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Does Cinema Have a Future?

By Reto Caduff originally published in NZZ on 14.11.2021
Automatically translated from German
More and more people are watching movies at home. Because of the pandemic, but also because streaming platforms make it so easy. 'NZZ Format' spoke with film producers, Hollywood director Marc Forster, and cinema operators in Switzerland and the USA. A documentary about the future of cinema.

Film studios still generate nearly half of their revenue from cinemas. But streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon, fueled by the pandemic, are reaching more and more viewers at home. This situation puts studios in a difficult position: they can reach more people via streaming, but this could weaken cinemas and the substantial revenue they generate there. Meanwhile, more and more cinemas – mostly family-run businesses and small chains – are closing in rural areas and small towns. What is clear is that cinema must fundamentally change after the pandemic. The industry must face this challenge now and rethink storytelling and cinema itself. As a meeting place, cinemas must offer visitors much more than just a movie experience and overpriced popcorn. Since its inception around a hundred years ago, cinema has adapted to technological innovations such as the transition from silent to sound films, the invention of television, and later VHS and DVDs. But this time, the rapid changes seem to be transforming the industry permanently.