Netflix redefining how movies are distributed may seem like the biggest change to movies in 2016, but that looks positively minor next to how next year may see the very fabric of the medium itself altered. Virtual reality has been an obsession of sci-fi for decades, ever since computers allowed for digital realms to be created, but we're now getting to the point where the fiction part is becoming increasingly flimsy; the Oculus Rift has become a pioneering piece of tech, even if uptake is still in the early stages, while the likes of PlayStation VR and Google Cardboard furthering its affordability and mainstream applications. The go to application of VR thus far has been video games, making FPS' even more FP than ever before and expanding interactivity, but as more developers get on board, so too are the uses, with movies looking like the next big thing. We've already had the first film released explicitly for VR purposes, with a handful more expected before the end of 2015, allowing the watcher to choose where they view a story from, but in the next twelve months it looks to be going from a gimmick to a viable form of entertainment. There's an increased slate of varied products, with 20th Century Fox even signing a deal to release some special Oculus Rift features, and, if 3D has proven anything, Hollywood isn't above pushing a new tech after that initial cash injection (although hopefully this one will stick). Of course, the more interactive element means these experiences will be really toeing the fine line of what "film" is - add a few more points of interaction and you're bordering on a very passive video game - but there's no way to avoid that this won't just revolutionise how we consume films, or the type we're exposed to, but what exactly movies are in the first place. Exciting (and scary) times. How do you think cinema will change in 2016? Share you thoughts down in the comments.
