How Movies Changed After COVID
A Radical Change in Production, Distribution, and Storytelling
COVID didn’t just disrupt Hollywood—it rewrote the script, transforming how films are made, shared, and experienced in a permanently altered cinematic landscape..
Nearly five years later, my predictions have proven remarkably prescient. The global COVID-19 pandemic was indeed a once-in-a-century disruption, and few industries were hit as hard or changed as fundamentally as the movie business. Theaters went dark, sets were abandoned, and release calendars were wiped clean. But the disruption didn’t just freeze the film industry temporarily; it became a catalyst for long-overdue transformations. What emerged in the wake of COVID was not a return to business as usual, but a new cinematic ecosystem — one that is more decentralized, more digital, and more experimental than anything that came before.
This column explores how movies have changed since COVID in five major areas: production, distribution, content, audience behavior, and the economics of Hollywood. What we find is that COVID didn’t just alter how films are made and consumed. It permanently rewired the very DNA of the movie industry.
The pandemic rewired filmmaking, ushering in a new era of lean crews, virtual sets, and AI-powered production that Hollywood now embraces by choice, not necessity.
Production: Remote, Lean, and Tech-Driven
In early 2020, when lockdowns halted film productions worldwide, studios scrambled to adapt. Big-budget films that required hundreds of people on set became infeasible. The new norm: leaner productions, smaller crews, and stricter health protocols. What could be done remotely, was done remotely. Editors, VFX artists, and even composers collaborated from home studios.
Studios began investing heavily in virtual production technologies. LED volume stages, like those popularized by The Mandalorian, allowed filmmakers to create expansive environments without ever leaving the studio. These innovations weren’t just stopgaps — they proved to be more cost-efficient and creatively liberating. Post-COVID, many productions continue to use these tools, not out of necessity, but preference.
The shift toward virtual production has fundamentally altered the filmmaking process. Directors can now see their finished environments in real-time, making creative decisions on the spot rather than hoping their vision translates through months of post-production. Actors perform against actual backgrounds rather than green screens, delivering more authentic performances. The technology has democratized big-budget filmmaking, allowing smaller productions to achieve visual effects that would have been prohibitively expensive just a few years ago.
COVID also accelerated the use of AI and machine learning in previsualization, script breakdowns, and scheduling. What was once a tech experiment is now mainstream practice. Studios employ AI to predict shooting schedules, optimize crew assignments, and even analyze script elements to forecast potential production challenges. The pandemic forced Hollywood to operate like a startup: agile, remote-first, and tech-savvy.
The health protocols implemented during COVID have also left lasting changes. Many productions now maintain smaller, more efficient crews by design. Remote monitoring systems allow directors and producers to oversee multiple locations simultaneously. Cloud-based collaboration tools have become standard, enabling real-time feedback and approval processes that once required physical presence.
The pandemic shattered the traditional theatrical window, giving rise to streaming-first releases, global premieres, and a new era where flexibility—not the box office—defines a film’s success.
Distribution: The Death of the Theater Monopoly
Before COVID, the theatrical window — the exclusive period during which a movie played in theaters before reaching home video or streaming — was sacred. The pandemic shattered that model.
With cinemas closed, studios had no choice but to pivot. Major titles like Trolls World Tour, Wonder Woman 1984, and Black Widow bypassed theaters entirely or premiered simultaneously on streaming platforms. This wasn’t a temporary solution; it marked a turning point. Warner Bros. famously released its entire 2021 slate on HBO Max day-and-date with theaters. Universal negotiated a 17-day window with theater chains. The result: a dramatic erosion of the 90-day exclusivity window.
Today, streaming-first or hybrid releases are the new normal. Theaters are no longer the gatekeepers of a film’s financial success. Instead, they are one of many distribution options. For certain blockbusters, theatrical releases still matter — but increasingly as marketing events rather than profit centers. The power dynamic has shifted irreversibly toward digital platforms.
This transformation has created a more flexible and responsive distribution ecosystem. Studios can now tailor their release strategies to individual films rather than adhering to rigid industry conventions. A character-driven drama might skip theaters entirely and find its audience on streaming platforms, while a superhero spectacle might still warrant a traditional theatrical rollout. The one-size-fits-all approach has given way to customized distribution strategies that maximize each film’s potential.
