Spielberg Laments the Pandemic’s “Bus‑Taunted” Cinema Blues
The Big Screen’s Unintended Side‑Effects
Legendary director Steven Spielberg, now 75, takes a bite out of the Covid‑19 era, pointing out how the pandemic’s hush‑down hurdles turned an entire wave of filmmakers into “bus‑taunted” casualties. While video‑on‑demand services like HBO Max surged past record‑breaking subscriptions, some theatrical showstoppers were suddenly pushed off the big screen in favor of streaming.
In his own words:
“The pandemic created an opportunity for streaming platforms to raise their subscriptions to record‑breaking levels and also throw some of my best filmmaker friends under the bus as their movies were unceremoniously not given theatrical releases.”
From Popcorn to Pop‑Off
Spielberg also muses about how older movie‑goers—real life “pro‑cinema” zealots—had a hard time with those silent streaming nights. They might’ve liked being free from sticky popcorn, but lost that sweet social buzz of strangers sharing the same suspenseful moment.
His take for The New York Times:
“I think older audiences were relieved that they didn’t have to step on sticky popcorn. But I really believe those same older audiences, once they got into the theatre, the magic of being in a social situation with a bunch of strangers is a tonic.”
Warner Bros. and the “All‑Streaming” Year
- When the world locked down, the Tom Hanks‑centric giant Warner Bros. dropped all its 2021 releases straight to streaming, claiming it’d be “the best market appeal.”
- Chairman Toby Emmerich noted it allows a global cinematic launch – a “checkerboarded theatrical marketplace” – to guarantee as many movie releases as possible for the year.
Bottom Line: The Domino Effect
What Spielberg’s observations highlight: streaming’s swift rise didn’t just give us binge‑timing, it also forced many grounded filmmakers into a vacated arena, sidelining the theater for a period. The old‑school film buffs face confusing nostalgia, weighing the comfort of a home screen against the unforgettable rush of a live theater crowd.
Keep in Mind
Remember—the pandemic’s still reshaping movie life. Spielberg’s candid worries remind us that whether it’s a seat in a house or a seat in a cinema, the heart of film is shared experience. Here’s to hoping the stream‑stream heartbreak fades when theatres open fully and the O’Brien or Hitch line fills up again!
