How Netflix Could Save Itself

After losing subscribers for the very first time in more than ten years, Netflix is still hurting from its stock decline last month.

To swing the narrative back in its favor, experts have proposed introducing advertisements and restricting password sharing. However, Netflix may assist itself by forming alliances with movie theaters, a sector with whom it was formerly at war.

While Netflix has released several films in cinemas and even purchased a few theaters, the majority of its theatrical releases have been limited on purpose. Now that the streamer is nursing its wounds and theaters are slowly recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, it may be time for both sides to unite.

The Need To Start Releasing Films in Theatres

By releasing more films in cinemas, Netflix (NFLX) may generate additional revenue from box-office sales, broaden its brand to more prospective subscribers, and make its movies more distinctive – something the company has previously battled with.

In spite of being the streaming leader with 221 million worldwide subscribers, winning numerous Oscars, and collaborating with some of the top names in Hollywood, Netflix has still not seen many of its movies become as popular as its series, such as “Stranger Things,” whose latest season airs later this month.

Consider “Red Notice,” for instance. The movie featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Gal Gadot was the company’s most-watched film ever, as per Netflix, but it failed to generate any form of blip in mainstream culture.

Talking to CNN business, Andrew Hare, a senior vice president of research at Magid, said that it is very hard to create a big film series without theater releases. As the corporation increases its product line, a lot of titles may require theatrical distribution. Not only for award season, but also for the buzz necessary to be a key player at a hybrid moment in a period that has one foot in physical media and the other in digital media.

What Is The Obstacle?

Both Netflix and cinemas have disagreed on how long a picture should play in theaters, which has been one of the most significant obstacles.

Netflix’s business model is dependent on sign-ups, thus it does not want customers to wait for films, but theater owners who rely on foot traffic desire exclusivity for as long as possible.

In 2019, the two parties could not agree on how long Martin Scorsese’s crime epic “The Irishman” should play in cinemas before being released on streaming services. As per the New York Times, theaters desired an exclusive window of 70 days, however Netflix would not go beyond 45 days.

But the coronavirus pandemic altered everything by reducing the industry-wide theatrical window. Even established companies such as Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures are releasing theatre films on streaming services within a few weeks or occasionally simultaneously.

Beyond the theatrical window, there are other concerns, given that Netflix is unfamiliar with the theater industry’s additional expenses.

According to Andrew Hare, it is not as straightforward as a homepage takeover. It is transitioning from the digital to the physical realm. Funds are required for marketing and promotion… A lot of enormous tactical and strategic decisions must be taken.

And increasing the number of films in cinemas might harm Netflix’s business model. If you can watch the one Netflix film you’re dying to see in a cinema, does it reduce your motivation to subscribe?

Working more closely with theaters has both positive and negative aspects for Netflix. However, the corporation has to right its ship, and cinemas are gradually returning to normal, so it may be time for the streaming service to promote more of its films.

10 Must-Watch Movies Streaming in April

As the year turns to April, many excellent new movie releases are available to stream on various platforms. However, finding the movie that best suits your needs on streaming services may be overwhelming. This article delved through the collection to compile a selection of ten of the best movies accessible for streaming in April, ranging from classics to recent releases.

Netflix

Her

“Her” is a sci-fi romantic thriller starred by Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Theodore Twombly, who falls for an artificial intelligence operating system, Samantha. Spike Jonze’s artistic tribute to the interlocking influences of love and technology, set in an unsettling future, is a comic and touching encounter whose clarity will linger with you even after the movie ends.

Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood

In the stunning rotoscope animation style of Richard Linklater, Apollo 10½ tells the history of the first lunar landing mission from two viewpoints: the astronaut and command center and a Texas kid following as it all unfolds on TV. The movie is based on Linklater’s personal experiences and acts as a soothing, often provocative glimpse of 1960s America.

Inception

This April, Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending film “Inception” returns to the screens. Leonardo DiCaprio helms the cast as a sad widower charged with penetrating a billionaire’s brain to commit a dream robbery. The movie’s intricate dream-diving concept makes watching extremely satisfying.

Nightcrawler

“Nightcrawler” is Dan Gilroy’s harrowing depiction of greed, morality, and ethics, starred by Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Lou Bloom, a freelance video journalist. The robber-turned-journalist captures the attention of a local Los Angeles TV news outfit hungry for lurid content with his recordings of crime scenes.

Hulu

Eyes Wide Shut

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play husband and wife in a crisis in Stanley Kubrick’s erotic psychological drama. Cruise becomes fascinated with seeking his random sexual encounters outside of marriage after the wife confesses to having desires about a serviceman she met over a year ago. The movie is a beautiful blend of overwhelming stateliness and occasionally great intimacy.

Compliance

“Compliance,” Craig Zobel’s spine-chilling thriller, explores issues concerning the atrocity of authority, the police mentality, women exploitation, and consent. The movie is centered on the true story of a man who pretended to be a policeman over the phone and persuaded restaurant management to conduct illegal treatments on an employee.

Looper

“Looper,” an action-thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Joe, tells the story of a hitman working for a crime syndicate who time-travels back to execute his future self (Bruce Willis). The movie is an intriguing and profoundly captivating action drama with a core that matches the concepts that power it.

Prime Video

Con Air

“Con Air” is an action-thriller that stars Nicolas Cage, who plays Cameron Poe, a recently paroled and former Army Ranger. Poe helps authorities reclaim a flight taken over by prisoners following a prison break onboard.

HBO Max

The Raid: Redemption

This action film significantly revolutionized the game and impacted many subsequent entries in the genre, notably the John Wick franchise. Iko Uwais plays a novice recruit of a special force charged with penetrating a high-rise building and bringing down a brutal drug kingpin. This movie is still one of the most exhilarating, imaginative, and brilliant action films in 2022 and is a must-see for this genre enthusiasts.

Beetlejuice

“Beetlejuice” is based on a couple, played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, that perish in a car crash and become ghosts locked within their home, where they are doomed to witness its selling and makeover by a sleazy city family. The movie offers a vibrant and creative take on the afterlife, with a darkly humorous twist on the living dead.