Quentin Tarantino Declares 2019 ‘The Last Year of Movies’ as Streaming Takes Over: “What the fuck is a movie now?”
Tarantino is back with some hot takes. The visionary director, renowned for pushing the boundaries of cinema and defying traditional filmmaking norms, frequently shares his thoughts on the current state of movies and television. After expressing his admiration for ‘Joker 2,’ despite its underwhelming box office performance, and reiterating his belief that television still pales in comparison to film, Tarantino is now offering his perspective on the broader state of the movie industry.
Tarantino recently expressed frustration about how movies are being released and consumed today. He feels that films no longer have the same impact because they get a brief theater run, often just a few weeks, before being available to watch at home on streaming services.
“What the fuck is a movie now? … Something that plays in theaters for a token release of four fucking weeks? … and by the second week you can watch it on [your] TV … I didn’t get into all of this for diminishing returns … [since] 2019 … It’s gotten drastically worse”
He criticizes the trend of quick, easy access to films at home, feeling that it diminishes the experience of seeing a movie in theaters. Tarantino also believes the situation has only worsened since 2019, leading to a decline in the quality and significance of the movie industry.
Several famous directors have criticized streaming platforms and streaming in general in the past. Martin Scorsese has spoken out about how streaming services can harm the experience of watching films, saying they prioritize quantity over quality.
Steven Spielberg has also shared concerns, arguing that movies made for streaming should not be considered for prestigious awards like the Oscars.
COVID-19 had a huge impact on the movie industry, as theaters were forced to close for long periods. Many movie releases were delayed or canceled, and studios had to find new ways to release their films.
Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Max saw a rise in popularity because people were stuck at home and turned to online content. This shift led to more films being released directly on streaming platforms instead of theaters, changing the way people watch movies, and as you can imagine it’s no longer as profitable as it once has been, even though some titles still break billion-dollar milestones.
No matter whether you agree with Tarantino or not, you have to admit that the shift to streaming during the pandemic affected both how Hollywood business is being done and how we consume media.
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