Cinemas and Theaters - Are They on their Last Legs?

[BillyG]

Give me some value for my money, and I will be more inclined on a lazy Sunday to go see a movie I didn't have marked as an appointment film. If I know the video/audio quality will be good, disruptive people will be kicked out, and that the theater will be clean I will be much more amenable to the price of admission.

[Anderson]

I might be more in love with the idea of keeping theaters around if we had something like the New Bev or Alamo Drafthouse in my neck of the woods, but all I have are multiplexes, which killed smaller cinemas, drive-ins (used to LOVE the drive-in when I was a kid), etc.
Otherwise, I'm getting more and more frustrated with theater going like Billy mentioned - lousy audiences, lousy projectionists, theaters that look like a DMZ, high prices for tickets. BAH.

Our theaters look like Chuck E. fucking Cheeses, I guess we missed out on the North Korean look.

[Lisa]

I used to love the movie experience - still do, really. I loved getting my popcorn, finding a great seat, and catching a movie in an honest to god theater on a big screen. And frankly, if it was at a really old, great theater like The Ziegfeld or the now-gone Beekman, or even a really well-run newer one, so much the better. I used to go at least twice a week, sometimes three, back in the 90s.

But with the ticket prices, who the hell can afford to go even once in a while anymore? And this is what I tried explaining to FuckHead over at DERP, that when you have your own place and the money is tight (or for example, the posters who have kids and don't have the time, or the money for tickets and a babysitter), and the ticket prices are $12 in Manhattan, then no, sorry, I can't get to the theater like I used to. When the prices were lower, and when I had a roommate, then sure, I could afford it better. But when you put on your big-girl panties and get your own place, then sometimes fun things like going to the movies have to get put aside.

So, DERP rant aside, I very often find myself getting really amped about seeing a movie in the theater, only to wait a couple of weekends after it opens so I avoid the crowds and the fucktards, only to eventually lose interest in seeing it in a theater. I'll eventually rent it, but well - this past weekend is a perfect example. I thought "Daybreakers" was bad-ass, and I remember when it came out, I had every intention of seeing it in a theater. But there were crowds, then there were bills, then we put it off, and then it was gone. So we rented it - and I remember thinking, "This would have been fabulous on a big screen."

All that being said, I love theaters, and despite the hassle it's turned into, I can't imagine not having them anymore.

[Timothy225]

Another reason I brought the idea up - I've been noticing less and less crowds at the theaters when I go to catch a film (opening night, weekend of the first week, etc.) even when it's a HOLY SHIT! EPIC BLOCKBUSTER! NO FUCKING WAY! type of film. Been noticing this for the past couple of years that the crowds are steadily declining when I go to a flick in Freehold, Eatontown, Toms River, etc.

[BillyG]

I think a lot of the dissipated crowds have to do with kids not going to movies as much. Megaplexes around my area are a lot more strict with the R rated films, so sneaking into those would make Mr. McQueen proud. Plus, if a kid has like $20 allowance, does he want to spend $18 for a movie and a drink unless he is going to cop a feel? Doubt it. Add that in with the mentioned many times poor audio/video, but higher prices, and smaller crowds. I wish I was exaggerating, but the last probably 10 movies I saw that weren't at the Alamo had video/audio issues that really ruined the experience.

[Lisa]

Plus, I really save "going to the movies" for movies that are going to be huge and that you don't want to miss. And even then - I'm kicking myself for ultimately missing Toy Story 3 in the theater. But when I think of really great movie experiences in the theater, it's always BIG STUFF. "Jurassic Park" opening weekend at The Ziegfeld, for example - you can't recreate that experience in your living room. Sneaking into "JAWS" when I was 11, and seeing that on the screen with a crowd of people - awesome stuff that can't be done at home. "The Day At the Oscars" the night before The Academy Awards in 2008 - that was a great theater (AMC in Times Square), and frankly, the $30 was well worth the price when you're spending all day long at the movies seeing the five best picture nominees. Seeing the re-release of "The Wizard of Oz" at some great old theater down around St. Marks place in the east Village back in 1998. When I think back to all of those, I think back to really great times at the movies, at an honest to god theater.

[Matt]

I still like the movie theater experience for the most part. A good audience enhances the overall experience: funny scenes are funnier, scary scenes are scarier, etc... I enjoy that aspect of the theater-going experience very much.

But I don't need that for every film that I go and see.

it sounds to me like the New Bev/Alamo Drafthouse models need to be adopted everywhere in order for the theaters to thrive.

[Timothy225]

All of the above seem the likeliest culprits, Billy. Plus, some of the families I know in my neighborhood are going more for the "wait for the DVD/Netflix" camp than they used to, most likely due to costs.

[BillyG]

Yea, everyone I know with a kid holds going to the movie as a HUGE blessing. And I think that's sad. One of my big complaints about ever having a kid is "it will make something as simple as going to a movie a huge pain" and I've repeated that many times. A big part of that is the price. Two months ago I would have carved out time to see all three of those movies this past weekend, but instead I took the price into consideration, as well as my time, and I got more value at home watching The Shield on DVD.

[Master Shake]

I generally only go to the movies before noon ($5 tickets at the local AMC). It's just far too cost-prohibitive to do any other time. Even sneaking shit into the theater doesn't save you much if the ticket still costs $10. And the service does NOT deserve $10. If it was a top-notch projectionist and sound manager, then yes it'd be worth $10, but not with the minimum wagers they've currently got running the equipment.

The only time I'll gladly pay more than $5 for a ticket is for IMAX. That's it.