We are all familiar with streaming services.We’ve become so used to them that we don’t think much about the impact they have throughout society and the movie industry.
The movie industry has changed drastically because of streaming services. There are a lot more ways to release movies that aren’t limited to studios and theaters, such as straight to streaming releases. But these types of releases aren’t nearly as profitable. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney released its big budget live action adaptation of “Mulan” onto the streaming service Disney+. “Mulan” only made $69.9 million worldwide, whereas their previous live action remake “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” grossed $489 million worldwide.
The societal impact cannot be ignored. In 2023, Leichtman Research group found that about 83% of US households are subscribed to a video streaming service. In that percent, the average amount of services they are subscribed to is 4.1. Because of this, streaming services have diminished the culture of going to the movies. Before there was waiting for the newest film to be put onto one of the many streaming platforms, there was going out to the movies with friends or family to be the first to see a film. The few who go to movies aren’t the norm. People have become used to being able to watch whatever they want whenever they want to. But there is a problem with this— the sheer amount of services to choose from. These services cost money, so it isn’t like one can just get a single subscription and be set. Different series, movies, documentaries, and much more are spread across the vast number of streaming services.
These services often have to also have their own unique content to keep people invested. The traditional Hollywood style of releasing movies then they immediately go to the big screen is no longer the norm. This is why Netflix has so many of its own original series and movies. The series that are released on Netflix are released a season at a time, and if this season doesn’t stay in the top ten for months, it’s most likely the series will never get a continuation. This has caused Netflix to be littered with 1 or 2 season shows that never get a proper ending. To contrast this, when Disney+ releases a series, they drop an episode at a time in order to keep people invested. Since series renewals are based on how successful the show is in the long run, good Netflix series get canned, while mediocre Disney+ series continue to go on.
Films and series have become dependent on streaming services, which causes a lower expectation of quality, canceling a show or skimping on the last season, and the movie industry to suffer. The next time someone is left wondering about the low quality of a film, it’s safe to say that streaming services have been the cause.
