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Even if the cost were lower, home options have improved to make being at a location less worth it. The gap between 1980s movie viewing and a theatre and 2024 m

Even if the cost were lower, home options have improved to make being at a location less worth it. The gap between 1980s movie viewing and a theatre and 2024 movie viewing and a theatre has narrowed tremendously. The selection at home is far superior to the movie theatre now. Food delivery options have expanded well beyond Chinese and pizza. Sports viewing captures a better view than most seats.

charlie0 2y ago
Not to mention most people are going to shell out $$$ for a nice large TV. At that point, might as well spend a few extra $$ and buy a surround sound. Maybe it's just me, but a lot of theaters set their volumes to LOUD. I've found it better to just watch movies at home (save for that rare movie you HAVE to watch in theaters, like Mad Max) and spend the remaining $ on building out my HT.
- bunderbunder 2y ago
  I was recently reflecting on how I love seeing live theater productions, but hate going to movie theaters to see movies. In principle it seems like they should be relatively comparable? LOUD was definitely one of the first things I thought of. I don't feel like I need to bring ear plugs to make watching a play comfortable. Intermissions are another. It's nice to have an opportunity to stand up and stretch my legs, maybe take a bathroom break, chat with my partner about the story so far, all without missing anything or bothering other people. I think, though, that concessions are the other big one. Stage theaters don't have sticky floors, they don't reek of popcorn, you don't have the person behind you chewing with their mouth open so loudly you can somehow hear it above the aforementioned exceptionally loud volume, etc.
  - everforward 2y ago
    There are some “luxury” theaters that offer a better experience that really does rival watching movies at home, for different reasons. Tickets aren’t much more than normal ($15 I believe). They have actual powered recliners so you can lean back most of the way to horizontal. They have trays that rotate over your waist to hold drinks and snacks (like an airplane, but bigger). The nicest part is full food service. They have a full menu of cooked food, snacks, they run their own brewery so you can buy their beer, etc. They have an online food ordering system, and waiters bring it to your seat. They push people hard to order during the commercials so they’re mostly out of the theater during the movie. No sticky floors, no stale popcorn smell, no 40 year old seats that smell like farts. It is still dramatically too loud, especially that THQ intro that I can only describe as “a dick measuring contest with Klipsch”. I hate that with a passion; I’m already aware the speakers can get super loud, there’s really no reason to show me every damn time the movie starts.
    - charlie0 2y ago
      Yeah, I can see this being something to splurge on once in a while. It's nice to trade dollars for convenience. OTHO, everything you've mentioned can still be closely replicated at home, just start your movie after food gets delivered to your house and buy the snacks ahead of time. I have a recliner at home and the middle arm-drawer is full of snacks.

charlie0 2y ago

Not to mention most people are going to shell out $$$ for a nice large TV. At that point, might as well spend a few extra $$ and buy a surround sound. Maybe it's just me, but a lot of theaters set their volumes to LOUD. I've found it better to just watch movies at home (save for that rare movie you HAVE to watch in theaters, like Mad Max) and spend the remaining $ on building out my HT.

bunderbunder 2y ago
I was recently reflecting on how I love seeing live theater productions, but hate going to movie theaters to see movies. In principle it seems like they should be relatively comparable? LOUD was definitely one of the first things I thought of. I don't feel like I need to bring ear plugs to make watching a play comfortable. Intermissions are another. It's nice to have an opportunity to stand up and stretch my legs, maybe take a bathroom break, chat with my partner about the story so far, all without missing anything or bothering other people. I think, though, that concessions are the other big one. Stage theaters don't have sticky floors, they don't reek of popcorn, you don't have the person behind you chewing with their mouth open so loudly you can somehow hear it above the aforementioned exceptionally loud volume, etc.
- everforward 2y ago
  There are some “luxury” theaters that offer a better experience that really does rival watching movies at home, for different reasons. Tickets aren’t much more than normal ($15 I believe). They have actual powered recliners so you can lean back most of the way to horizontal. They have trays that rotate over your waist to hold drinks and snacks (like an airplane, but bigger). The nicest part is full food service. They have a full menu of cooked food, snacks, they run their own brewery so you can buy their beer, etc. They have an online food ordering system, and waiters bring it to your seat. They push people hard to order during the commercials so they’re mostly out of the theater during the movie. No sticky floors, no stale popcorn smell, no 40 year old seats that smell like farts. It is still dramatically too loud, especially that THQ intro that I can only describe as “a dick measuring contest with Klipsch”. I hate that with a passion; I’m already aware the speakers can get super loud, there’s really no reason to show me every damn time the movie starts.
  - charlie0 2y ago
    Yeah, I can see this being something to splurge on once in a while. It's nice to trade dollars for convenience. OTHO, everything you've mentioned can still be closely replicated at home, just start your movie after food gets delivered to your house and buy the snacks ahead of time. I have a recliner at home and the middle arm-drawer is full of snacks.