The Hollywood Reporter suggests that with feature film buff Scott Stuber leaving his position at the head of Netflix that the streamer will be shifting focus from prestige feature films and buzzed big budget series to “middle of the road” series.

That’s a pity. Because while “blank check” filmmaking at Netflix and other streamers has become a Hollywood punchline, overspending for David Fincher, Scorsese, Cuaron and others, these operations are all leaving money on the table by not putting anything they spend big money on in theaters, at least for a week of two.

As I noted the empty parking lots I’ve been hitting on recent January trips to the cinema and chat with my favorite theater managers, it’s obvious that they’re starved for content, and this post strike year is going to make the problem worse.

Bringing Oscar nominees back for another run isn’t the answer.

Why am I seeing “Miller’s Girl” when Netflix, for instance, could have rolled out Kevin Hart’s pricey “Lift” and pocketed $20-30 million, their share from a movie with star power enough to guarantee a decent two week run?

MGM/Amazon could have shuffled out “The Underdoggs” and made bank for a week or two as well. Snoop would bring fans in.

Amazon picks up international features that don’t get US theatrical distribution. Netflix finances hundreds of Spanish language thrillers, comedies and romances. Throw a few in theaters and see what happens.

“Argylle,” which opens next weekend under a Universal distribution, is an Apple TV/Apple Films product. Theaters need a lot more of that.

Indian cinema is enjoying a boom as there’s always Bollywood fare to fill on the gaps in bookings.

Streamers know their business models better than I do, but propping up theatrical is in their best interest, and low digital costs of getting these features into theaters would, without big promotional budgets, leave them room to make a profit and give theaters a lift through slow January, April and August.

Putting big holiday pix, animated included, in theaters in November for a short run seems like a no brainer.

The theater chains had their problems with non-theatrical streamers, at first. But they now seem resigned to making this latest Hollywood-imposed business model work. The streamers should jump at the chance.

Amazon acquired MGM to boost its feature film efforts. Hulu/Searchlight, Apple, Paramount, Warners and Disney+ could supplement their feature film bottom lines by putting low expectations releases into theaters just long enough to boost their profile and push subscriptions.

Theaters are hurting. Here’s a good deed that could pay dividends right away, and down the road. In poker terms, they’re leaving cash on the table and missing a chance to expand their footprint and Hollywood film biz legitimacy.