For many diehard movie fans among us, the very idea of watching a movie on a phone elicits a reaction of disgust. We recoil at taking such an impure approach to such a classic activity, often dismissing it out of hand without a further thought. While there’s always something to be said for personal taste, this is also an approach where many people shut down all thought before exploring the concept fairly.
From a certain point of view, watching movies on a phone can be viable, if perhaps not the way we'd always prefer to engage. It might sound ridiculous, but stick with us, and we're sure we can get you to at least appreciate where we're coming from.
Comparisons Matter
When it comes to comparing a phone to a cinema experience, we're not going to pretend there's any competition. The thing is, cinemas are not the only way we engage with film. Today, we increasingly rely on streaming at home, but to really make our point, let's turn back the clock further.
Many of our readers grew up before the age of streaming, when broadcast movies or VHS tapes were the norm. These weren’t ideal, but we’d all agree that many of us enjoyed this approach all the same. Our CRT screens were smaller than what we have today, or at least a lot heavier for a similar size, and the quality was like watching a 360p YouTube video. It didn't matter; the experience was still one we loved.
Now, for comparison, hold your smartphone up in front of you at a regular use distance. For most of us, this will take up the same amount of viewing space (or more) than the screens we grew up with, or even those we're using now. The colors on a smartphone will tend to be much better, and the quality is infinitely improved. The audio might not match, but paired with headphones, the problem vanishes.
From this perspective, smartphones don’t seem so lacking, do they?
Normalization and Potential
A key part of why we don't accept smartphones as movie-watching devices comes from normalization. We've become accustomed to using them for other uses, so we mentally disconnect them from what they could really accomplish if given a chance.
For a demonstration of what we mean, consider a form of entertainment that has embraced smartphones: online casinos. Whether you're looking at a website or the best bingo app for that service, smartphones have quickly become the most popular way for players to engage. In games like bingo and slots, or collecting bonuses and jackpots, the convenience and quality of smartphones have made them shine through. They were given a chance, so what if watching movies was afforded the same respect?
