American actor Matt Damon says the advent of Netflix and smartphones has ‘dumbed down’ movies, arguing that audiences need the plot of a movie to be repeated over and over again.
Speaking to podcaster Joe Rogan, Damon explained how the streamer giant is changing the way audiences relate to the movies and TV series they are watching, adapting the product to their own necessities.
According to Damon, Netflix executives routinely ask filmmakers to “dumb things down” because audiences around the world are more likely to watch a product while being on their phone.
“It’s going to really start to infringe on how we’re telling these stories,” the star said. “It doesn’t wait for you.”
Damon made an appearance on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ alongside long-term collaborator and friend Ben Affleck.
The two have recently starred in the cop thriller ‘The Rip’, which was released on Netflix on January 16.
Damon, however, did not shy away from criticising the streaming service – especially in relation to how its executives demand their movies to be produced and written.
“I went to see ‘One Battle After Another’ on IMAX – there’s nothing like that feeling,” Damon said.
“You’re with, you know, a bunch of strangers, but people in your community, and you are having this experience together.
“I always say, it’s more like going to church, you show up at an appointed time,” the actor explained. “It doesn’t wait for you.”
That experience could not be more different compared to the way audiences watch movies when they are in the comfort of their own homes.
Damon explained: “[Netflix] is like: ‘We want people to stay tuned in. And it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”
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Audiences agree with Damon’s take
Damon’s opinion should not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever watched a popular film or TV show on Netflix.
And as the experience of going to the cinema becomes more of a rare occurrence rather than a habit, many agree with the actor’s take.
“It’s been known, watching Stranger Things’ last season, they kept replaying flashbacks in the middle of conversations. It really bothered me,” a Reddit user wrote.
“This is unfortunately true, writers are having to now spoon-feed plots to people because doomscrolling while watching content is becoming the new norm,” another one added.
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Ian Trinidad 
Newsjustnews writers 
Shameeka Voyiya