In the golden era of cinema, movies were events. Each film, whether an original masterpiece like Inception or Interstellar, or a carefully crafted sequel, was an undertaking that demanded time, talent, and vision. Audiences would wait years to see stories unfold on the big screen, and the anticipation was part of the magic. But in today’s digital age, that magic is fading and streaming giants like Netflix may be a big reason why.
Over the last decade, Netflix has redefined entertainment. It brought convenience into every home, eliminated the need for cinema visits, and gave independent filmmakers a global platform. But in doing so, it also changed the way content is made and valued. The emphasis has shifted from quality to quantity. With new titles dropping weekly, sometimes daily, the focus is now on filling endless catalogues rather than creating timeless stories.
Ask yourself? How many Netflix original movies or series can you actually remember six months after watching? Most are designed for short-term consumption, binge-watched and forgotten, replaced by the next algorithm suggested title before the credits even roll.
The Death of Deliberate Craft
Major films like Tenet took years of production, millions in budget, and a deep commitment to storytelling and cinematic excellence. These films required patience, vision, and a calculated risk. But that model is slowly eroding. Studios are becoming wary of big-budget, long-gestation projects when consumers are being trained to accept and even expect shorter, cheaper, easier.
Netflix, and to some extent other streaming platforms, have helped normalize this. Lower budgets, tighter schedules, minimal theatrical releases, and mass global distribution have turned cinema into fast food. But just like fast food, it rarely satisfies in the long term.
Saturation and Declining Impact
The market is now oversaturated with “content.” It’s no longer about building iconic franchises or telling impactful stories; it’s about maintaining subscriber retention through constant newness. This industrialized approach to film making discourages experimentation and discourages deep narrative and very element that made films like The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings, and Gladiator cultural milestones.
And because content is so easily accessible and abundant, audiences have become desensitized. Going to the cinema once meant entering a new world. Now, you can just swipe to another world from your couch and maybe scroll on your phone while it plays in the background.
A Question of Legacy
Will the next generation grow up without knowing what it feels like to be truly moved by a film? To re-watch it a dozen times because it meant something? To wait five or ten years for a sequel that delivers on every promise?
We might already be there.
