Late night movies are a cozy and memorable way to spend your evening, but is using a streaming platform better than going to a movie theater to watch movies? Movie theaters do have benefits when watching movies, like having a bigger and more high quality screen to present a movie, however, when it comes to the amount of money being spent and the flexibility of an environment while watching a movie, streaming at home could be a better option. 

Streaming movies is more convenient for those wanting to save money instead of spending $10-15 on one movie ticket plus food and drinks there.  While streaming movies, most people spend about $5-20 depending on when a movie was released. Streaming also reduces the need for planning out a schedule when wanting to watch something, which is beneficial for students and adults who do not seem to have the time to go all the way to a movie theater just to watch a movie that you can find on another platform. Being unable to move around and get up when you need to can also be problematic for some. You also don’t have control of pausing a movie or rewinding when you want to, unlike streaming, where you can pause, rewind, or fast forward, ect, whenever you would like. 

Others against this idea, however, believe that movie theaters provide fewer distractions like being required to turn off your phone or being in a quieter space. Some believe that movie theaters also include a better watching experience when it comes to the big, high-quality screens that present the movie.  Having a high-quality TV is hard to find most of the time, so some people think that because it is rare to get the full watching experience at home, that a movie theater is more beneficial to go to.

Some believe that movie theaters can also create fun memories with friends and family who tag along, too. However, research shows that about three-quarters of people in the U.S. prefer streaming at home because of the conveniences of spending less money and having more flexibility for yourself, like having the ability to rewind, fast forward, or pause a movie whenever you want. Those who prefer watching in the comfort of their own home also find this benefit when streaming at home.

Movie theaters do have their benefits and reasons for being recommended by some people, however, there are a higher number of people in the U.S. who would rather relax at home and enjoy a movie night.