The roaring success of F1: The Movie has once again shown how the line between streaming and big-screen entertainment is getting thinner by the day. The film, shot partly with Imax cameras, pulled people back into theatres and helped Imax post record-breaking earnings this quarter. It made nearly $97 million worldwide just on Imax screens, proof that when movies feel like an event, audiences are more than willing to show up.
More and more, films that could have easily gone straight to streaming are taking a short theatrical detour. It is a clever strategy that gives them that “big movie” aura before they land on OTT. It also reminds people what they have been missing in the age of home viewing: that communal thrill, that larger-than-life experience. Streaming platforms have started to see the value in this too, turning select releases into short-run theatrical events before bringing them online.
That said, it is still hard to imagine this trend taking off in India anytime soon, especially with Imax. The format is still limited here, and smaller or mid-scale films do not usually justify the cost of such premium screens. So while global audiences might get to experience these streaming-theatre hybrids in their full glory, Indian viewers will likely have to wait or watch the revolution unfold from their living rooms.