Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Hollywood Breakdown

    Hollywood Breakdown

    Sean Parker Wants to Bring New Movies to Your Living Room

    The Internet mogul has some big name directors backing his $50-per-movie plan, but movie theater owners are not so hot on the idea.

    • rss
    Download MP3
    • Share
    KCRW placeholderBy Matthew Belloni • Mar 17, 2016 • 3m Listen

    The man who disrupted the record industry with Napster wants to shake things up in the world of theatrical releases as well. Sean Parker's newest project is called The Screening Room. The idea is that people could buy a box top set for $150 and then pay $50 per film for access to new movies that you would typically see in a theater. Parker has gotten filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, J.J. Abrams and Ron Howard on his side, but other big directors like Chris Nolan and James Cameron are not in favor of the plan. Nolan and Cameron make big movies designed to be seen at a theater, and they have both spoken about the value that cinematic experience. The National Association of Theatre Owners also want to protect theatrical release windows. To them it's a matter of survival. The reality of watching brand new movies at home may still be a ways off. Parker and his partner, Prem Akkaraju, are yet to speak publicly about The Screening Room.

    • KCRW placeholder

      Matthew Belloni

      founding partner of Puck News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Schneider

      Senior editor at Variety

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kaitlin Parker

      Producer, 'The Business' and 'Hollywood Breakdown'

      CultureEntertainmentArts
    Back to Hollywood Breakdown