UFA
After the decision of a major studio to stream all of its blockbusters in 2021, grave diggers in the cinema are booming. But the swan song comes prematurely.
2020 was also a pitch-black year for the cinema industry. Since the end of last week it has even gotten a bit darker, because the industry giant Warner announced on Friday that it would make all of its blockbusters available on its streaming platform HBO Max (Swiss start planned) simultaneously with any cinema releases next year (“blue News” reported ).
That makes perfect sense for the US studio. Because whether or not cinemas will be open in 2021 is written in the stars. With the decision on Friday, Warner has the opportunity to react at short notice – and in the worst case the option of so-called tentpole movies like “Dune”, “Matrix 4”, “Godzilla vs. Kong ”or“ Suicide Squad ”via stream. In this way, one wants to avoid that the multi-million dollar campaigns and the hype about the blockbusters simply fizzle out in nirvana.
Films in the cinema – a relic?
Cinemas have received the news far less pragmatically. The shares of the largest chains plummeted, and in the past few days there have been increasing voices predicting an early death or at least a slow wasting away for the cinema industry. Because Warner’s move could have a signal effect, studios like Disney or Universal should soon follow suit. After all, they too have to program their own streaming services that fight for subscribers with exclusive content.
This is not the only reason why there are good reasons for skepticism towards the cinema. After all, even before the pandemic, the industry had a difficult time with a generation whose attention is fiercely contested and for whom modern media use is quite normal. In the past few months, many people should have gotten used to watching films exactly when and exactly how it suits them. You don’t have to struggle at home with people sitting next to you who dispute your armrests.
The dead live longer
But there are also aspects that speak for the cinema. After all, the industry has already been declared dead several times – with the advent of television, ditto VHS and DVDs – and it has shown itself to be more resistant than many assumed. This time, however, the cinemas seem to be facing a major change. Similar to the music industry, conditions will change, but the desire for real experiences is likely to increase.
Ask yourself: how many movies have you left with that you’ve streamed in the past few months? On the other hand, you will remember many a mediocre strip from the pre-Corona period because you associate it with a special experience – especially with other people – in a unique atmosphere. Here, too, the comparison with music fits: thanks to Spotify and Co., it has become an exchangeable consumer product for many; as a live experience, however, it is more popular than ever.
In order for cinemas to become the concert industry for the film industry, some things have to change. 3D glasses and a wide range of gummy bears will not be enough to lure the audience into the halls. On the other hand, it is conceivable that going to the cinema will become a curated event; for example with themed parties, DJ sets, readings, stand-up comedy or culinary offers tailored to the film. “Dune” with an ambient DJ set and a buffet of Maghreb specialties? Nobody would ever forget something like that.
One shouldn’t be naive either. Because streaming will not disappear as a cinema competitor, not even after the pandemic. Many cinemas will not survive the current crisis; The fact that the distributors’ margins are likely to decrease through streaming does not change anything. But the upheaval can herald a change for the better.
For example: You meet in atmospheric halls with high-end technology and enjoy a film in the original language as part of a curated event together with like-minded film freaks. Because the guy who would only have played the whole film on his cell phone anyway, streamed it in German dubbed at home and is not there.
To be too good to be true? Fortunately, dreams are still allowed in the film world.
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