Streaming platforms and theaters are often seen in perpetual conflict, yet some industry members try to strike a harmonious balance. That is exactly what George Clooney believes to be the secret ingredient in making a successful movie. Many perceive streaming platforms as more successful and profitable, while Christopher Nolan staunchly supports theaters at the opposite end of the spectrum.
George Clooney Is a Huge Supporter of Streaming Platforms
While theatrical releases benefit some films, others find greater success elsewhere, more specifically in streaming platforms. George Clooney echoed this sentiment in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, emphasizing how streaming platforms have not only catered to a specific genre’s niche audience but also generated substantial profits. He said,
“Look, it’s been hard to get these kinds of films made for quite some time, long before streamers sort of took over. The Descendants was that in a way, and Up in the Air. It was always difficult to find a place for them to exist. I find that the streamers have opened up a huge world again for the kind of films that I I enjoy watching and I enjoyed making.”
But he believes the secret to making a film truly grand and successful lies in the perfect blend of streaming platforms and theater releases. He continued saying,
“So that’s the good news. I mean, you always have to fight. I’m also doing a film with Brad [Pitt] for Apple and that’s a big-budget film. The secret is you have to work to guarantee that there’s also a theatrical release. There’s nothing more exciting than watching a comedy in a room full of people, or a scary movie. I find that part of our job is always to make sure that we’re protecting the integrity of having films in theaters.”
He believes filmmakers’ primary concern should be making films, with the logistics of bringing the movie to the audience coming second. This is where streaming platforms have stepped in, offering a platform to showcase movies that might have been disregarded otherwise.
Christopher Nolan Is Afraid of Films Being Released Only on Streaming Platforms
Christopher Nolan recently raised concerns about movies premiering solely on streaming platforms. He worries about the potential loss or removal of films when solely available for streaming. He highlights the need to safeguard the accessibility of filmmakers’ creations from such risks. He explained in an interview with The Washington Post,
“There is a danger these days that if things only exist in the streaming version, they do get taken down. They come and go — as do broadcast versions of films, so my films will play on HBO or whatever, they’ll come and go. The danger I’m talking about with a filmmaker’s film just sort of disappearing from streaming one day and then maybe not coming back or not coming back for a long period of time, that’s not an intentional conspiracy. That’s just a way that with the particular licensing agreements, the way things are evolving.”
Furthermore, he consistently emphasizes the value of theatrical releases as the only right way to experience a film. He has time and again claimed this due to the experience a theater provides and urges people to watch movies in theaters solely for the grandeur and to understand and feel the story as the director intended, rather than it being confined to small rectangles.
