Whether it be Gilmore Girls or FRIENDS from Netflix, The Little Mermaid, or Aladdin from Disney+, they have been a part of our lives for as long as we can remember. There is something magical about revisiting the old shows, movies, and characters that shaped our youth. Even though so many new shows and movies compete for screen time, how do these platforms stand out? The answer is something much closer to home: nostalgia. By tapping into the warm nostalgia of old favourites, these platforms have found a way to make us feel comforted, excited, and deeply connected—just like we did when we first discovered these shows. Nostalgia is more than a feeling; it's a way to comfort ourselves and take us back to the times when life was much simpler. Whether it's watching The Lion King for the hundredth time or re-living the quirky moments of Full House, these stories have always held a special place in our hearts in ways words can never express. During uncertain times, especially through the pandemic, many turned to the familiar. Netflix knows how to reignite our love for old sitcom shows like The Office and FRIENDS. By bringing FRIENDS into the library, Millennials and Gen Z alike rediscovered—or, in some cases, discovered for the first time—the quirky gang of six navigating life in New York City. The revival of interest set the stage for the highly anticipated FRIENDS reunion in 2021. It was a celebration of nostalgia, reinforcing how FRIENDS remained an influential show decades after it first aired. Disney's vast catalogue of timeless classics like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast has allowed the company to create a platform that feels like a portal to childhood. By making these iconic films easily accessible, Disney+ brings comfort and familiarity to its subscribers. Disney has another unique weapon: the Disney Vault. For years, Disney has used this marketing tactic to limit the availability of its classic animated films, creating a sense of scarcity around its beloved titles. This created a sense of excitement and demand, turning every re-release into a significant moment for the fans and ensuring that subscribers always have access to the stories they grew up with, further cementing their loyalty. It's a masterclass in how to use nostalgia as a tool not just to attract viewers but to retain them. Ultimately, what makes Netflix and Disney+ so successful in their nostalgia-driven strategies is their ability to tap into deeply personal emotional connections. Whether it's revisiting a show that reminds you of watching T.V. with your family or re-watching a classic Disney film that shaped your childhood, it's about the comfort and joy that those memories bring. In an increasingly competitive streaming market, this emotional resonance gives Netflix and Disney+ a unique edge. By offering a blend of the familiar and the new, they've figured out how to turn our memories into a powerful tool for subscriber loyalty. After all, who wouldn't want to return to a time when things seemed simpler, even if it's just for a 30-minute episode?
Source: Reader’s Digest
25 Oct 2024
Avani Patel
