From Stage to Screen: How Streaming Platforms Are Bringing Broadway Home

The worlds of theatre and streaming are converging like never before. Platforms such as Netflix, Max (formerly HBO Max), and Disney+ are investing heavily in Broadway and West End productions, broadcasting both live performances and cinematic-quality recordings. The result is theatre reaching broader audiences while deepening engagement with fans worldwide.

A milestone moment came on June 7, 2025, when CNN and Max broadcast Good Night, and Good Luck live from Broadway, marking George Clooney’s stage debut. With 7.34 million viewers tuning in, it became the first Broadway play to air live on national television, setting a precedent for accessibility and expanding theatre’s cultural footprint.

Max has also built momentum with filmed musicals like Waitress: The Musical starring Sara Bareilles. Critics applauded the adaptation for preserving the intimacy of the stage while adding dynamic camerawork to enrich storytelling.

Disney+ has captured mass attention with Hamilton and other Broadway hits, while Netflix has experimented with both original musical films and staged productions. These mainstream platforms, once focused solely on TV and film, are now making high-quality theatre content a core part of their offerings.

Industry fears that streaming might reduce live attendance have proven unfounded. Instead, digital access appears to inspire audiences to seek out in-person performances. Broadway’s 2025 gross revenues have already exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks, underscoring that streaming and live theatre can thrive together.

This evolution highlights a broader strategy: using digital platforms not to replace the stage, but to amplify it. Streaming introduces new audiences to the power of live performance, while theatres continue to deliver the irreplaceable magic of a shared, in-person experience.