Netflix wants movies to accommodate viewers on their phones

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck recently appeared on “Joe Rogan Experience” to promote their new Netflix film “The Rip,” and the longtime friends and collaborators shared their thoughts on how the streamer is changing the way movies are made.

Damon pointed out that because viewers pay a “very different level of attention” to a movie at home versus in a theater, Netflix wants to push the action set pieces toward the beginning of the film. He also said there were discussions behind the scenes about reiterating “the plot three or four times in the dialogue” to account for the fact that people were on the phone.

“The standard way of making an action movie that we learned was to usually have three settings. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third,” Damon explained. “You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. It’s your finale. And now they’re like, ‘Can we have a big one in the first five minutes?’ We want people to stay. And it wouldn’t be great if you repeated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.'”

Affleck then chimed in, adding that the streamer’s formula for successful content isn’t the only solution. He used Netflix’s recent limited series, “Adolescence,” as a shining example.

“But then you watch ‘Adolescence,’ and it didn’t do any of that,” Affleck said. “And it’s really great. And it’s dark, too. It’s tragic and intense. (It’s about) this guy who finds out his kid is accused of murder. There are long shots of the back of their heads. They get in the car, no one says anything.”

While Damon thought shows like “Adolescence” were “the exception,” Affleck said he felt the series “demonstrates that you don’t have to do” Netflix’s audience-pleasing tricks.

Watch the entire “Joe Rogan Experience” episode with Damon and Affleck here.