The battle between Hollywood studios and online streaming sites is a constant one. Netflix is one of the movie industry’s biggest competitors, especially because of its original films.
Many recent Hollywood movies follow storylines and concepts similar to those of the ‘70s, an era deemed “the greatest” in film history. For example, The Meg, a typical shark movie involving the miraculous discovery of a megalodon buried deep under a layer of the ocean floor, was very reminiscent of Jaws, the 1975 classic. However, with poor execution of the storyline and the lack of good scares, the movie was a flop.
Besides, every shark movie after Jaws is just trying to be like Jaws. There aren’t many original ways to go with a shark movie.
Similarly, Alpha disappointed the audience with a typical man and dog story. Going along with the typical formula, the movie ended exactly as everyone would expect, leaving a disappointing first impression.
Netflix, on the other hand, is coming out with original concepts, while the Hollywood studios are throwing up films that have been done before but in better ways. People aren’t talking about The Meg or Alpha — they’re talking about To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before broke the Internet as teens goggled over the rom-com with a story no one had ever heard of before. Lara Jean’s love letters to her old crushes get sent out without her permission and she has to face the consequences.
The film capitalizes on quirky, relatable characters and developed a unique concept — based off of the book by Jenny Han. Teens were able to connect with the film on a personal level and could appreciate the unique storyline.
Rotten Tomatoes rated The Meg at 47 percent fresh tomatoes, while To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before got a whopping 97 percent score. That’s a huge difference.
Netflix excels in original concepts for series, as well, including Black Mirror, Atypical, and Santa Clarita Diet, all shows aimed at teens. All boast an above 80 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and continue to be talked about on social media. The Hollywood studio industry doesn’t get that much clout.
In addition to satisfying the need for original concepts, Netflix is much more accessible to teens. And it’s more affordable, too. While it’s easier to just open an app rather than driving to a movie theater, it also saves gas and ticket money: Viewers can pay $10 a month for access to a huge selection of Netflix’s movies and shows, or up to $15 for a ticket to see one movie, not including snacks.
This financial reasoning attracts many teens, especially since the current teenage generation, Generation Z, is more money conscious than the millennial generation.
Even though there’s nothing quite like watching a movie on the big screen, tiny screens with more original concepts and affordable prices are beginning to be tolerated by teens. Perhaps Hollywood needs to start teaming up with Netflix and find some sort of solution.