Month: July 2020

        It is an understatement to say that there are a lot of streaming services. HBO Max was released last May, and NBC just dropped Peacock this past week. I agree that there are too many streaming services. While each streaming service aims for a particular demographic, I do find many of these services quite unnecessary. However, I believe that streaming services can be quite beneficial for both promoting creativity and exposing new films to people.

        To begin, let’s talk about exactly how streaming services promote creativity. Since there is a wide market of streaming services, they have to stand out in order to survive. Why would I sign up for Amazon Prime if I have Netflix? And vice-versa. One of the reasons why Netflix has been greenlighting so many scripts is to stand out. Maybe you want to sign up for Netflix because of Stranger Things or maybe it is because you want to watch The Irishman. In the second quarter of 2018, Netflix lost 123,000 subscribers, which was the first time since 2011 that they reported a loss. However, when Stranger Things Season 3 was released, it added 520,000 new accounts for the next quarter. It is clear that when streaming services like Netflix and others promote and create new original content, it is quite beneficial for both the platform and the consumers. It should also be stated that Netflix greenlights new projects, not just to attract customers, but to fill their declining catalog. Many shows that were popular on Netflix, like Friends, have been disappearing and moving to other streaming services like HBO Max. Netflix is forced to create new original content in order to survive in this market.

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       Reboots, remakes, and sequels are a common trend in Hollywood right now, which has many people angry. People are mad for two main reasons: one being that their favorite franchises are being rebooted and the other for the lack of creativity. The latter reason is quite understandable. Why would Hollywood remake something that has already been done? Why not make something new? The simple answer is because of money. Remaking a film especially one with name-recognition, like The Murder on the Orient Express, is a sure-fire way of bringing in money. While a film like The Murder on the Orient Express brought in millions, not every remake is a guaranteed success. When Paramount and MGM remade Ben-Hur in 2016, it only made 94 million dollars on a budget of 100 million dollars. While people may not like remakes, reboots, and sequels, I do not mind them. In fact, I am usually optimistic about their success. I believe that many reboots, remakes, and sequels improved on their original material and, in many cases, were far superior to their predecessor.

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