Ang Lee talks about the impact of online movies on cinemas: We can’t force audiences to go to the cinema

Ang Lee talked about the impact of the epidemic on the film industry at the Beijing Film Festival Master Class, saying that after audiences get used to watching movies at home, it may be difficult to go back (to the cinema), "We must think of new ways to make movies and make a revolutionary reform." He also talked about the impact of streaming media such as Netflix on traditional theaters, "If your movie is not as good as the audience watching it at home, then you can't blame the audience for staying at home. The customer is always right."

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Ang Lee: "I am as confused as everyone else. Cinemas are in a very difficult situation right now, and it is also very difficult to go back. In the past, we had hundreds of people shooting films everywhere, but now it is also very difficult. Everyone is used to watching movies at home, and it is hard to say what will happen to theaters after they get used to it. Maybe the most high-end theaters or theaters with special experiences will have business, but other theaters will have a hard time. You can watch movies on TV and mobile phones, and everyone is used to it. So everyone must think of new ways to shoot movies and make a revolutionary reform. This is my feeling.

It is useless to reject the fact that the audience does not go to the theater but watch it at home. You can only accept this fact. You cannot force the audience to go to the theater. No one can do that. You can only make things that they cannot see at home. If your movie is not as good as the audience watching it at home, you can't blame the audience for staying at home. The customer is always right.

The advantages of theaters are the sense of community and ritual. We should play to their strengths, accept challenges, and create new things. I believe in movie theaters."