The casual moviegoer is a thing of the past. That's a big problem for Hollywood
The casual moviegoer is a thing of the past. That's a big problem for Hollywood
Gone are the days where prospective moviegoers would roll up to the theaters and gawk at the board for their next watch. Theaters are trying to make up that business in other ways.
Movie longevity is one factor. Maybe.
Paying entrance fees that are easily the price of a streaming service for an entire month is another. Definitely.
They did this to themselves. Crazy expensive prices, snacks no one can afford, dingy theaters, allowing noisy annoying patrons, there's no benefit now.
Plus:
Not banning phones so there's always some shithead distracting from the experience with a giant glowing rectangles
Releasing a bunch of shitty mid movies that are all derivatives of existing IP
also, 2.5 hr movies became normal. fuck that noise. if it's that long, i'm gonna need a piss break, especially if i'm drinking something.
i'm just gonna watch it at home
Make up in other ways by doing the same things, but more, that makes sure I never go to a theater again.
It's not casual if it costs as much as a formal dinner at a 3 star Micheline restaurant.
I love going to the movies, but they have got so expensive and the snacks are insane, it doesn't feel like a little luxury we might indulge in every month or so, but like a large luxury we might do twice a year.
We live in Australia where wages are generally higher if that adds any context.
There is literally nothing that will get me into a movie theater again.
Movie pass 2.0?
Pay to fall asleep 20 min in? Awesome!
I only go if the movie is worth watching in (true) IMAX or Dolby. So that will be like 1 or 2 movies a year. This year it was Dune Part 2. Otherwise, I just wait for it to be available to watch at home.
I was in the same boat before I learned that there was essentially a rerun/remake/release/whatever you'd call it of Coraline in 3D. Immediately bought tickets knowing that not many people would head out to see it later at night. No drinks or food since I didn't wanna get charged an arm and a leg, but overall was a good experience since the theater chairs were nice.
Otherwise, yeah, no reason for me to go to the movies besides maybe if I really feel like going in the summer if there's a Ghibli fest going on (because masterpieces should be seen in theaters if the theater quality is nice enough).
Many moons ago that was me. Every paycheck id just head out and see what was playing
At one point, a mate and I would go once a week. Then the quality of films seemed to take a big dive, then the prices got ridiculous. Might go once or twice a year now, if there is actually something worth it.
I hate going to the movies. It's the people. There's always someone talking or on their phone and theatres do little to nothing to curb the issue.
When I worked at a theater as a teen I was ruthless. You'd get one warning then I'd boot your ass out.
These days I can't get through even scarcely attended movies without some jabroni distracting me.
When you go to movie the only sounds that should come from you are gasps, laughs, and maybe awes. I should be able to forget others are around.
I know some of those people that never stop talking or always on their phone.
I've asked them to stop. I've told them to stop. I've pointed out that if it was somebody else doing it, they'd be pissed off because someone else is ruining their time. They have zero fucks to give.
The people and the fact that it's always FREEZING! Adding a heated chair doesn't keep my nose warm. Then, the people down the row talked all the way through the movie.
Did you ask them to stop?
I have a 75 inch 4k and decent sound. Why would I pay money for an experience worse than what I have at home?
Absolutely. We got a 240" screen here and more importantly: noone with a phone, coughing, sneezing, munching.... And when we have to take a leak, we press pause. Why on earth would we want to pay 20 bucks (or whatever it costs now, not been in a theatre for 30yrs) to have all that??
Disruption always works this way.
VHS let people watch a movie at home, whenever they wanted, but they had to buy that specific movie and put up with their dinky 20" TV. If you wanted serious sound or scale, you either paid five whole bucks at the local theater, or left your whole wallet at Circuit City. And even the best home experiences were standard-def. Film was not threatened by mere video.
DVDs made buying movies a lot cheaper, largely because they cost a penny to make, so studios could print a million copies just in case and shrug off any losses. If you wanted to see this year's releases, this year, you went to the big theater at the mall. It still beat your enormous 32" plasma in glorious 720p. Theaters got to be fancy and focus on the popular hits.
Streaming was like-- you want me to buy a subscription to watch an old movie? If I'm gonna use the internet, Kazaa is right there. Okay fine, adapting VGA to component video sucks, and this 40" set finally has more pixels than my monitor. Oh wow, that cartoon's on here? I haven't seen this in a decade. And movies wait like three months. I can watch The Office again until that's available. Driving outside town to pay thirty bucks a head at the megagigadodecaplex is only worthwhile for hot new things, like superhero movies. Theaters better step up their game to beat my couch and a stiff drink.
There was a moment.
There was a moment, where they might've turned this around. As Netflix was being cannibalized by assholes splintering off their little fiefdoms, the major competing theater companies could have seen the pattern. Disruption always works this way. Your low end slips away, letting you focus on better quality with higher margins. Then your midrange slips away, and you're a luxury! Then your whole industry dies. What might've saved it was pushing back toward small local theaters. You only have to beat 70" screens and decent stereo. People still don't bother with surround sound, and even a modest projection screen beats the most obscenely large television.
The global respiratory plague put a hard cutoff on how late that might've worked. It was probably screwed, long beforehand. Theaters are over. Move on.
DVDs are 480i or 576i, depending on where in the world you are. 720p is HD.
Bring back movie pass!
Went to way more shows with that.
It's like $15 for a ticket and another $15 for a drink and popcorn per person.
Prices are so bad that even 16oz bottle water is $5+ at many theatres
Bring back movie pass!
Many theater chains have their own equivalent.
Yes but those are theatre specific and usually expensive