Is the curtain closing?

A lot has changed...right now. But a lot has also changed in the past 20 years. The millennial generation has grown up in a considerably different world in terms of technology and expectation.

I want to talk about Movie Theaters.
For me growing up, "Going to see a Movie" was a treat. It was something you look forward to, and relished the experience.
I still love going to see a movie. Before the Covid-19 crisis, I typically would seek out the handful of local, single screen theaters, enjoying the ambiance, the environment of these theaters.
I would also enjoy 1st run films at chain theaters.

Both are hurting right now, for obvious reasons.
Reading some articles about the growing conflict and tension between AMC-theater chain and Universal Studios about the release of the Trolls movie direct to on demand, and posturing about release window timing and rights.
I'm not on the inside here but it sounds like AMC is threatened, worried about maintaining the advantage of being he venue of 1st release with the majority of movies, while Universal is recognizing that the future might be more and more direct to video, direct to on demand.

My first reaction personally is to NOT believe we could ever live in a world without movie theaters. But when I look back over changes in just the past 20 years, I think I have to be careful that I'm not whistling past the graveyard here. 20 years ago, I wouldn't of projected the decline of the urban Mall, nor the end of Montgomery Wards, and the struggles of Sears. Nor would I probably of projected a future when media, movies could be instantly distributed on numerous formats. Played and viewed on everything from Big Screen TV's to your cell phone.

Reading one article of the many I found concerning the AMC/Universal conflict, I was taken by the comment section of the article which had a majority of comments that seemed to reflect that a LOT people didn't care if theaters went the way of the Dodo bird.
I read a lot "So What?" " I don't like people talking during the Movie", "Concession Prices are ridiculous" " I prefer watching movies at home".

Which as a person that enjoys, remembers Movie Theaters fondly, really bothers me.
But how do I argue to a Millennial that the loss of theaters would indeed be a loss? A large screen TV, or even just their computer screen, iPad, or Cellphone all seem to be acceptable even preferred formats for them. They weren't raised in a time when "Going to the Movies" was part of the fabric of entertainment itself.

I'd rather not live in a world that no longer has Movie theaters. But I can't deny this crisis, and just the reality of the world we live in MIGHT be rapidly closing the curtain on a part of my life I have always enjoyed.
I value entertainment that pulls us away from our Televisions, computers, and cellphones. To the magical penumbra of a theater.
But I also feel I'm in a rapidly dwindling population that may share the same feelings.

 

The "Video" revolution is considerably different, I think to the threat today.
Primarily because of the "Window of Release" threat.
For the whole age of "Be Kind Rewind" of videos, you still had Theaters as the venue of 1st release. If you wanted to see a Movie, first run, that run was in a theater. Not to mention at that time, for most VCR's the largest screen they were hooked up to was maybe 31 inches--square, with a really pretty crappy speaker.

Today, IF studios move to bypass the given advantage of first run at the theater, on demand means the large screen TV's a majority of people have, as well as soundbars and headphones.

I also would say Theaters have been facing a challenge even before the Covid-19 crisis. Big releases, for example a "Star Wars" movie, might find theaters packed, but I think crowds have been overall dwindling.
Some of the large chain theaters, even trying things like showing Opera, recorded plays, and various "one time events" to lure audience back to the theater.

I'm totally optimistic that someday..SOMEDAY the threat of Covid-19 will pass. That won't be an issue anymore as to whether people "should" go to the theater. It's a temporary reality.

But studios realizing that release directly to on demand, or simultaneous release may be a profitable business pattern, and I think a younger population NOT so enthusiastic about theater going as a whole?

Well I hope you are right.
But I think the threat is unique, different and real.

 

For what it's worth, I hope you are both right. I hope the Movie Theater rebounds from this immediate crisis and thrives long term.
And even pessimistically I'm not saying that I think the Covid-19 crisis will pass and Theater would immediately nose dive.
But my concern is just the framework for an evolution that I think could send movie theater in the same direction as drive in theaters. The primary threat being the relationship between theaters and studios and the whole process of Movie release. With the additional idea that I'm not sure the average Millennial and those following, value the Movie Theater experience as much as previous generations.

Again, I hope you are right.
But from what I have read, Universal was pretty happy with the numbers AND financial return they saw from the Trolls movie. Evidently at $20 a rental, they made pretty good "Opening Weekend" numbers.
Of course the key is how much of the success was actually acceptance of the format, and how much is people forced to do so, as an action of self isolation?
But the success of the direct to on demand release of Trolls, at least has studios sniffing around the idea of adapting their approach to movie releases.

Plus to an extent the horse has already left the barn.
You already have a trend of "Made for on Demand" movies and films. Netflix Originals, Amazon Prime Originals.
I think 5 years ago, a film like "The Irishman" would of had a "normal" Theater release.
The Irishman, had a "limited" theater release of only 26 days before being sent directly to Netflix.
And streaming services themselves are just getting more and more into the business of funding and creating their own projects for their own use...this bypasses theaters.

 

Well, these are points I wanted to discuss.
I can only HOPE you're wrong.
I take some solace in the temporary resurgence of Drive In Theaters. Even though I personally think the resurgence is temporary and a direct result of the Covid-19 crisis, I do think it demonstrates at least 1 thing. People still enjoy going OUT. There is and will still be a social gathering aspect to GOING to a theater. I don't think this is duplicated at home with whatever level of technology.
Is this enough to save movie theaters? I don't know. If they can also maintain the advantage of being the primary outlet of 1st release of films...perhaps. If we've also seen something else come out of this crisis, it's that there is a limit to how much time people want to spend sitting on their own couches.
However, I think your observations, points are embraced by a lot of the younger generation. So once again I can only HOPE you are wrong.

 

This is exactly what I love about those unfortunately disappearing single screen theaters. I love the architecture, the look, the actual feel only possible in these theaters. Even today, walking into those theaters, to perhaps watch a older classic film is as close to time travel as I can imagine. That's the experience I hope always remains.

When I was a kid, two of my best memories. were a both "surprise" movie theater experiences, when one afternoon my Mother took me to see the Gene Wilder in "Willy Wonka".
And like you, similarly one time my Dad surprised me with a trip to see Disney's 20,000 leagues under the sea.
Both those films to this day -remain nostalgic favorites of mine.

I also grew up in the mid-70's when you really had the birth of the summer Blockbuster phenomena. When you would turn on your local nightly news to see a story about the around the block lines of people, lining up at the theaters to see Jaws, The Exorcist, or Star Wars.

There was no social distancing. Person to person lines, crammed theaters. But the excitement of event, really was unparalleled. Even if that event was happening in your local small theater.

I hope this never disappears.
But I fear this crisis, and simply changing perceptions about what is the best way to view and watch media, may take a hard toll on the entire movie theater industry.

 

I understand your point.
But I had to laugh. Because I own a standing gramophone player. I think it's amazing. My mother bought years ago, and it was antique way back when she bought it.
I have a small collection of records that work on it. And one is a recording of Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge in " A Christmas Carol", I still like to wind the Gramophone up and listen to that recording every December.

There's a back-lash. I hear of an entire generation of younger people buying turntables, and listening to vinyl records.
So all hope is not lost.
Some people evaluate the fringes, the nearly intangibles of an experience as opposed to the computerized, digitized path of least resistance to a perfect clarity 1's and 0's feedback.

I'll stand on those battle lines as long as I can.