A few weeks ago, Warner Brothers movie studio made a huge announcement for the film industry. Their entire slate for 2021 is going to be initially released to their HBO Max streaming channel rather than exclusively in theaters. While many big named film directors, theater chains, and other studios are furious over this decision, I actually applaud Warner Brothers for the big move, which is probably quite ironic to hear given the countless hours I’ve spent in theaters throughout my life.
So, why am I welcoming this decision in the film industry that looks to be moving people away from watching films in theaters and instead keeping them more at home in front of their much smaller screens? The first thought you might have is that it’s probably related to health worries, i.e. contracting Covid-19. Oddly enough, that’s not my reason for fully supporting Warner Brothers decision.
Truth be told, it’s grown very expensive to go to a movie these days, especially when the price of two tickets is well over $20 now in most theaters on most evenings. Add in any concessions you might purchase and you’re now in the $40 price range for an evening out at the cinema. Then consider the constant talking, texting, and lack of sound and picture quality that often happens in theaters I go to, and finally factor this tendency to have to go to the bathroom at least once during a 2 ½ hour film in recent years, and suddenly the notion of seeing brand new blockbuster films at home becomes a far more satisfying thought.
You see at home, I can pause a film as many times as I need. I can also eat my own food. I don’t have to wear a mask or have anyone sitting next to me or in front of me if I don’t want to. I don’t have to worry about someone shouting at the screen or talking to their friends nearby when I’m trying to pay attention. I can also adjust the volume to fit my needs, which generally is very loud! And I can even rewind a film if I miss something. The fact is, it’s just more cost effective and suitable to my own personal needs now to watch a movie at home and that really is saying something for someone who has spent so much of his life in a theater.
If you can believe it, in 2019 alone, I probably spent close to $5000 in theater going once you factor in the cost of all those tickets I bought (close to 200 films), concessions I consumed, and gas I purchased to get there. Yet, after adding up all my streaming costs for the same year, it was a mere fraction of that.
Nevertheless, I think COVID has changed the way people see things now anyway, including doing public things like going out to the movies. Honestly, I’m not sure if the world will ever return to having those sold out theaters where people get so packed in they seem to be sitting on top of each other, like I felt during Avengers Endgame for example.
Regardless, the world is changing, people’s tastes are shifting, with rising costs and reducing quality, along with new fears of pandemics and compromised health systems, I feel that going to the movie theater might just very well be on the way out, especially when such avid movie-goers like me are looking more forward to seeing blockbusters at home than in cinemas.
So, while many in the film industry might be upset with Warner Brothers over their decision to release their 2021 slate to their streaming channel, HBO Max, I’m not upset at all and instead, am looking forward to finally being able to see some new blockbusters on my comfy couch, eating higher quality food, with great sound and picture quality tweaked for my level of enjoyment, all while not having to fret anymore over the constant texting, talking, and general disruptions that seem to happen more so than not nowadays in theaters. And while I’m not fully saying goodbye to theaters, I simply look forward to having a new movie-watching experience that will in the end, save me a lot of money and frustration.
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
