Streaming grants us access to an endless catalogue of films, new and old, from the comfort of our couches. Services like Netflix have slowly taken over how we consume entertainment, allowing you to watch films and TV on any device, and offering a binge model that thrives in a culture of convenience and instant gratification.
But that convenience is coming at the cost of a beloved pastime. For avid cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike, nothing compares to seeing a film as it’s intended, on the big screen, where you can fully take in its visuals and sound with a crowd and become immersed in the story.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, what was originally simply an alternative to going to the theater became the only way to watch anything. Studios had to either significantly shorten viewing windows or send new releases directly to streaming platforms. 2020 marked the beginning of serious concerns about the state of movie theaters, which took a massive hit and has yet to fully recover.
Movie theaters aren’t quite the draw that they once were. Shifting cultural habits post-pandemic, anecdotes of rowdy audience members, dirty spaces, and excessive prices have made for a less than rewarding experience. According to industry tracker The Numbers, 2025 earnings fell closely in line with 2024, which were lower than in 2023.
But declining numbers aren’t solely due to a lack of interest. Plans and business deals by industry giants appear to aim at making theaters increasingly inaccessible.
In December 2025, Netflix announced it had entered a definitive agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire the studio for $82.7 billion. This includes the rights to its HBO properties, DC Comics, Harry Potter, and countless classic Warner Bros. films.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos initially tried to quell concerns about the future of movie theaters. He said, “There’s been a lot of talk about theatrical distribution, so we want to get the record straight; we are 100% committed to releasing Warner Bros. films in theaters with industry-standard windows.”
However, reports from Deadline reveal that Netflix supports a 17-day window and could settle on that after the deal closes. Chains like AMC aim for a 45-day range. Although it isn’t set in stone, shorter release windows could greatly reduce the number of people who see films in theaters. Netflix’s support for this sets a troubling precedent for the future of cinema.
This week, Cinema United, an organization dedicated to encouraging audiences to view films theatrically, issued a statement to Congress stating,
“We are deeply concerned that this acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix will have a direct and irreversible negative impact on movie theatres around the world. Such an acquisition will further consolidate control over production and distribution of motion pictures in the hands of a single, dominant, global streaming platform in a market that is already highly concentrated. The impact will not only be felt by theatre owners, but by movie fans and surrounding businesses in communities of all sizes.”
They went on to write about Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros., adding, “If Paramount or another major studio ends up displacing Netflix as the buyer, our concerns are no less serious.”
Netflix buying Warner Bros. is a dark day for every fan of physical media and especially movie theaters. There truly is nothing like the theatrical experience and I will fight for it as long as I can. https://t.co/fqNe7eD75C
— Brian Rowe (@mrbrianrowe) December 5, 2025
Movie theaters were once communal gatherings where highly anticipated film releases drew audiences. Although rare, mass excitement about a film release is still possible.
In 2023, audiences came out in droves for ‘Barbenheimer’: the same-day release of Greta Gerwig’s bubble gum pink adventure comedy, Barbie, and Christopher Nolan’s three-hour-long biopic, Oppenheimer, which followed the physicist who developed the atomic bomb. It was a cinematic event that generated months of hype, fueled by social media and a push by film lovers to bring people back to theaters.
We need more events like that to revive cinema and resist the monopolization of the entertainment industry. Major studios are responsible for producing original films and leveraging cultural moments. Likewise, theaters should diversify the types of films they screen to attract consumers.
Audiences still crave the full theatergoing experience; they’re simply being swayed against it. It’s so important that, when possible, we make the effort to visit theaters more, or we risk losing one of pop culture’s most important fixtures.
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