Part 8/18:
The COVID-19 pandemic was a pivotal moment. Theaters shut down, and Hollywood shifted focus solely onto streaming, which, at the time, was an untested front for major film releases. When theaters reopened, many found that audiences had moved on; once habits were broken, they struggled to be re-established. Additionally, the industry's reliance on taxpayer subsidies kept theaters afloat temporarily, but these are not sustainable solutions.