We watched Wonder Woman 1984 today at home. Lots of fun! Really got me thinking about the future of theaters. I’m someone more interested in storyline than visuals so I can’t imagine ever going to a movie theater again even without a pandemic. I know some people are interested but obviously not enough because it seems like given a choice most people would want to watch at home so theaters and others in the industry with a vested interest in theater showings have prevented that by embargoing movies so they couldn’t be released for home viewing until theaters ran them for at least several weeks. An industry based on forcing people to do what they didn’t really want seemed doomed to me and the pandemic may be the nail in the coffin. How about you? Are you excited to go back to movie theaters when it’s safe? Do you think movie theaters will last or die out?
Was a big movie goer. Wife is a huge movie theater fan. I think the whole movie experience will change rapidly. Personally, I don’t see myself craving the theaters anymore. Way too expensive when I can stream something on my large screen with great audio and eat whatever snacks I want while lying on my comfy couch.
The content creators and distributors are going to go through lots of changes. My guess is certain flicks will only be released in theaters including IMAX but many will be released directly to streaming.
I also see a change in the type of content. I’ve become a huge fan of the 4-8 episode (not multi season) series direct to Netflix, Amazon, etc. Really great content. Shows like “The Night Of” or “The Queens Gambit”. Way more time consuming than a movie (and something to really sink your teeth in to) but not so involved like a multi season series.
When I have a show or two to watch, no reason to even think about going to a theater. The industry was headed this way. Covid accelerated things likely by 5+ yrs. Has done the same thing in many industries. Not a bad thing. Was the natural evolution. Just seems odd when it happens so quickly due to circumstances.
That’s just me but I bet many others feel the same way.
I’m a big movie goer, whereas spouse is content to wait for movies to come out on dvd. I believe watching certain movies on the big screen enhances the movie experience, for example, action movies on IMAX. When it’s safe to go back, I will return to the theaters. Hollywood will keep producing movies and they need a venue to show them. I think the economics of producing movies depend on box office receipts followed by dvd release.
I know several people who have returned (or experienced for the first time) Drive-ins. My niece and her husband love it and like that they can take their dog. Only problem for them is they live in NW Washington, so in the summer the shows don’t start until 11 or so.
We were not big theater goers as a family but I used to take my kids a few times a year. I really miss it now. The smell of the popcorn, the dark theater. At home I find way too many distractions when I am watching something. My vision is not great at the end of a long day and we are not monster TV/sound system type people so that also takes away from the home experience.
We have a drive in not far from us but I have never liked them since becoming an adult. As a teen/child it was great but now I prefer to be in a climate controlled environment where people are not milling around outside my window having conversations or yelling at their kids. Am I becoming an old codger lol?
I just don’t know. I love movies, but only go a couple times a year anymore. It’s just so expensive. They aren’t as popular anymore with streaming. But people love getting out of the house and it’s a fun thing to do.
This boom of watching movies /music listening actually started around mid 1995 or so. I know since I was a part of it. Had a small company out of a hobby and went to the Consumer Electronic Shows in Chicago then every year for a bit in Vegas. When cassettes/film changed to DVD… That was a huge deal…
I was fortunate enough to build a private sound proofed professionally designed home theater in my basement around the 2001 or so. Front projector with acoustic screen with speakers behind it. I still will rival the sound /experience I get VS pretty much any movie theater.
So we used to build these also. But you need a lot of cash. Nice front projector were as much as small cars.
Then the 2008/9 crash and no one had that type of disposal money and a few years later people started buying large plasma tvs/leds and stated putting speaker systems in the living rooms /den… Crazy to think about that now … Lol. This all came from the car industry BTW. Multiple speakers in your car then you want it in your home. Rear view camera on your car… Now you want a camera on your front porch to now Ring type front door bell to view on your phone. Crazy…
So many different ways to get the experience VS what people are taking about here as convience.
But… Saying that… There is just something to be said to watch a movie on a really big screen. Mine is pretty large but the movie theater experience is unique. Do I love going downstairs to watch a sports game or movie in my pj’s? Of course… Will I rush back… Probably not until 2022 and don’t know who will be left.
The whole streaming is what killed hifi music and going to the movies. The pandemic just rushed what was happening anyway. Never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever download and stream Dianna Krall. Now on Amazon prime Ultra HD… Not horrible but nothing will replace listening to actually records and that industry is actually making a huge comeback. Just ask my 23 year old daughter who bought her first nice record player. But she also got nice Bluetooth speakers to go with. So blending some old /new technology works also…
Nice thread and sorry for going on…
We are not big movie goers because there’s rarely anything out we want to watch, but when something does come out we want to see I vastly prefer watching it at the movie theater vs at home.
