The Rise of Direct-to-DVD

So it is not just me. I was starting to think my memory was going when I kept seeing all the new dvd releases that I could not remember ever being at the movie theaters. Direct to DVD--before that direct to video--has been around for quite awhile so that is nothing new. What is new is major film studios increasingly using this outlet to maximize their cash flow. The market has grown 36% since 2005, with 675 films being released this way last year. The business totals about $1 billion dollars in annual sales now. That is amazing. Right now it seems to be geared more towards the sequel/prequel market. I wonder how long before more stand alone movies are released this way. Is it indicative of the decline of the theater going experience? I go to the movies less and less each year. It just is not worth it to me to see a lot of the crap being put out today on the big screen. Ticket prices continue to rise as well as the cost of drinks and food. Throw in the lack of courtesy on the part of theater goers and I just don't bother to go as much. People today in the theaters act like they are in their own living rooms and have no problem chatting away to each other and into their cellphones through the whole movie. And don't even get me started on how parents today let their kids act up without ever saying a word to them. So you can see why I watch most new movies today only on dvd. I eat and drink what I want, pause whenever I want, and don't have to worry about others ruining my movie going experience. Another point brought up in the article is that by going direct-to-dvd the film makers are bypassing the ratings board. They do not have to submit their film for review so they can feel free to include whatever they want in the movie and just release it on dvd as unrated. I see this as a win-win situation for them and the public who is tired of the nonsensical views the ratings board takes with increasing frequency.