Part 9/12:

The decision by studios like Warner Bros. and Netflix to prioritize streaming over theatrical releases is driven by economic realities. Theaters face immense logistical and financial hurdles: high rents, expensive staffing, and declining attendance. Meanwhile, streaming platforms capitalize on the convenience, vast catalogs, and the tendency of audiences to binge content at home.

Netflix’s model, emphasizing a broad array of original and acquired content, has proven wildly successful—yet undermines traditional cinema’s exclusivity and communal culture. The industry’s focus on nostalgia—re-releasing Revenge of the Sith in theaters—serves as both a nostalgia fix and a validation of the diminishing importance of cinema.