We’re fans of mostly clean comedy (Jumanji), some dramas (Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), historical films (Green Book), cleaner action films (Jurassics), some sci-fi (Star Wars/Trek, The Martian) and similar. Mainly it has to intrigue us and not have a ton of language or unnecessary sex scenes. My ears are sensitive and I’ve never enjoyed watching others playing around, “just because.” I want the actual story to delve into and enjoy.
Our household is huge theater-watching movie people. At least 1x a month we’d go. We even drive an hour to our favorite theater for a treat. Not seeing films in the theater has been one of the top things we all miss because of the pandemic.
I think theaters have been suffering for a bit, and will have to innovate to make the experience different. Also filmmakers/studios will need to get involved as I’m sure they, too, believe in the large screen, sound, community experience.
Ever the optimist, I remain hopeful that theaters will not die. That movie-watching with others will return. Not only post-pandemic but in general, because COVID has only illuminated the problems of movie theaters, rather than being the cause.
As others have said, big screens and good sound at home, let me add:
(1) ability to turn on captions
(2) ability to pause and/or back up if something was missed.
In the past few years we’ve only gone to theaters if the movie was something epic that a HUGE screen would enhance (like Lord of the Rings) or something we wanted to see right away (like Downton Abbey movie).
Up until this year, daughter always gave us movie passes at Christmas, and we’d use those.
I think many movie theaters will either go out of business or they will be high-end.
The big thing in theaters right now is trying to create an experience that cannot be replicated at home. Big captain, reclining seats; alcoholic drinks and good meals served; upgraded screens, reserved seating, and the best surround sound.
There’s something special about watching a movie with hundreds of other people (think seeing a play or concert) that cannot be replicated by watching it on your small tv acreen at home with a couple of family members. Just not the same experience.
I can see going to a movie theater in the future as a special occasion, similar to having a very nice dinner.
We are big movie goers and will return when it’s safe to do so. We enjoy the experience. We go to the nicer/luxury movie theaters. Sure we can see the same movies at home eventually, but it’s not the same, imo.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I was in a movie theater. I just prefer watching at home and generally don’t care for movies where the FX are the main draw. DH and son used to see the big action/FX movies in the theater, but those days are past. So, for us, the theaters could all close and we probably wouldn’t notice.
I remember WAY back in 1976 seeing Rocky in a theater for the first time. During the final boxing sequence, fans were yelling and cheering as if they were at an actual boxing match! Had never experienced that in a theater before.
It was fun watching people getting THAT immersed into the movie.
The only time I enjoy going to the movie theatre is when the theatre is 90% empty, which seemed to happen a lot, even before the pandemic. Problem is that too often inconsiderate obnoxious patrons ruin the experience for me whether they are talking, texting, eating or just… being there. As bigger and bigger TV screens get cheaper and cheaper I think people are less likely to go to theatres.
“The smell of the popcorn” Oh, yeah!
My problem is I’m not interested in so many of the films. That includes anything with animation or other special effects.
The online services allow so much choice.
This thread reminds me it’s the first time in almost 15 years that the girls didn’t get movie passes in their stockings.
We took them to the drive-in a lot as kids. Ours has 3 screens. So they could watch something kiddie (sitting in lawn chairs, the sound via a portable radio,) while we could watch something different, from the car.
I see this theater is still open, despite usually closing when the weather gets colder.
I CAN’T WAIT to go back to the movies. I m sick of living like a hermit. I want to see people, I want to experience the sensation of being part of the movie. I love my local small movie house, which not only has movies but also hosts other fun events.
My biggest fear after this pandemic, apart from the obvious and awful fears (death, poverty, illness, etc…), is that we are all going to retreat into our homes and continue to live in isolation. It’s too easy to fall into a trap of doing nothing. No disrespect intended to anyone who wants to stay home and watch a good movie. We do that ourselves. But I want to LIVE a little. No man is an island. We are sociable creatures. Life is more fun with others.
I have to admit I have always loved going out but find I am more resistant to crowds (pre -covid) so watching things like movies at home will feel good to me. Same for sporting events. But I LOVE live theater and can’t wait to get back to that. Wife and I have been season tix holders to the Broadway Series (traveling tours) for 20 yrs and have seen 6 or 7 shows per yr. I also love going to restaurants and bars and will definitely go back once vaccinated and safe. The movie theater just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
We have enjoyed going to the drive in recently (but these were old classic movies).
I love, love, love movies, and I always went to the theater to watch new movies, but I’ve realized that it was impatience more than enjoying the theater experience. I don’t like being around so many strangers, honestly, and the cost (along with the costs of drinks/snacks) means I would rather watch at home if there was no/little delay. I’ve always loved the drive-in, and wish there were some around us during most of the pandemic, but there weren’t. My husband had to be dragged in the first place, but he says he misses it now. Go figure. Ha.
We miss the theater and live sporting events as well. We also do season tickets for a couple of traveling Broadway series as well as local team home games.