Action is one genre that many exhibitors believe is best suited for the big screen. Yet, Dharma Productions decided to release its action drama Drive on Netflix.
Coming on the alternate screen on November 1, Jacqueline Fernandez and Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer Drive puts us in doubt whether the action drama’s release on an over-the-top (OTT) platform will be a game changer and a threat to cinema screens.
“I don’t think it is revolutionary or it will open the gates for theatrical content to flow on OTT platforms,” said Preetham Daniel, Senior Vice President, Asia, Harkness Screens.
He added that when content belonging to the action genre is put on OTT, it is as good as the home theatre a consumer has. So, it would be more watching and less enjoying.
“A movie like Drive would have been better on a theatrical platform. Theatre brings the technology designed to deliver a content. Binge watching type of content works well on OTT but if I want to enjoy a movie, then this (OTT) is not the platform,” he further said.
In addition, Sunder Aaron, Co-Founder and MD, Q India and Co-Founder and Principal of Locomotive Global Inc, doesn’t think this (Drive’s release on Netflix) is a threat for cinemas.
“Action films, especially, will always have a healthy home in the movie theaters, and there is certainly no shortage of action movies vying for release. In fact, theatrical releases are becoming increasingly expensive and with more and more films being output, the cinema owners’ appetites has shortened for keeping a movie in its theaters that isn’t performing well,” he said.
He also doesn’t see Drive’s release as a game-changer because he thinks the game has already changed, with movies across genres occasionally passing up on a theatrical distribution and going to premium streaming platforms.
formerly Mad Cornish Projectionist.