the public’s eye to be caught by streaming platforms that have proven to be a much more cost-effective alternative than paying these increasingly high prices.” With the pricing of tickets compared to the pricing of paid subscriptions, paid subscriptions seem to be more popular. 

Tyra Brown, another Hillgrove attendee, tells us how she feels about streaming and its impact on theaters. "I see it lessening the numbers of people in a theater because if it's cheaper than going to the movies than obviously it would have the larger vote." Price plays a huge role in a humans choice, which is a topic spoken about on the NBC News website, “on the whole, American moviegoers are more likely to stream a film than see it in the theaters, a shifting tide that was only accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Convenience and cost are both factors for many people who can’t find the time to go to a theater or pay the increasingly high price for a ticket.”

Although theaters are still a widespread popularity for movie-watching, the rise of streaming is strongly bypassing the theater experience. People like to be in the comfort of their own home, and if it’s a cheaper alternative, even better. The accessibility of streaming is another reason people may appreciate it more.