Leonardo DiCaprio on the uncertain future of movie theatres: "Do people still have the appetite?”

Leonardo DiCaprio reflects on uncernaty of moviegoers amid streaming boom

• Leonardo DiCaprio questions future of cinemas amid streaming service rise
• He compares cinemas' fate to jazz clubs, citing a huge industry transition
• DiCaprio missed Palm Springs Awards due to Venezuela airspace restrictions

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Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has recently sparked a debate on the internet, questioning whether moviegoers still have the "same appetite" for theatres amid the rise in streaming services.

He also questions whether theatres will eventually become as uncommon as jazz clubs and other cultural oddities. The actor claimed that there’s a ‘huge transition’ in the film industry.

In a recent interview with The Times of London, Leonardo said, “It’s changing at a lightning speed. We’re looking at a huge transition. First, documentaries disappeared from cinemas. Now, dramas only get finite time and people wait to see it on streamers. I don’t know.”

He questioned, “Do people still have the appetite? Or will cinemas become silos — like jazz bars.”

The Hollywood star added, “I just hope enough people, who are real visionaries, get opportunities to do unique things in the future that are seen in the cinema. But that remains to be seen.”

In an earlier interview with the entertainment news outlet Deadline, he discussed the same subject and described how it has become "more of a challenge" to bring people to theatres.

He said at the time, “This year seems like one of the most lightning-rod moments in cinema history...We’re up against it — the future of the cinematic experience — more than ever, I feel. Getting people to come to the theatres seems like more and more of a challenge.”

Leonardo’s latest statement came after he skipped the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday night due to restrictive airspace amid the ongoing political conflict in Venezuela.

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Leonardo was scheduled to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.

The actor was last seen in One Battle After Another, which was released in September 2025. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film also featured Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor and Benicio del Toro in the lead roles.