Christopher Nolan suggests why you might want to cancel Netflix and other streaming services
Few people have advocated more for the cinema experience in recent years than Christopher Nolan, and hot off the success of The Odyssey he has urged film fans to ditch their favorite streaming services for a 'safer' alternative, preaching the benefits of physical media.
While streaming services might certainly offer convenience to film and TV lovers across the globe, Nolan argues that they don't just offer a worse viewing experience but they perpetuate dangerous habits for the industry that could harm preservation in the future.
This is an especially pertinent conversation for film fans who also love gaming, as Sony recently caused controversy with the decision to end all physical game production for PlayStation consoles after January 2028, leaving people with a digital-only options going forward.
As reported by Gadget Review, Nolan – who is one of the many big directors who value the cinema experience, especially involving additional formats like film and IMAX projection – highlighted the dangers that a lack of ownership can cause in relation to streaming services.
Nolan reveals why streaming services are dangerous
When you buy a film on disc its yours forever, with literally nobody able to take the ability to watch the film away from you so long as you have something to play it on.
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In contrast, streaming services only have the film for as long as they have the licence, and you're bound to have run into an issue where your favorite film or show has suddenly disappeared from the service your paying, either leaving you with no alternative option to watch it or forcing you to pay for another streaming platform.
This has even happened to films and shows that are created exclusively for that platform, with places like HBO Max and Disney+ removing content it produced itself, effectively rendering the content 'lost'.
"If you buy a 4K UHD, it's yours," Nolan explained. "No company is going to break into your house and take it from you."
When you get a physical disc you only pay for it once too, and while that cost is often equal (if not higher) than a single month for one streaming service, you never have to pay for it again, no matter how many times you want to rewatch it.
Think about how much you've given to Netflix over the years – especially with the price increases that have been forced upon consumers – yet you technically don't actually own a single thing despite the money you've handed over.
Of course, there are many things that never ever get a physical release meaning that streaming is the only option, but that's also a consequence of the system as a whole as viewers are funnelled into an experience that doesn't wholly benefit them — and that's why Nolan is calling for change on both sides.
How are physical discs better than streaming?
Beyond the ownership argument, one of the biggest benefits of physical discs compared to streaming is the quality that you're guaranteed, both in terms of the image itself and any additional features you might receive alongside the film or show.
Looking directly at bitrate – which refers to the amount of information or data that is processed at any one time while content is playing – Netflix's 4K subscription averages between 10 to 15 megabits per second (Mbps), with dynamic systems lowering this dramatically for 'low-complexity' scenes.
Comparatively, a 4K UHD disc has a maximum bitrate of 144 Mbps – over nine times what Netflix offers – and while discs don't always hit this peak, you're guaranteed a far higher quality image all of the time compared to streaming.
Often you'll find that a standard Blu Ray – especially one released in the last decade – is far higher than 4K streaming options despite the resolution being four times smaller, with 1080p discs having a maximum bitrate of 40 Mbps.
This higher bitrate also helps discs offer far better HDR processing than streaming, which is where 4K content really shines — and you're simply not getting the most out of your set up if you're not using physical discs.
While internet is ubiquitous, discs also mean that you can access your content no matter what happens, as we all run into internet outages or speed problems every now and then.
Finally, discs also support the addition of special features and behind the scenes content – something you see people regularly yearn for on social media – which enhances the experience dramatically, especially for films and shows that you love.