Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos asserts that the streaming giant is “saving Hollywood,” arguing that visiting cinemas remains an "outmoded concept" for most viewers.

During this week’s Time100 Summit, Sarandos insisted that despite numerous productions departing Los Angeles, significantly shortened theatrical windows, a declining audience experience in theaters, and lackluster box office performance for many films, Netflix stands as the industry's beacon of hope. “No, we’re saving Hollywood,” he told attendees, describing the platform as “a highly consumer-centric company.”

He elaborated: “We deliver content to you exactly how you want to watch it.”

Sarandos also addressed the slump in box office revenue. “What message is the consumer sending us?” he posed rhetorically. “That they prefer watching movies from home.” Interestingly, while highlighting his personal affection for cinema-going, he simultaneously minimized its overall relevance. “I consider it an outdated idea for most people,” he stated. “Not everyone, of course.”

It hardly surprises anyone that the leader of the world’s dominant streaming platform holds these views. After all, promoting streaming over theatrical releases aligns perfectly with Netflix’s business interests.

Hollywood’s ongoing challenges are well known. Family-friendly hits like Inside Out 2 and video game adaptations such as A Minecraft Movie seem to be sustaining the industry, while Marvel films—once reliable billion-dollar earners—are now inconsistent performers.

But is visiting the cinema truly a thing of the past? Last year, legendary actor Willem Dafoe noted that audiences now watch films at home rather than in theaters, which are steadily closing. “It’s tragic because the level of attention viewers give at home differs,” Dafoe explained.

“More complex or challenging films struggle to perform well without an engaged audience. That’s crucial. I miss the social aspect of cinema—going out for dinner after a movie and discussing it later, creating broader conversation. Today, people go home, say, ‘Hey honey, let’s watch something mindless tonight,’ scroll through options, glance at five minutes of ten different films, then decide to sleep. Where does that cultural dialogue happen?”

Do you prefer to see movies in theaters or wait until you can stream them at home? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In theaters is always betterI usually wait to watch them at homeDepends on the movie

AnswerSee ResultsBack in 2022, acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh shared his perspective on the future of cinemas and how theatrical habits might survive in the streaming era. He noted that while there remains “an appeal,” the industry’s longevity depends on convincing younger audiences to continue attending theaters as they age.

Soderbergh, famous for the Ocean's Eleven franchise and numerous other Hollywood successes, explored how cinemas and streaming platforms can coexist. He identified content curation and audience engagement as two critical factors that must be carefully managed to preserve the theatrical experience.

“I believe people still want to go out,” Soderbergh said, recognizing the draw of visiting a cinema. “There’s still charm in watching a film on the big screen. It remains an excellent destination. I think it largely depends on our ability to attract and persuade older demographics to keep coming [...] This isn’t really about release windows [the timeframe between theatrical and home availability].”