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 the

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.