Theater vs. Streaming

Bow Tie Cinemas in Bronxville

In today’s world of fast-paced entertainment consumption and media diets, it seems that streaming platforms have unfortunately taken over traditional trips to the movie theater.

In a Business Insider poll conducted in 2017, data shows that 78% of the participants chose to watch something at home, while only 15% chose to go to the movie theater, with the remaining percentage being left undecided. In a separate poll provided by Entertainment Weekly, 62% said that going to the movies was too costly, complaining about the outrageous price of concessions, while 56% said that noisy neighbors in the theater are the reason they were inclined to stay home.

Personally, I am a movie-goer at heart, regardless of the new privileges that the world of technology has brought us, but film student Jason Feinberg (‘22) explains that for some people, going out just isn’t as feasible. 

“Going to a theater makes it an event, but one that can be quite costly. Streaming, however, makes watching films more accessible, especially for folks with lower incomes who can’t make it to the theater,” said Feinberg. 

Because of these inconveniences, the world of streaming has come to the forefront of the way we view and experience cinema. Services from Netflix to Amazon are not only providing television series to binge, or old movies you hadn’t thought about in years, but now they have begun to produce content of their own. The films that they are producing are not just the made-for-television low-budget projects that you may  imagine. They are works of art that attract Oscar attention: For instance, 2019’s Best Director winner, “Roma”, was produced by Netflix, or the Academy’s Best Actor film in 2017, “Manchester by the Sea,” was made by Amazon Studios. 

So not only do streaming platforms offer the movies that are already in the theaters (though at a slightly later date than when theaters premiere them), but they also open up a whole world of films that, in many cases, aren’t offered anywhere else. 

Although it may seem as if the singular advantage of streaming is its existence as a  cheaper alternative, this isn’t the only benefit. You get to watch from the comfort of your own home, no travel time or dealing with chatty Cathys necessary. 

That said, there are disadvantages to streaming films from the coziness of your couch. Simply streaming may cause you to miss out on key aspects of the art that people spend years perfecting. After all, that’s what film is –– art  –– and it should be treated as such. 

“Actors keep in mind how a performance is going to come across to an audience in the theater as a cinematic experience, so to not see it in that form would be taking away from how the viewer perceives the work,” said Sarah Lawrence theater student, Abbey Alexander (‘23). 

Despite the fact that there are undeniable upsides to snuggling up with your streaming service, there are also priceless pros to making an outing of going to the theater. Though overpriced, nothing beats that movie theater butter –– but more importantly, no home theater can compare to the surround sound and reclining chairs of the cinema. 

I would consider myself a film nerd, to say the least, meaning I don’t go to a movie without hours of intense research on the director and the meaning behind the work, and it is not unlikely for me to see a flick on the big screen more than one time…or two...or seven if it’s Baby Driver. However, I truly believe if you are going to experience a work of art, you should experience it in the way that the artists intended you to if financially possible. For instance, when I am in a crowded theater, I am much more apt to set my phone on silent, respectfully keep my mouth shut, and divert all of my attention to what is happening on screen, whereas at home, I tend to get bored more often; I go to the kitchen, the bathroom, talk to who is around me, check Twitter, etc, etc. But in the theater, the audience is there to hold you accountable for the fact that you are there to watch a movie –– you made the plans, put effort into getting there, and paid money for your ticket.

All of this is not to say that streaming does not come in handy. I love a good Netflix binge as much as the next girl, but I do reserve Netflix and other streaming services for the Gossip Girl’s of the world: mindless television to put on when I need to relax, or even a really good series that gets Emmy attention, or one of those so-cheesy-you-can’t-stop-watching Noah Centineo movies. Streaming services have an important job, and I take full advantage of them. But cinema is special, and it should be experienced as such. If you are planning on seeing a critically acclaimed film, it is a form of art. It deserves more than your 32-inch Roku TV.

Zoe Kuhlkin, ‘23