Abstract
This Comment will argue that, while the Consent Decrees seem obsolete in the 21st century when studios own significant numbers of theaters, movies are no longer released one theater at a time like they were in 1948, which implicates relevant antitrust standards. With the prevalence of streaming, termination of the Paramount Decrees would allow streaming giants such as Disney+ and Netflix to monopolize the movie release market through the hybrid release model, impacting future case law and litigation. Part II of this Comment will examine the Paramount case, the consent decrees that resulted from it, and the judicial and congressional history of antitrust in the movie industry. Part III will apply those antitrust standards, case law, and the Sherman Act to the hybrid streaming model. Finally, Part IV will recommend that the Paramount Decrees be reworked in order to accommodate for the hybrid streaming model and stay in line with the Sherman Act and antitrust precedent as well as to preserve artistic integrity in the motion picture industry.