Bonisoli wasn't shy about the reasoning: it's meant to "protect theaters," which he contended "need films that can guarantee an income." Italian media industry figures, such as Agis' Carlo Fontana, have claimed that streaming services represent "unfair competition."

This isn't necessarily as harsh as the French law, which requires a three-year wait between a theatrical premiere and availability on streaming services (although it doesn't require a theater debut like Italy does). However, the goal is ultimately the same: it's an attempt to guard a traditional approach to movie-going (and the businesses that depend on this) against disruption. Whether or not it works is another matter. Italy's mandatory buffer may prevent domestically-made movies from going directly to Amazon or Netflix, but it won't necessarily persuade audiences to visit the theater -- they might just wait until they can watch a production at home for no extra cost.