So you’re headed to the movies this weekend, and you have a few bucks to spare? Fear not, mister—you can buy all of the latest movies that you want, thanks to the glorious world of Netflix. But how does Netflix affect your wallet? Let’s dive into the details.

How Does Netflix Impact the Movie Industry?

It’s well established that Netflix is changing the way people find content — and it’s not just limited to streaming. The movie-streaming service has also had a massive impact on the cinema industry. Netflix drives demand, which leads to more theaters being packed and more people wanting to go to the movies. This is great for the economy, as individuals, families, and groups of friends often go to the movies together, which results in more food, drink, and popcorn consumption. Furthermore, Netflix is changing the way films are made, too.

The company’s push for original content has encouraged studios to up the ante when it comes to special effects, makeup, and costume design. It’s also led to an increase in the importance of dialogue over action, which to this day, remains a unique characteristic of Netflix content. Additionally, Netflix is challenging filmmakers to experiment with different genres and story ideas, which has led to some genuinely fascinating and thought-provoking films.

The Rise of Virtual Theaters

It’s no secret that theaters have been suffering for decades. Ticket prices remain high, and matinee showtimes aren’t what they used to be. Thankfully, this is something that Netflix has actually helped solve. Thanks to their immense power as a streaming service, they have created a whole new industry: virtual theaters.

These are theaters that you can attend virtually. You can log on to a site such as Twitch or YouTube, and virtually attend a showroom packed with cinema machines—all for the low, low cost of $5.99 a month. Plus, you can watch any movie you want, whenever you want, on the big screen with a group of friends (or strangers, for that matter). Sounds great, doesn’t it?

This is why we have virtual theaters. Because it’s not practical to go see every movie in theaters anymore. Especially in today’s world, where quarantine rules and life goes on as usual. While we’re in self-isolation, why not spend some quality time with friends and family in virtual theaters? It’s more comfortable, it’s less stressful, and it allows for more freedom. So, if you’re looking for ways to spend your time, why not consider virtual theaters?

Why Should You Be Selective About the Movies You Watch?

There’s a reason why Netflix doesn’t offer any movies marked R. The Movietopiah website gives you a quick rundown of what to look out for:

“‘R’ for racist,” “‘X’ for sexually explicit,” “’12’ for violence,” “’18’ for adult content,” and so on. If you see these letters next to titles in your Netflix library, then it’s time to hit the exit button. These are the types of movies that may insult your intelligence, or contain scenes that may be offensive to your sensibilities.

These are the types of movies that you may want to avoid, and that’s not just because they’re marked R. It’s also because they may not be good movies. Sometimes, the media is wrong, and there are good movies that have these types of tags. So rather than wasting your time and theirs, it’s best to be selective about what you watch.

How Can Netflix Affect Your Wallet In a Positive Way?

Besides driving demand and helping to change the cinematic landscape, Netflix has also had a massive impact on our wallets in a positive way. For decades, the movie industry relied heavily on blockbuster franchises to drive revenue. As the costs of production and distribution grew, so did ticket prices and the amount of content you had to pay for. Thanks to Netflix, all of this changed. Nowadays, you don’t need to pay for blockbuster movies in theaters. You can watch them on demand, for free— sometimes even ahead of their theatrical release.

This makes a difference in your wallet. You can enjoy a wide range of movies for free, rather than paying for what seems like a handful of major releases each year. This becomes even more appealing if you’re looking for a film that isn’t on Netflix, but rather, is exclusive to theaters. Then, you’ll have to pay to see it in theaters anyway.

This is another reason why we should be selective about the movies we watch. Sometimes, there are gems that aren’t on Netflix that you’ll want to see in theaters—especially if you’ve paid to see a movie that was previously available on Netflix.

Which Movies Are Worth Seeing In Theaters, and Which Ones Should You Avoid?

So you’re headed to the cinema this weekend, and you have a few bucks to spare? Fear not, mister—you can buy all of the latest movies that you want, thanks to the glorious world of Netflix. But how does Netflix affect your wallet? Let’s dive into the details.

As we established above, Netflix drives demand, which leads to more theaters being packed and more people wanting to go to the movies. This is great for the economy, as individuals, families, and groups of friends often go to the movies together, which results in more food, drink, and popcorn consumption. Furthermore, Netflix is challenging filmmakers to experiment with different genres and story ideas, which has led to some genuinely fascinating and thought-provoking films.

The studios behind these films deserve our respect and applause. Especially now, when the mainstream media landscape is shifting, and more and more people are relying on alternative methods of getting their news fix.

That being said, it’s still essential to be aware of possible offensive or problematic content.

So which movies are worth seeing in theaters, and which ones should you avoid? Let’s examine the issue from several perspectives.

The Financial Perspective

One of the primary reasons why you may want to avoid certain films is because of their financial perspective. Sometimes, the cost of a movie can add up quickly, especially if you add the costs of food and drink during the showing. In some cases, the entire cost of a concert can be covered by the ticket price alone, and you don’t need to spend a penny on food or drink. In others, the reverse may be true. It largely depends on the cost of food and drink, as well as how many people you are bringing along.

It’s a common misconception that theaters charge you a premium just because the movie is rental. The costs of food and drink are usually included in the ticket price, as well as fees, such as the surcharge for using a cash machine.

This makes a difference in your wallet. You can enjoy a wide range of movies for free, rather than paying for what seems like a handful of major releases each year. This becomes even more appealing if you’re looking for a film that isn’t on Netflix, but rather, is exclusive to theaters. Then, you’ll have to pay to see it in theaters anyway.

Family And Friends Perspective

Some filmmakers, musicians, and artists whose work I admire are of a generation that was profoundly affected by the Vietnam War. This led to them feeling undervalued and unfairly persecuted by society. So I often wonder if some of their work, especially when viewed in a theater, might not seem so dishonest or controversial to some audience members. In these cases, it might not be the best idea to bring your family or friends along, especially if they’re younger children.

Think of all of the racism, sexism, homophobia, and misogyny that is continually referenced or tackled in the work of Ringo Starr, Quentin Tarantulinu, or M. Night Sharn.

These are just a few famous examples, but I could go on all day about how much of a feminist, anti-racist, and anti-war message some of their work conveys. Especially since these are all highly relevant topics in today’s society. It’s not always easy to gauge how much content might be problematic, but you can probably guess that some of it isn’t that great.