If I had a penny for every time I canceled a plan to hang out with friends and family, I would be a billionaire by now.
My love for cinema is not new. As a teenager, I would buy a ticket to the movies every weekend.
Then content streaming platforms took over and now I watch content everywhere I go. Riding through the subway, on my way to university, or while waiting for the next customer at my part-time job.
Every movie or series is just one click away. Even when I have to switch locations or want to know more about the best internet near me, I can research online and get the best deal at affordable rates at any time.
However, it seems that navigating through Netflix itself is becoming a chore. Consequently, I find myself wasting more time searching for a watch-worthy title than watching a movie itself. Even as an avid watcher, I cannot help but feel that watching movies is no longer as fun as it used to be.
So, what changed?
Let us resolve this mystery together.
Why You Don’t Like Watching Movies Anymore?
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Accessibility
There is no doubt that OTT platforms have made content extremely accessible. Now, your favorite movies and TV shows are just one click away. Thanks to these platforms, we see people watching content on the bus, at the subway station, while waiting for food, and even when dining at restaurants.
However, with easy accessibility, one of the major setbacks is the loss of interest. We consume content just to kill time and not to learn something.
This is the reason content creators are now making brain-rote content that requires very little effort to understand and keep up with the storyline. Moreover, you can whip your phone anytime to watch a movie, which means there is no anticipation or waiting time for a new episode, eventually making it monotonous and boring.
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Technical Limitations
Most OTT platforms get their content from famous production houses. Movies and TV series that do exceptionally well at the box office, receive a tremendous response or become critically acclaimed and still make it to these streaming platforms.
While the content is good, there is a slight issue. Most of these big-budget movies are meant for big screens. So, when the viewer ends up watching it on a laptop or phone, picture quality, sound quality, and other details are compromised.
This is one of the biggest reasons viewers no longer exercise the marvel of the silver screen. Instead, the majority of the audience can’t help but complain about the bad sound quality and the need for subtitles.
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Difficult Navigation
Content streaming sites were designed to make content accessible to all. The idea was to ensure everyone gets to watch their favorite shows and movies with just one click. Moreover, viewers had a choice to vote and request new content as well.
However, as content started piling up, their categorization and overall navigation became an issue. This eventually made it difficult for people to search for their desired content titles.
To make matters worse, it is even more challenging to keep up with the new content, which is the reason people keep complaining about “title search options”. Even the most avid watchers complain that they spend more time searching for good content compared to watching it.
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Content Limitations
Content on OTT platforms is limited and it keeps getting renewed. Generally, each platform gets a content for specific time i.e. one year, and after performing well, the contract is then renewed. In case, the content fails to impress, it generally exits the platforms.
Apart from this existing and renewal issue, geographical location also matters. Most movie and TV series titles available in one region, country, or continent might not be available in another. So, it becomes very challenging for the viewer to keep up with the new and old content.
This issue is so big that these OTT platforms have dedicated websites and official channels to help the audience stay updated. Even with all these blogs and social media channels, audiences still find it difficult to keep up.
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Distraction
Content produced previously required the complete attention of the audience. People would pick a time, book a ticket, purchase a meal, and then go to the cinema just to watch the movie. Now, with instant and online content streaming sites, there is no dedicated time required.
While this seems convenient, it also has a downside – the distraction. Now, people choose to watch movies and shows that are easy to follow. They want simple, binge-worthy content that they can play in the background while they perform their daily tasks. Now, content has a much shorter life span with a simple plot line.
Consequently, this is giving rise to low-budget, simple, sensational, and brain-rot content. Even good writers and production houses are also compromising on quality for the sake of quantity.
How to Rekindle the Movie Magic?
- Invest in better stories
- Build anticipation about movies
- Make content for small screens
- Make sound and picture quality small, tech-friendly
