4 ms·

Hollywood Cannot Survive Without Movie Theaters

12 points by fortran77 4y ago

diogenescynic 4y ago
Movie theaters as they are now need/deserve to die. The horrible chains like AMC are the reason people don't want to go to the movies--you get fleeced for any 'refreshments' and the theaters are usually dirty and rowdy. Now that I have kids, I can see why people don't want to go. Eventually, I see the big chain movie theaters like AMC dying and being replaced by smaller/local/indie movie theaters like Alamo Drafthouse--which will be a win-win for everyone.
- DangitBobby 4y ago
  I like movie theaters a lot, including AMC. The ones near me are clean and well maintained. No one is forcing you to buy concessions. I really don't want everything interesting outside of my house to stop existing.
  - jacquesc 4y ago
    Agreed. I'll always prefer an Alamo or Cinepolis, but I've actually been extremely impressed every time I end up up at non-boutique movie theater. AMC has upgraded their seats at a lot of locations now (to super comfortable recliners), and they often serve some high quality wine/beer options. The only issue I've been having is content. The movie options have been slim these days. If given a choice of streaming or cinema experience, I'll choose cinema every time. But give us something to actually watch please, that's not superheros or cartoons.
  - diogenescynic 4y ago
    >The ones near me are clean and well maintained. Not near me or other major cities I've been to. Maybe in more suburban and higher income areas. >No one is forcing you to buy concessions. Sure, but it's a bad business to try to make $15 popcorn and $10 soda into a sustainable business model. The reason Alamo Drafthouse is doing better is they sell food people actually want to eat so you can do dinner and a movie at the same time and get drinks. It's just a better business plan--fewer seats per theater, but more income per seat (i.e. quality over quantity). I still love local theaters that feel special and unique. There's no better way to experience movies than to go to an old Fox Theater with some red velvet carpet. Now the entire experience has been commodified into a Walmart big-box experience. If the choice is theaters like AMC, then I'd rather just stream from home on my big screen tv. >I really don't want everything interesting outside of my house to stop existing. That's kind of the opposite what I want--I want fewer big box chains running things and more regional/local/indie options.
Terretta 4y ago
Unpopular take: The only parties served by returning to windowed theater releases are ... drum roll ... movie critics like the author. Seeing a movie in a theater is like renting a meal experience at a restaurant. Movie theaters are big-screen TVs for people without money or space or desire for a home theater, or people wanting a change from of home viewing. Today's 85" TVs with 5.1, 7.2, etc., sound, and seats sufficiently close to the screen (it's not about the absolute size, it's about the viewing angle!), are a higher quality experience than the theater with (a) no risk of misbehaving strangers, (b) whatever refreshments you enjoy, (c) whatever you want to see, and (d) always "the best seats in the house". There will always be boutique and chain theaters as others have mentioned, just as there are both high end and fast food restaurants. And people wanting a change from home viewing will go to theaters. Games with "windows" are absolutely the wrong way to think about it, taking choice away from both sets of humans, but they do give critics a way to expense their entertainment, and with critics important to getting butts out of homes into the theater, critic "power" gives critics access to hollywood. OF COURSE critics want the window back.

12 points by fortran77 4y ago

Movie theaters as they are now need/deserve to die. The horrible chains like AMC are the reason people don't want to go to the movies--you get fleeced for any 'refreshments' and the theaters are usually dirty and rowdy. Now that I have kids, I can see why people don't want to go. Eventually, I see the big chain movie theaters like AMC dying and being replaced by smaller/local/indie movie theaters like Alamo Drafthouse--which will be a win-win for everyone.

DangitBobby 4y ago
I like movie theaters a lot, including AMC. The ones near me are clean and well maintained. No one is forcing you to buy concessions. I really don't want everything interesting outside of my house to stop existing.
- jacquesc 4y ago
  Agreed. I'll always prefer an Alamo or Cinepolis, but I've actually been extremely impressed every time I end up up at non-boutique movie theater. AMC has upgraded their seats at a lot of locations now (to super comfortable recliners), and they often serve some high quality wine/beer options. The only issue I've been having is content. The movie options have been slim these days. If given a choice of streaming or cinema experience, I'll choose cinema every time. But give us something to actually watch please, that's not superheros or cartoons.
- diogenescynic 4y ago
  >The ones near me are clean and well maintained. Not near me or other major cities I've been to. Maybe in more suburban and higher income areas. >No one is forcing you to buy concessions. Sure, but it's a bad business to try to make $15 popcorn and $10 soda into a sustainable business model. The reason Alamo Drafthouse is doing better is they sell food people actually want to eat so you can do dinner and a movie at the same time and get drinks. It's just a better business plan--fewer seats per theater, but more income per seat (i.e. quality over quantity). I still love local theaters that feel special and unique. There's no better way to experience movies than to go to an old Fox Theater with some red velvet carpet. Now the entire experience has been commodified into a Walmart big-box experience. If the choice is theaters like AMC, then I'd rather just stream from home on my big screen tv. >I really don't want everything interesting outside of my house to stop existing. That's kind of the opposite what I want--I want fewer big box chains running things and more regional/local/indie options.

Terretta 4y ago

Unpopular take: The only parties served by returning to windowed theater releases are ... drum roll ... movie critics like the author. Seeing a movie in a theater is like renting a meal experience at a restaurant. Movie theaters are big-screen TVs for people without money or space or desire for a home theater, or people wanting a change from of home viewing. Today's 85" TVs with 5.1, 7.2, etc., sound, and seats sufficiently close to the screen (it's not about the absolute size, it's about the viewing angle!), are a higher quality experience than the theater with (a) no risk of misbehaving strangers, (b) whatever refreshments you enjoy, (c) whatever you want to see, and (d) always "the best seats in the house". There will always be boutique and chain theaters as others have mentioned, just as there are both high end and fast food restaurants. And people wanting a change from home viewing will go to theaters. Games with "windows" are absolutely the wrong way to think about it, taking choice away from both sets of humans, but they do give critics a way to expense their entertainment, and with critics important to getting butts out of homes into the theater, critic "power" gives critics access to hollywood. OF COURSE critics want the window back.