[rainworld]

And yet here we are: DNR -> fancy grain -> DNR -> basic, approximated grain. Because noise doesn’t compress. And you get compression artifacts even in Blu-ray releases. What’s the point of applying fancy grain when what a lot viewers end up seeing is an ugly smudge?

[kridsdale1]

Because it looks amazing in the editing studio. Just like the sound mix is incredible on the Atmos monitors in the sound mixing room, even though the home viewers have a soundbar at best and tiny stereo speakers in a flat panel typically. The dynamics and dialog channel will be fucked. But that’s user error.

[wbl]

Movies are best enjoyed in the theater.

[account42]

What, cramped into a room with tons of other people who can't help themselves from making noise or moving in front of you while you only have limited and overpriced snack options. As nice as a big screen and professional sound equipment is the downsides make the experience strictly worse than a big OLED + half decent soundbar.

[dylan604]

You must live alone. Even at home, you have people called family or friends that do not necessarily sit idle while watching TV. Watching with kids at home is worse than at the movies because they are at home and don't have the same social rules to follow. People at home are also not under the social rules of not using their devices, and second screening has become the norm.

Yes, a theater probably holds more people than your typical viewing experience at home. Unless you go to the movies during the week and avoid crowds. The last movie I saw at the theater was on a Tuesday after opening weekend as 4pm. There might have been 2 other people in the entire theater. It was amazing.

[account42]

If your kids are badly behaved that's on you. If others are badly behaved in a semi-public setting there is not as much you can do about it.

[account42]

Yeah I always roll my eyes when people get so mad about compressed (as in reduced dynamic range) audio. I just want to watch / listen to stuff without annoying my neighbors and don't particularly care whether or not the volume of gunshots is realistic.

[Wowfunhappy]

This is exactly why theatrical releases are so important to movie producers, isn't it?

[dylan604]

Theatrical release qualifies for certain awards and shiny statues. That's their concern. If a streaming platform wants to give them enough cash to beat out projected box office earnings, then they'll take it if they don't have any grandiose visions of golden statues.

[dylan604]

The grain is there to hide the ugly smudge. that's the question they rather you didn't ask

[notpushkin]

I think at some point studios will give de-grained versions to Netflix directly.

[dylan604]

At some point, it would not surprise me for Netflix to require this to be provided. While not negating what you concluded, I just think the impetus for the result is important to distinguish.