With a pandemic and rising COVID-19 cases, staying at home has become the best way to stay safe. Streaming services became the best option for entertainment at home, while theaters were not as convenient.
Disney has opted to release Pixar movies directly to their streaming app, without a chance at the box office. With a raging pandemic, it is understandable that the target audience being children and families would prefer to skip the theater and head to Disney+. However, that is not the case for all movies. “Raya and the Last Dragon” was released simultaneously on the big screen and on Disney+, and “Encanto” was exclusively playing in theaters for 30 days before it was released on the streaming website. The aim of releasing movies straight to streaming seems puzzling since Pixar movies appeal not just to children, but also young adults who have grown up with Pixar’s classics such as “Toy Story” and “Monsters Inc.” Following the streaming release of “Luca” and the academy award winning “Soul,” the new Pixar movie “Turning Red” appears to have its debut directly with Disney+. Disney’s aim towards straight to streaming could be to raise the numbers of monthly subscribers.
Other companies such as Warner Bros. are following the same footsteps, as they are releasing a number of movies directly to HBO max in 2022. This also shows Warner Bros.’ efforts in incrementing viewers to their streaming platform. Director Christopher Nolan who was worked with Warner Bros. and Denis Villeneuve, the director of “Dune,” both were critical in the decision of movie releases through the streaming service.
The release of films directly into streaming services raises the question of whether it would affect the wallets of actors and producers. Usually, actors and directors get their salary and share of a movie’s profits based on how well a film performs on the big screen. The majority of films now available through streaming platforms do not get released in theaters. Writers, actors and directors are paid directly without gaining from the box office. Therefore, if a movie is not released in theaters, there are no residuals.
The pandemic has changed the way of releasing movies, and while streaming is not the end of movie theaters, the experience of watching a new movie on the big screen at times does not compare to the experience at home. The film industries change and evolve, and so do movie theaters.
