The Future of Movie Theatres , your thoughts.

[valkyrie013]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/regal-...g-operations-at-all-u-s-locations-11601793090

So it seems that 500 or so theatres are going to be closed because the production houses keep on kicking the can down the street on release dates. This leaves theatres to show old to very old releases like Empire strikes back and Jaws, and other international releases (alot of Bollywood in my area, not complaining just reporting fact)
The only real new release was Tenant and that is doing so so.

So questions are:
Are theatres open in your area ( typically 50% occupancy etc.) or not at all?
Do you miss going to the theatre?
If some new releases were to be released that interest you would you go to the theatre at this time?
What do you think the future might hold for the industry?

My thoughts.
I seen tennat in the theatres, was %50 occupancy but not even close to that, and I went on a Sunday morning which is usally packed.
I do miss going to theatres, and I would enjoy seeing some new releases that would come out. I think they should do a mixed/combo release of Theatres, then lets say a month latter release it to PPV or Streamer to get the people that don't want to go.
I have a good theatre system at home, but do enjoy getting out of the house, put the phone down, and enjoy a movie in a good comfy recliner!

 

[King Bob!]

Don’t care. Lots of entertainment options out there, if they continue on, great, if not, oh well.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I miss being able to watch movies on big spectacular screens, yes. But a poorly ventilated crowded room is not safe now.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Theaters are open around here, limited capacity (lower than 50%). I've been to the movies twice since the original lockdown, once for Tenet, and again last week to see a screening of Jurassic Park (which I'd never seen on the big screen before). I think it's relatively safe, it's not that crowded. Especially that JP screening, it was just me and two teenage girls who apparently never saw the movie before, so hearing their reactions was added fun and part of why I would seriously miss watching movies in a theater.

That said, I'm fine with new releases being delayed. It's relatively fine here in Germany (infection numbers are on the rise again, but that's mainly thanks to private gatherings, as a recent study showed), but I get that things need to get better in other parts, especially the two big markets in the U.S. (California and New York), for it to be responsible to release big tentpole movies.

But also, there is the problem of the economical situation of cinemas. I've heard an idea about bankrupt movie theaters going into public ownership by towns, cities and states, similar to how they own and run regular theaters here in Germany (and elsewhere), which I like. I do understand, though, that socialising businesses is something the United States struggle with (looking at you, health industry), so I guess to save cinemas in the U.S., bailouts are the only option to save that industry.

 

[Owain Taggart]

They're open here at reduced capacity, but for how long, who knows given that the Province has gone back to Stage 2. I haven't been and won't be anytime soon. Now, I know that precautions are different depending on each country, but I feel it only makes sense to close them when and if current situations warrant it, a concept that feels frustratingly absent in some places.

At this point, while the industry is hurting, I don't feel theatres are an essential. If this is to continue, and signs are that this will continue for a very long time, then they will need to adapt, and theatres have been rather slow at adapting. I feel the drive-in is possibly a good way for them to show movies without much compromise. If they can set up in their parking lot and project onto their buildings, and offer new and old movies, while allowing studios to make money, I don't see the problem.

A few weeks ago, I attended a drive-in concert. Live performers were up on a stage, the sound was great through the radio and the applause was replaced with honking, all the while everyone stayed in their vehicles, and it was a great experience. I feel this is the kind of model that could be used everywhere as a new normal.

 

[Relayer1]

The big chains over here are either shutting down completely or trying to keep going by just opening weekends. The sector is dead on it's ass.

I'm not surprised. It's ridiculously unsafe and I won't even consider going back to the cinema. As far as I'm concerned, at least for the forseeable future, it's over.

In a year's time with a proven and effective vaccine, it may be worth reconsidering. Or not.

If this does all pass, there will be a lot of empty cinema, bar, coffee shop, night club and restaurant premises. A lot of them will open up again, many with new businesses in them. Others will be redeveloped into something else there is a demand for.

It's the way of things. They're only businesses.

 

[Unionized Elf]

Are theatres open in your area ( typically 50% occupancy etc.) or not at all?

Yes, but only at roughly 25% capacity.

Do you miss going to the theatre?

Well, I have been to the theatre a little over a month ago, but before then, yeah a bit. I mean, I got along fine without going to the theatre, but it was a little surreal to have gone from mid-February to late August without going to the theatre at all. Probably the longest stretch I've gone between trips to the theatre in over a decade.

