Entertainment consumption continues to rise to historic highs, and media companies have seen massive merger deals in 2025 that have only increased the value of these platforms. Based on recent polling, people are indulging in the comfort of their private homes more often than seeking it on the big screen.
Streaming service usage is relevant now, as Netflix, one of the world’s most popular streaming companies, brokered a deal to buy the film studio Warner Bros. Discovery in December. Warner Bros. produced extremely successful box-office hits in 2025, such as A Minecraft Movie and Sinners.
The deal is significant because Netflix will be able to merge with HBO, another popular streaming service, which some industry insiders worry may narrow competition. The effect the business deal will have on streaming services, theaters, and the entertainment industry as a whole is unknown.
Data reveal more about the popularity of streaming services and how people may forgo a trip to the theater in favor of a comfy spot on their couch.
According to an April 2025 Pew Research Center poll, 83% of U.S. adults use streaming services. Among those adults, over half only stream their entertainment, meaning they do not subscribe to cable or satellite. Ninety-two percent of Americans aged 30 to 64 use streaming services.
In 2025, more U.S. adults chose to stream a movie at home rather than going to a theater at least once a month, according to a survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
There are many platform choices for those who stream their entertainment. The most popular service in 2025 was Netflix, with over 300 million subscribers.
