If you're a frequent reader of this blog, then you know I am a huge movie buff. I've been seeing alot of Doom and gloom articles about the state of movie theaters. Predicting one day they will no longer be around, as more and more people prefer streaming. Now I won't lie the theater industry does look bleak right now.
Theaters were hit with the pandemic in 2020, and as the industry slowly crawled up from the gut punch that gave. Then came a left hook of the Hollywood strikes with the writers and actors union respectively in 2023.
Even before the pandemic and the strikes, there was a problem that still exists today. Hollywood isn't supplying adequate movies to fill theaters. They moved everything to streaming with the exception of big budget movies, namely superhero films. Which after Avengers: Endgame began experiencing consumer fatigue. You'll get a drama here and there, family films, and belated sequels. But romantic comedies, comedies, and other genres are few and far between. Theaters have resorted to playing classic films for anniversaries or just because, to help stop the bleeding.
Add the prices of concessions and its easy to see why theaters are struggling right now. However, New Year's Day I went to see the Stranger Things Finale in theaters and it was packed. And the concessions was busy handling the multiple showtimes, and more people were coming in as we were leaving for their showtimes.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and ate their concessions while watching the closure of a beloved show. A show they could have easily watched at home, but wanted to experience in a theater.
Hollywood should take heed, movie theaters aren't dead. You have to give people a reason to come to the movies. Not just for the tent pole films, but in general. When I saw two "old" films I grew up on 1985's The Last Dragon on a Sunday night in October and 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on a Sunday afternoon in August. Both theaters were packed!
People enjoy the experience, there just hasn't been much to experience lately. And that falls on Hollywood, yes Netflix disrupted the industry but much like linear TV Hollywood didn't put up much of a fight.
If movie theatres were to cease to exist, eventually people would turn on the streaming only model in droves. Much like the current backlash brewing against these subscription models and consumers not actually owning any media.
I personally think the days of huge megaplex's may be numbered, but the coziness of theaters are still desired. Grabbing your insanely marked up bag of popcorn, overpriced drink and watching a movie on a huge screen with the lights lowered. Is an amazing experience that can survive, it just needs to be fed.
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