Problem
Movie theaters continue to show mediocre new releases, while Netflix controls the market for rentals. Even though most classic films are better viewed on the silver screen, few of us will ever see Luke Skywalker, Marty McFly, or The Dude on anything larger than a 40-inch Panasonic TV set. There is a demand for old movies on the big screen, but theaters have no way to identify and serve the diverse demands of the market.
Solution
We should have a website that allows groups to gather and purchase tickets to see any move at any time on the big screen. With aggregate demand (and digital projection technology), movie theaters should be able to deliver classic movies to an interested audience at off-peak times, enabling en masse on-demand movie-going.
Implementation
With access to the Netflix database (note: we can already share our queues with our friends) through a simple API, someone could easily aggregate the interests of the crowd based on individual queues. If I were to participate, the site might send me a message like this: “You and 314 others in Cambridge, MA have The Big Lebowskion your Netflix queue. Would you like to see a showing of it at 8pm on Tuesday May 3rd?” If I opt in, I can buy a ticket and also invite my friends to join me so we reach the 50-viewer minimum. So, who wants to see Donnie, Walter, and The Dude with me on the big screen?
Attribution:Matthew Hatoun
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