If some new releases were to be released that interest you would you go to the theatre at this time?

Yes, in fact I did see Tenet its first week in theatres. Mind you, I live somewhere that has its shit in the sock as far as Corona goes, so going to the theatre is a luxury I can afford. Were I living somewhere else, I really have no idea what my stance on the matter would be.

What do you think the future might hold for the industry?

Theatres will bounce back. Yes, streaming has stepped up as the go-to for many movie releases during the pandemic, but theatres aren't going anywhere once all this is over. Everyone always thinks the end is nigh for the theatres every time there's an innovation for home entertainment. But the movie theatres survived the invention of television and the advent of home video. They'll survive streaming too.

 

[EARTHER]

Can’t say I really care. If theatres are closed and someone can’t find something else to do then THEY are the problem, and not some closed theatrical venue.

(interesting note: When Star Trek 2009 came out I went to see it on a rainy afternoon by myself. Got me licorice and a big bucket of popcorn. I was the only person in attendance for the entire movie.)

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I only miss theaters right now because of Tenet.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Are theatres open in your area ( typically 50% occupancy etc.) or not at all?

I'm in the same province as @Owain Taggart (although a different part of the province), so yes, are theatres are currently open, but with the government imposing more restrictions due to the rising number of cases, who knows how long that will be the case?

Do you miss going to the theatre?

Honestly, no, because I wasn't really doing it before all this, either. I have a major aversion to crowds. As well, financial constraints are such that I can't really justify trips to the theatre anyway. I think I've probably only been to the theatre three or four times in the last decade. If I really want to see a movie, I just have to wait a little, and then I can buy it for less than the price of two tickets--and if I wait long enough (and I usually do! ), then I can buy it for less than or equal to the price of one (and that's not even factoring in snacks or gas)--and then I can watch it as many times as I like. So I voted "I'd rather stay home" in the poll.

If some new releases were to be released that interest you would you go to the theatre at this time?

Not a chance. Not even for a Star Trek movie.

What do you think the future might hold for the industry?

From what I've been reading, this whole situation has shown that the studios can't generally recoup their expenses on these $200 million movies just through streaming alone. So the studios need the theatres, in order to keep doing things the way they're doing them... or they are going to have to change the way they do things and back off the whole "tentpole blockbuster" paradigm, and go back to more moderately-expensive movies, where they stand a better chance of turning a profit in first-run streaming. Whether one option is better than the other probably differs depending on who you ask.

 

[EARTHER]

Can’t say I care much about the marketing of movies. I’m more interested in the stories, characters, dialogue and cinematography. You know, cinema stuff. Call me crazy!

 

[Unionized Elf]

Can’t say I care much about the marketing of movies. I’m more interested in the stories, characters, dialogue and cinematography. You know, cinema stuff. Call me crazy!

Marketing still plays a part in that. After all, how do you learn about a movie with story, characters, dialogue and cinematography that interests you? Through its marketing.

 

[Mrs. Silvercrest]

I miss our theater in town. It is now a church . But that is not because of the Covid-19. We are in stage 2 here. And I don't think movies are open at this point. We are still getting people sick with this thing! I both do and don't miss going to see a movie. We have to drive a bit to get to one. And now we have to reserve seats and it is kind of complex. I think we are going to get a bigger screen to watch more things at home.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I miss our theater in town. It is now a church .

Now that's just tragic.

 

[EARTHER]

Why are so many Americans refusing to wear masks when it is a proven fact that masks reduce the risk of spreading and contracting THE PLAGUE? In Star Trek this wouldn’t happen.

 

[Avro Arrow]

In Star Trek this wouldn’t happen.

Except in "The Cloud Minders", where they initially refused Kirk's suggestion to wear masks, because they didn't believe the threat was real...

 

[EARTHER]

So the morons who lost were the refuseniks. Sounds about right.

 

[XCV330]

I miss RiffTrax Live

 

[EARTHER]

I miss RiffTrax Live

I don’t understand what you wrote. Is it a joke? Is RiffTrax a band?

 

[Starbreaker]

I had AMC A-List and was going 5 or more times a month there for a whole year. I haven't renewed my membership since they offered it back and honestly, probably won't be going back much. Next year is going to be a wasteland and I've got twins on the way.