How Movies Are Increasingly Driving Streaming Revenue

For years, the narrative has been that movies, in contrast to TV series, were in decline — casualties of a once-in-a-century pandemic that shuttered theaters and a double blow from prolonged industry strikes. But there’s new data that paints a different picture. Streaming services are, in fact, relying more than ever on films to keep their growth engines humming.

In the linear era, success was about scheduling and ratings. In streaming, it’s all about acquisition and retention. Every day, a platform lives or dies by its ability to attract and keep subscribers — audiences who are then monetized through subscriptions and ads. In this constant battle against churn, movies are proving to be one of the most efficient tools streamers have to keep viewers coming back.

For years, the narrative h