The shift also enabled global day-one releases, breaking down regional barriers and allowing films to build global fandoms instantly. That newfound immediacy has transformed how films are marketed, hyped, and monetized. Social media buzz can now translate into immediate viewing, creating viral moments that drive subscription numbers and cultural conversations.
Theater chains, once the industry’s power brokers, have had to reimagine their role. Many have pivoted toward premium experiences — enhanced seating, improved food service, and specialized screening formats like IMAX and Dolby Atmos. Others have embraced niche programming, hosting film festivals, classic movie nights, and interactive experiences that streaming platforms cannot replicate.
Content: More Introspective, Experimental, and Diverse
The content of movies has changed too — not just how they’re made or distributed. The pandemic invited a new era of introspection. Filmmakers began exploring themes of isolation, mental health, grief, and resilience. Movies like The Father, Nomadland, and Bo Burnham: Inside captured the emotional texture of a world in lockdown.
These films reflected a collective processing of trauma and uncertainty. Audiences, having experienced their own isolation and anxiety, connected deeply with characters navigating similar challenges. The pandemic gave filmmakers permission to explore darker, more complex emotional territories that might have been considered too risky for mainstream audiences in pre-COVID times.
At the same time, there was a noticeable demand for escapism. Audiences, fatigued by real-world crises, gravitated toward fantastical, multiverse-spanning narratives. Films like Everything Everywhere All At Once, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness exemplified this trend. Reality became too grim; fiction became bolder, weirder, and more liberating.
The multiverse concept, in particular, became a metaphor for the fractured, uncertain world audiences were experiencing. These films offered the fantasy of infinite possibilities and second chances — themes that resonated powerfully with viewers grappling with their own disrupted lives and futures.
COVID also catalyzed a long-overdue reckoning with diversity and representation. With global audiences tuning in from their homes, the appetite for stories from outside the Hollywood mainstream surged. Korean films (Parasite, Minari), Indian epics (RRR), and global streaming hits (Squid Game) proved that language was no longer a barrier to viewership.
The democratization of distribution through streaming platforms meant that films from previously marginalized communities could find global audiences without navigating traditional gatekeepers. This has led to a renaissance in international cinema, with Hollywood studios now actively seeking diverse voices and global stories to fill their content pipelines.
We also saw an increase in experimental formats and indie projects that would’ve never secured theatrical runs pre-COVID. With fewer gatekeepers and more digital platforms, filmmakers were emboldened to take creative risks. Interactive films, choose-your-own-adventure narratives, and hybrid documentary-fiction works found new audiences willing to engage with unconventional storytelling formats.
Audiences have traded blockbuster loyalty for personalized streaming, reshaping moviegoing into an on-demand, at-home experience defined by convenience, algorithms, and niche fandoms.
Audience Behavior: From Blockbuster Loyalty to Personalized Viewing
Perhaps the most profound change has been in the audience. The pandemic trained viewers to expect premium content at home. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime filled the void left by shuttered cinemas, and audiences got used to the convenience.
This shift redefined what it means to “go to the movies.” For many, that no longer means leaving the house. Theaters are still relevant, especially for big-screen spectacles, but they now compete with living rooms. And in many cases, they lose.
The home viewing experience has evolved dramatically. Audiences invested in better sound systems, larger screens, and more comfortable seating. The gap between theatrical and home viewing quality narrowed significantly, making the decision to venture out to theaters a more deliberate choice rather than a default entertainment option.
Audiences have also become more fragmented. One-size-fits-all blockbusters are no longer the only viable path. Streaming algorithms have created micro-niches and fandom clusters. Some viewers binge prestige dramas; others prefer international thrillers, documentaries, or anime. The definition of a “hit movie” has diversified. Success is no longer measured solely by box office but by engagement metrics, meme-ability, and subscriber retention.
The attention economy has fundamentally shifted. Audiences now expect immediate gratification and seamless access to content. They’re less willing to wait for releases or tolerate inconvenience. This has pressured studios to prioritize convenience and accessibility in their distribution strategies.
