This loss in box office revenue impacts everyone involved—from the lead actors to the daily wage workers on the film set. High-budget films rely heavily on theatrical collections to recover their investments; piracy threatens the viability of big-screen cinema.

: Accessing or downloading pirated content is illegal in many jurisdictions. Depending on local laws, users could face fines or legal action from copyright holders.

: Sites such as Pluto TV and Popcornflix provide free, ad-supported movies legally.