Going out vs staying in: 7 Times viewers preferred OTT over big screen for a movie

The movie-going experience has traditionally been characterized by giant big screen images, thundering sound, and overflowing popcorn buckets. But a seismic shift has altered how people watch movies over the past few years. With the emergence of streaming services and pandemic-related theater closures, viewers started swapping seats in the cinema for couches in the living room, and they didn't look back.

Although a few filmmakers continue to swear by the theatrical release model, a number of big-ticket films have shown that success is not always a function of a box office run. In fact, most films have succeeded because they bypassed theaters, opting for the OTT route and becoming overnight sensations.

Whether star-studded action films, nostalgic sequels, or breakout originals, audiences have opted for convenience, control, and comfort over crowds. Some set records, some opened franchises, and others created fan movements that reverberated across social media. As audience behavior changes, it's obvious that the couch is as influential as the cinema seat. Here are seven movies that not only came out online, they conquered there, showing that sometimes it's better to stay in.

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7 Times viewers preferred OTT over the big screen for a movie

1. Red Notice (2021) – Netflix

Red Notice, featuring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot, skipped theaters altogether, and Netflix hit pay dirt. It was the platform's most-viewed original movie, and more than 364 million hours were watched. Why did it work? A cross-country heist story combined with banter was the type of action audiences wanted to enjoy from home, without the intensity and seriousness of a traditional theater-going experience. Critic reaction was lukewarm, but the viewers didn't mind confirming that streaming could propel humongous hits based on rewatch value and convenience, rather than art. Its sequel is currently in development also for Netflix. Cinemas never stood a chance.

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2. The Gray Man (2022) – Netflix

In spite of its $200 million budget and A-list cast featuring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, The Gray Man opted for Netflix instead of a broad theatrical release, and audiences rewarded it. It totaled 253 million hours viewed within weeks, which made it Netflix's fourth highest-viewed movie at the time. Although some criticized the plot as being paper-thin, the visual style and star appeal made it perfect for a Friday-night home binge. Remarkably, its triumph wasn't on a cinematic scale; it was on bingeability. There's a spinoff and an outright sequel in the works.

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3. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) – Netflix

Glass Onion opened with a blink-and-you-miss-it theatrical release but shattered Netflix records. Audiences for the original eagerly waited, avoiding theaters to stream it 279 million hours in its first month. The film's streaming-first model was such a success that it made people question whether limited theatrical runs were even worth it. Rian Johnson's clever sequel gave fans the chance to pause, rewind, and spot easter eggs, a perk theaters can't offer. The offbeat whodunnit flourished on repeat watch and online debate. In the end, Glass Onion demonstrated that mystery movies, once big-screen mainstays, can do even better on OTT platforms.

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4. Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) – Disney+

Almost three decades since the first one, Hocus Pocus 2 soared onto Disney+ and put a serious spell on viewers. Rather than a theatrical release, Disney went with nostalgia, releasing it straight to fans. It broke records with 2.7 billion minutes streamed in its opening week. Families welcomed the move, as the scary fun was better aligned with a snug-at-home Halloween atmosphere. The movie trended on social media, particularly TikTok, with Gen Z loving the Sanderson Sisters. Looking back, not going to theaters maximized its visibility, making it an intergenerational streaming event as opposed to a box-office risk.

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5. Army of the Dead (2021) – Netflix

Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead got a brief theatrical launch, but its zombie empire really took off on Netflix. It was one of Netflix's biggest titles with 186 million hours watched in four weeks. Timing was everything. People were hungry for post-lockdown action, and a zombie-heist crossover was just the sort of escapism streaming viewers devoured. The movie's theatrical run was symbolic rather than strategic, and it was a teaser. On social media, Snyder's behind-the-scenes clues and possible spinoffs were analyzed by fans, eventually culminating in Army of Thieves. It wasn't merely a film; it started a streaming-first zombie franchise.

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6. Enola Holmes (2020) – Netflix

With theaters shut down due to the pandemic, Holmes was a pandemic surprise hit. Initially intended for a theatrical release through Warner Bros., it was bought by Netflix, and the risk paid off, reaching 76 million homes in 28 days. Millie Bobby Brown won over viewers, and the home-viewing model allowed families to welcome the light-hearted detective story together. What was remarkable wasn't merely its streaming success, but how rapidly it spun into a cultural phenomenon, with cosplay and fan fiction. Enola's universe was constructed on interactivity, something that flourishes more in streaming environments than in movie theaters.

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7. Extraction (2020) – Netflix

Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, was a game-changer. With 99 million viewers within its first four weeks, it broke records for Netflix original movies. Coming out during peak lockdown, it provided fans with the action fix they were deprived of in cinemas. But timing was not everything. Extraction was simply made for OTT. The non-stop action, absence of convoluted subplots, and replay value made it ideal for watching again and again. It was a workout meme, a GIF machine, and a background-binging favorite. A sequel emerged on Netflix as well. If there ever was a movie that yelled "stream me," it was this one.