Social media has become an integral part of the viewing experience. Films now live or die based on their ability to generate shareable moments, memes, and online discourse. The conversation around a film can be as important as the film itself, creating new metrics for success and new pressures for content creators.
In short, COVID taught audiences they have options — and they’re unlikely to give them up. The pandemic accelerated trends that were already emerging, creating a more empowered, demanding, and diverse audience that expects entertainment to adapt to their preferences rather than the other way around.
Hollywood Economics: The Era of Franchises and Frictionless Funding
The financial models underpinning Hollywood also changed. Mid-budget films were already struggling pre-COVID; the pandemic accelerated their extinction from the theatrical landscape. Studios doubled down on franchises, reboots, and IP-driven content that promised global returns. The bar for original theatrical content rose dramatically.
The economics became stark: either make a film big enough to justify a theatrical release (typically requiring budgets north of $100 million) or small enough to find profitability through streaming platforms. The middle ground — the $30-60 million films that once formed the backbone of Hollywood — virtually disappeared from theaters.
Meanwhile, indie filmmakers found new lifelines. Crowdfunding, online film festivals, and direct-to-streaming deals allowed smaller projects to thrive. Some platforms even experimented with blockchain-based film financing and NFT-backed ticketing, hinting at decentralized models of film funding and distribution.
The democratization of distribution tools meant that filmmakers could bypass traditional gatekeepers entirely. Social media marketing, direct-to-consumer sales, and platform-specific content strategies opened new revenue streams. Some filmmakers built sustainable careers without ever working within the traditional studio system.COVID also intensified the war between streamers for original content. Deep-pocketed platforms are now the dominant buyers of screenplays, talent, and finished films. A-list directors like Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) and Rian Johnson (Knives Out sequels) inked massive deals with streaming platforms. The center of gravity in Hollywood has shifted from studios to streaming conglomerates.
This has created a buyer’s market for talent, with streaming platforms offering unprecedented creative freedom and financial packages to attract top-tier filmmakers. The traditional studio development process, with its layers of executives and committee-driven decision-making, has been challenged by more streamlined, creator-friendly approaches.
In this new landscape, filmmakers must be not only storytellers but savvy business strategists, capable of navigating a complex web of funding, platforms, and formats. The barriers to entry have lowered, but the complexity of building sustainable careers has increased.
Cinema’s future lies in immersive, decentralized, and boundary-blurring storytelling—where innovation meets the enduring human need for powerful narratives.
What Comes Next?
We are living in a post-theatrical, post-linear, post-traditional era of filmmaking. The boundaries between film, television, and interactive content have blurred. Some of tomorrow’s biggest “movies” might be serialized, choose-your-own-adventure experiences. Others might premiere in the metaverse, accompanied by NFT collectibles and virtual Q&As.
The technology enabling these new formats continues to evolve rapidly. Virtual reality filmmaking, augmented reality experiences, and interactive storytelling platforms are beginning to mature. While still niche, these technologies represent potential future directions for cinematic expression.
But the core impulse of cinema — to tell stories that move us — remains unchanged. If anything, COVID reminded the world just how essential storytelling is during times of crisis. Movies helped us cope, escape, connect, and reflect.
The pandemic didn’t destroy cinema. It destroyed cinema’s old assumptions. In its place, a more dynamic, diverse, and democratized film culture is emerging. Whether you mourn the loss of the Friday night theater ritual or celebrate the rise of global storytelling, one thing is certain: movies after COVID will never be the same again.
The transformation we’ve witnessed represents more than just an industry adapting to crisis — it’s a fundamental reimagining of what cinema can be. The old model, built around scarcity and gatekeepers, has given way to one defined by abundance and accessibility. The challenge now is ensuring that this new ecosystem supports not just commercial success but artistic excellence and cultural significance.
As we move forward, the most successful players in this new landscape will be those who embrace change while honoring cinema’s fundamental power to illuminate the human experience. The tools and distribution methods may have evolved, but the magic of storytelling remains as vital as ever.