Thread by @theBuoyantMan

Unpopular opinion: Theaters are here to stay. Netflix, Hotstar, etc., can't kill theater business.

1. People will watch movies and TV shows on OTT, and many will miss the theater experience. So, going forward, theaters that are selective about filming good content will survive.

2. Going forward, we can see a decline in superstardom and star worship. In the age of OTT, content will become king, and many good actors and writers will be discovered. These will then be rewarded.

3. With OTT in play, the size of the pie will increase, with increasing budgets for original productions. Big production houses will also realise that they can no longer make do with big star names and sub-par content, and they will have to mend their ways.

4. For most part, big fat superstar salary packages will go away. Those producing content driven films and shows that place a high value on entertainment and value-add to the audience will reap rewards multiple times their cost.

5. Superstars will become irrelevant. Superstars are superstars only because there are few. But if content driven shows and films bring out many actors we can admire and adore in droves, the allure value of superstars and the shine associated will begin to decline.

6. Indie movies and music directors will come to the main foray and OTT will give a chance to many aspiring young talent. There will still be nepotism, but it will be slightly less pronounced.

7. Since platforms like Netflix, Hotstar etc., will establish the platform with known stars and thereafter produce low budget and high quality content with tier-2/3 actors and make smash hits (Like Amazon Prime "The Boys"), it will bring out new talents into mainstream.

8. Multiplex business is here to stay. Once theaters open, we can see crowd at PVR, Inox, IMAX theaters, etc. Any movie that commands a cinematic experience will pull crowd to theaters as people still value a theater experience and it can never be replaced (except maybe with VR).

So, for now, theater businesses are here to stay. Whether I will bet on them is another case. As much as I like theaters and the experience, I wouldn't invest in theater businesses.

Theater business is essentially F&B hospitality business. They don't make money from movies. They make money from overpriced Sodas, Samosas, Puffs, and Popcorns. And they are ripe for disruption. They will continue to make money, just not great to own as businesses.