At the Time100 Summit, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos boldly stated that the streaming giant is "saving Hollywood." Despite the exodus of film production from Los Angeles, the shrinking theatrical window, and declining box office numbers, Sarandos remains steadfast in his belief that Netflix is the industry's savior. "No, we're saving Hollywood," he asserted, emphasizing Netflix's consumer-centric approach. "We deliver the program to you in a way you want to watch it."

Addressing the decline in theater attendance, Sarandos posed a rhetorical question: "What is the consumer trying to tell us? That they'd like to watch movies at home." While he expressed a personal fondness for the cinema experience, he believes that for most people, theatergoing is "an outmoded idea." This perspective aligns with Netflix's business model, which prioritizes streaming over traditional cinema visits.

Hollywood's challenges are well-documented. Family-friendly films like "Inside Out 2" and adaptations such as "A Minecraft Movie" are among the few keeping the industry afloat, while even Marvel's once-guaranteed billion-dollar blockbusters are now unpredictable. The shift in viewing habits is evident, with legendary actor Willem Dafoe lamenting the loss of the communal cinema experience. "Which is tragic, because the kind of attention that people give at home isn't the same," Dafoe remarked. He highlighted the difficulty for more challenging films to succeed without a fully engaged audience, missing the social aspect of cinema-going.

In 2022, acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh shared insights on the future of movie theaters in the streaming era. He acknowledged the enduring appeal of cinema but stressed the importance of attracting and retaining younger audiences as they age. "There's still an appeal to seeing a movie in a movie theater. It's still a great destination," Soderbergh noted. He emphasized that the key to sustaining the theatrical experience lies in effective programming and audience engagement, rather than the timing of releases between theaters and home viewing.