As XR technology continues to advance, so do the opportunities for consumers who are craving some immersive entertainment. With over 171 million VR users across the globe in 2023, it’s no surprise that virtual technology has now found its way into Hollywood as well as our living rooms.
The question is, how is the film industry using VR? As we step into a new era of interactive entertainment, we’ve seen VR pioneers Oculus release their very own short films while popular screening locations transform their theatres into an immersive hub for movie showings like never before.
With that in mind, let’s dive deeper into the future of VR cinema and meet some of the key extended reality projects catching the eyes of avid film watchers.
How Is The Film Industry Using VR?
So how can the film industry utilise VR? As a technology-powered via a headset, virtual reality aims to transport its user from one dimension to another. Whether this is for gaming purposes or a medically inspired learning lab, the opportunities for digital immersion are becoming endless thanks to the evolution of mixed reality tools.
It’s, therefore, no wonder that leading film directors and creative VR developers have decided to partner up for a digital entertainment experience like no other.
Cinematic VR may differ from what we’ve seen in the past, but this new form of storytelling is rather addictive. With the ability to drop a user within the movie they are watching, you quickly take the power away from fictional characters and allow the spectator to start leading their own narrative.
“Virtual Reality allows for the creation of truly immersive experiences by filmmakers. Instead of appearing as a bystander watching the action, the audience can instead be in the middle of it,” says Bonnie Adams, author at FilmLink.
This could power a whole new era of user-led content, allowing each viewer to enjoy a completely unique movie experience.
The Birth of VR-Powered Cinemas
Immersive movie showings became popular in a cinema environment more than a decade ago. Starting small with 3D and 4D experiences, cinemas around the globe are now beginning to adopt new ways to improve immersivity within a movie theatre environment.
VR-powered viewing is able to create a greater sense of presence than traditional cinema experiences, so it’s no surprise that Amsterdam’s first VR-powered cinema was a hit when it opened in 2016.
Supplying moviegoers with their own Samsung VR headset and Galaxy S6 Smartphone, each customer is immersed in their own cinematic viewing experience and can enjoy recliner seats that spin 360 degrees, depending on where they are looking.
Whether they want to fly through space, walk the streets of New York or interact with an animated world, there is a selection of cult classics and new VR-powered movies to choose from for a unique viewing party like no other.
Just last year, the popular Yosemite National Park also opened up their own VR-powered cinema to present their flagship VR film in style. Visitors can relax in an all-immersive theatre space and enjoy new views of the park’s natural environment. Combined with 360-degree turns and even moving air currents, it’s a fantastic way to experience documentary filmmaking right on the site of Yosemite.
"We are excited to bring this futuristic technology to Yosemite Cinema and allow visitors to experience Yosemite National Park in a way that they otherwise never could," said Yosemite Cinema CEO Keith Walker.
Better still, those who own a VR headset can even take the captivating experience straight to their couch, as Yosemite’s newest VR movie can be found on XR platforms such as Bigscreen and Plex VR.
A New Demand For Interactive Films
As more of us embrace VR technology within our homes, the demand for immersive content on the go is increasing. Consumers no longer want to have to travel to a cinema for a 3D or 4D movie experience, especially when they can enjoy interactive content from the comfort of their couch.
In response, we’ve seen the birth of short films made in VR for VR. Take the VR giant, Oculus, for example. As a pioneer for VR-powered short films, their 2017 frontier exhibit, Dear Angelica, took the Sundance Film Festival by storm.
Starring Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, the VR film followed a turbulent story between mother and daughter in a series of interactive illustrations.
“Dear Angelica is the visually stunning story of the close-knit bond between a mother and daughter. Featuring the vocal talent of Geena Davis and Mae Whitman, this female-centric VR work is the first to have its scenes construct themselves around you,” said Creative Director Saschka Unseld. “Each component appears as individual strokes rendered in real-time, for an interactive viewing experience, unlike anything you've ever seen.”
Providing the viewers with the chance to freely explore the movie while watching it added a new depth to traditional storytelling and has since opened up new opportunities for immersion.
“You can pause it any time, walk around and look at details, and then continue,” claims Unseld. “You are in control. You can either have it wash all over you, or you can take a moment somewhere.”
Dear Angelica may have been one of the first VR movie hits, but it certainly won’t be the last, especially after 65% of Oculus Quest users rated the motion picture five stars.
The Future of Immersive Entertainment
So what is next for immersive entertainment? As VR-powered cinema experiences take off, are other industries catching on?
From interactive threat experiences to headset-powered tours around your favourite museum, a digital future sees mixed reality at the heart of entertainment.
Could this drive more of us to experience the world from our own safe spaces or simply enhance popular activities out and about in a post-Covid landscape? We expect that the proliferation of immersive tech could encourage consumers to experience entertainment from all angles making for a future with no boundaries, only possibility.
