Why movie theaters aren't dead yet

The "theatrical window" has shrunk. But it’s still there.

Covid-19 looked like it could have been the end of movie theaters. Theaters couldn’t show movies. Some of the biggest American theater chains were on the brink of bankruptcy. And US movie studios started trying something new: releasing big movies digitally and in theaters at the same time.

The "theatrical window," when a movie plays only in theaters, typically has a minimum length set by deals between movie studios and movie theaters. You might remember a time when the theatrical window was long, and you had to wait close to a year before a movie would come out on video or DVD. But over the years, as options for home viewing have proliferated, that window has shrunk. By 2019, many movies were becoming available at home less than 3 months after their original release.

Behind that shrinking window were decades-long negotiations between theaters and studios over how long that window should be — and it seemed like movie studios had gradually gotten the upper hand. But the pandemic gave the studios leverage like never before. Now they could bypass movie theaters altogether.

But in the end, they chose not to. Big movies still come out in theaters first. The theatrical window still exists. Why?

[Vox]

Thanks for watching! Let us know in the comments below if you think the movie theater experience is still something that can’t be replicated and what movie you’re looking forward to watching in theaters next 👇

[dianagbb]

after seeing spiderman: no way home, it’s pretty clear that the movie theater experience is still something that can never and will never be replicated. it was electric.

[emelyhedgehog]

Watching Avengers Endgame (or any other anticipated movie)with everyone in theaters was an experience that just can’t be replicated at home

[FyberOptic]

The biggest thing hurting theaters is the lack of movies that people care about going to see. When everything is a sequel, reboot, generic visual diarrhea, etc, then there's no sense of urgency to go see it. People will wait until they can stream it.

[kidungmalam_]

One of the malls in my city is dying. The tenants are not attractive at all and the visitors are low. And then movie theatre came in and suddenly everything is changed. Number of visitors going up drastically and many new tenants came in. Movie theater saves that mall.

[TierraD]

As anyone who loves film would probably agree, the experience of going out to a movie theater is irreplaceable. Personally, cinemas are an institution that I can never imagine going away. The important thing is to have both options for people to choose from.

[michaelstrantzalis]

for the same reason concerts, theater plays and live sports are not dead: being and experiencing something with other people, is unique.

[RaheemD]

I could be totally wrong as this is a complete generalisation from quora threads and youtube comments on videos similar to this that I've watched. But it seems like it's American audiences that despise cinemas more than anything. The East seems to love cinemas whilst Europe still enjoys them. I'd guess its mostly about the expense in some American cinemas. I do recall watching Endgame in Manhattan, New York (I'm from England) and the tickets for my partner and I for IMAX came to around $45. Madness, whilst in the UK we tend to get them for half that.

[fabianarmilla]

Took my nephews to the movie theaters this past weekend. The look on their faces when the film came on that big silver screen was priceless. For me, going to the movie theaters is an irreplaceable experience. Got tickets for Spiderman next week. Can't wait! 🔥🔥🔥

[chaitanyapatel]

On one hand, on demand movies are getting popular, but on the other hand, directors are making ambitious movies which can be experienced to their full extent only in theatres. 'Dune' and 'Tenet' are the latest examples. Dune was the first movie I watched in theatre after pandemic gap of 2 years. That experience was surreal. Theatres may become less important in future but they are here to stay - at least for those people like me who value the immersiveness of the large screen, dark room and perfect sound.

[ideaistic]

as someone who, before the pandemic, used to go to the movies alone just to get some time to myself - I missed the theaters dearly during the pandemic. When it comes to a movie watching experience, nothing can beat going to a theater. At home can be pretty distracting and there's some value to being able to disconnect, sit in a dark room - with or without terrible (but good) food and just zoning out to whatever picture piqued your interest. I hope that experience never goes away as streaming becomes more pre-dominant. Looking forward to seeing Spidey, the Matrix, and King's man later this month.

[connecticutaggie]

A couple of other points:
1) For the Black Widow release Scarlet J argued that Disney's decision to do simultaneous release had cost her money because she got a percentage of theater sales but not streaming sales. Is is not only theaters that are impacted by these decisions
2) Many awards & records are structured around box office numbers.
3) Not too long ago "made for TV" meant "not worth showing in a theater". This is certainly not the case any more as there are some movies and shows exceed what had been possible to do in theaters.

[willbainbridgedrummer]

I went to the cinema for the first time since the pandemic hit in September and have been back 4 times since. The movie theatre experience is simply irreplaceable and no home theatre set up can truly match the vibe and experience the cinema has

[jaggerkate]

The theater by my house actually closed and was up for sale. Rumor had it a big company had purchased it and was going to turn it into something else. Well, now it’s back open busy again. I hope theaters don’t go away. Watching a movie in a theater is awesome and exciting!

[jakeaestrada]

Dune was a great example of a movie that had to be seen in theaters. Made the whole thing like a hundred times better

[BiankyGirl]

Some of my fondest movie memories take place in the theatre. Theatre hopping, midnight releases, and so on. These are experiences that add that special zest to life when you look back. Something you can bond with others easily.

[danfr]

"Thanks to a Supreme Court case from the 1940s, movie studios and theater owners in the US are separate entities."

And now we've come full circle with nearly every streaming service also being a movie studio.

[vucub_caquix]

I will never abandon movie theaters.

You can replicate the audio-visual experience at home as best you can, but the theater FORCES you to engage with the movie in a way that can't be replicated at home.

This helps me suspend my disbelief, and for two hours or so, I'm in another world. it's like magic.

[sor]

"Eventizes" is completely right. Even in the 90s a movie that went straight to TV or VHS didn't capture the public's attention as well as a one that's in theatres. I didn't even know Trolls World Tour was released straight to streaming. Maybe it's just a question of marketing.

[mohussain]

There is no better way to watch a movie than at a cinema. They will always be around. It's an experience that cannot be duplicated at home.