The future is streaming. No matter if you’re one of the people that is a diehard cinema-goer, there’s just no way to look past the fact that many films that would have gone to theaters are now being sent directly to streaming. And with streaming films getting Oscar noms and Peak TV still at its, uh, peak, being on a streaming platform isn’t the worst thing in the world. One person who has thought a lot about the idea of streaming versus theatrical release is none other than Blumhouse founder Jason Blum.
Speaking to the NY Times, Blum talked about the idea of which films are better suited for streaming and which films will continue to succeed at the box office. The producer is in a unique situation, being able to create low-budget films that still do gangbusters on the big screen, primarily with horror films. However, he’s also the man behind films like “BlacKkKlansman” and “Whiplash,” two Oscar-winning films that were theatrically released.
And in the case of the latter, Blum feels that times have changed so much that “Whiplash” probably would have settled for a streaming release instead of a theatrical release, as low-budget dramas are dying at the multiplex.
“[‘Whiplash’] was a disaster theatrically! A disaster,” said Blum. “It was one of the lowest-grossing Oscar-winning movies of all time. It was a huge missed opportunity. What I wanted for that movie was for students and kids to see it, and they eventually saw it on TV, but they didn’t come to the movie theater to see ‘Whiplash.’ The people who paid to see ‘Whiplash’ were like me: too old.”
When asked if he was happy with “Whiplash” being in theaters, Blum said he was, but likened the idea of a film like that being released in theaters today as a day without LA traffic.
“All things being equal, would I much prefer the experience of seeing “Whiplash” in a movie theater? Absolutely,” he explained. “But I would also prefer the experience of driving through Los Angeles with no traffic. And that’s not realistic, either.”
Ultimately, the superstar producer sees the future of “Whiplash”-like dramas existing almost entirely on streaming platforms.
Blum said, “I think for low-budget dramas, yes. They may have a theatrical life, but it will be small and cursory, and it will support the distribution they get on streaming.”
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For many film fans, the idea of having all their favorite low-budget, indie dramas being relegated to streaming-only is a sad thought. However, there’s no denying that this seems to be the way of the world moving forward. The good news, at least, is that there is still a way for film fans to enjoy quality filmmaking, even if it is on a smaller screen at your house.