Is Netflix Lighting Ruining Movies? Let’s Talk

3 hours ago

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If you’ve ever hit play on a Netflix movie and thought, “Why does this look… off?” you’re not imagining it. Modern streaming-era lighting has developed a very specific look: flat, ultra-clean, evenly lit, and oddly artificial.

It’s something that I didn’t even realize was happening until someone mentioned it recently. Like… why does every scene look like a commercial or something?

As it turns out… it’s done on purpose: It’s a deliberate style shaped by algorithms, compression, fast production schedules, and the need to look “good” on every screen from iPhones to airport TVs.