By Adam Kelly | Echo
How many students spend their free time binge-watching Netflix?
More than 50 percent? Yeah, that's what I figured. A survey by Alloy Media and Marketing stated that 61 percent of students that watch movies watch them on their computers.
How many students still go to movie theaters to see the release of a new movie?
Not many anymore. According to Motion Pictures Association of America, the number of movie-goers between 18-24 years of age dropped by about 1.5 million.
Netflix doesn't only affect college students but it has become a powerhouse that reaches everyone. Netflix has gained more control in the entertainment industry recently. Statista.com states the movie streaming site has gained more than 5 million subscribers to its streaming service. It has even started to make its own movies, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend. Movie theaters will lose even more money when Netflix is able to make full-length movies and recruit star actors because people will stay home to watch the popular movies. Adam Sandler recently signed a deal to make four movies with Netflix.
Movie theaters' giant screens and surround sound complete the movie-going experience. But people have decided not to take the time to travel to the theater and watch the movie when it first comes out. It feels cheaper to wait for the movie to come out on Netflix than to pay $8+ to watch a movie once.
Netflix is now working with partners to release some movies on the same day they come out in theaters. Most people will stay at home to watch these for convenience's sake. The only way that this deal will work for movie theaters is if the movie is well-known with a big-time cast that people want to go and see.
Home movie theaters continue to get better, with large sofas, surround sound speakers and projection screens to imitate movie theaters quite well. They are also very expensive. But home movie theaters still don't match the atmosphere you get while you are in a movie theater. You don't hear a collective gasp at home as you would in a theater, and you don't buzz from the excitement of waiting in line hours before the midnight release.
Netflix will continue to gain prominence in the entertainment industry, and it may eliminate movie theaters in the next couple years. If Netflix continues to produce movies and if the price of theater tickets continues increasing, no one will spend $8+ on a one-time experience when they can spend $8.99 per month for Netflix and essentially see that movie and many others for around the price of a single theater ticket.
I realize binging movies on a snowy day over J-term is a great way to relax. It is time to decide whether or not taking the time to see movie premieres is worth it. Netflix is a wonderful thing to have when you don't have time to make it to the theater or the theater isn't open, but let's face it: many of us have been up until 2 a.m. watching movies or TV episodes.
Netflix should stick to showing older movies and reruns of TV shows. Let the movie theaters handle the details necessary for releasing a major film. The theater experience may cost more, but is ultimately worthwhile.
