Why Movie Theaters Will Survive

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Are movie theaters dead, and, if so, is Netflix the executioner?

Movie theaters have had their share of trouble during the global pandemic. But are they fated for ruin? Let's find out in this Wisecrack Edition on Movie Theaters: Do Movie Theaters Have a Future?

=== Watch More Episodes! ===

00:00 - Intro
02:06 - The State of Movie Theaters
04:47 - Why Theaters Matter
08:08 - But Maybe Not THAT Much
11:04 - Conclusion

Written by Ross McIndoe
Hosted by Helen Floersh
Directed by Michael Luxemburg
Motion Graphics by Benji Dunaief
Edited by Mark Potts
Title card by Amanda Murphy
Produced by Evan Yee
Production Coordination by Olivia Redden
Additional Production Assistance by Matias Rubio

Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound

#movies #theaters #wisecrack

© 2021 Wisecrack / Omnia Media, Inc. / Enthusiast Gaming

[Hondavid.]

recently we started going back, and our local theatre replaced all the seats with recliner luxury chairs i saw at best buy 10 years ago. the experience has been greatly improved with fewer people and better seats. if anything, going forward id rather there be cluster seats with even deeper row spacing so i can have an isolated experience. i think theatres will change but make a comeback, nothing can kill movies totally

[NinjaPirateJedi]

As someone whose local theater is so bad, a ceiling panel fell and almost hit someone in the head... yeah. A nice facility is a must have.

[jklvx]

The only issue I have with movies being released on streaming is exclusivity. If I hear about a great movie on a streaming service I don't have, most likely I won't see it.

[caesar]

I like going to the cinema but I hate having my experience ruined by people talking loudly and shining lights.

[jacobcook]

I love movie theaters. They’re so relaxing for me and they’re my happy place. That being said nothing bothers me more than people being on their phones in the theater. I’ve had people be on PHONE CALLS in the theater. Drives me nuts.

[sanjeethmahendrakar]

Movie theatres might act in a similar way to how sports do. Sure you can watch it live with a crowd or you can watch it at home. There are definitely pros and cons to each so we get to pick according to our priorities.
I won't completely stop going to the theatres because it does definitely have its own unique experience but I'll definitely be a bit more pickier with what I do go to watch atleast until the pandemic is well and truly over.

[NervousNecromancer]

I swear, movie theatres have a future. They just need to make the theatre part of the experience. Imagine a dedicated horror theatre themed like s decrepit haunted mansion with photo ops and scare actors or a high drama & period piece theatre with a whole golden age of hollywood 1930s aesthetic with an open bar and poker tables. Make the theatre the place to be!

[dragonskunkstudio]

There is too much phone addiction, people have no decorum. Movie theaters need a Costco style system of paid membership and if you don't behave you get banned and no refund. No more any idiot can come in and act shitty. Otherwise I'm done with going to the theater.

[Newton-Reuther]

I enjoy the movie theaters who have decided to combine the restaurant experience with the cinema experience. Definitely a more formal experience to the one I got at home.

[ThisOldSkater]

12:16 "Communal activity" of being annoyed by the a-hole on his phone, pretty much every time. Wonderful...
I dispute that a good home sound system and TV are not as good. Not the same, but certainly a cleaner experience. I like the theater experience, but the other people in the room do NOT add to it for me, they subtract. It's more about the feeling of "This is what I'm doing and ALL that I'm doing right now!" where at home, there are still external distractions, especially if I'm the only one watching.

[teenkitsune]

I'm in the middle, I'm all for streaming to be a thing, so long as going to the theater remains an option. I'm all about having multiple avenues, not one over another.

[TooCool]

I think they won't ever go away, but it'll morph into a once in awhile special occasion, night out type of thing, especially if movie studios keep shrinking theater exclusive windows Nand focusing more on streaming.

[ElectricIguana]

"Movie theaters will begin to disappear with the advent of the VCR." Warren Buffet

[alanolson]

You all but completely ignored the economics of it theaters are charging more and more and are less and less profitable every decade. It’s the business not the social that may kill them

[zacadams]

I like going to the movies but at home have started to use subtitles on everything. This for me has made movies and shows so much more enjoyable as I'm not sitting there wondering "what did he/she just say? guess I'll just have to wait until it comes to netflix..." even if that means I don't get the full theatrical experience. Story/dialogue > loud speakers/bigger screen imo

[Alverant]

Movie theaters will still have to innovate. The one I usually go to lets you order real meals so you can have lunch or dinner while you watch. That means more money for the theater.

[zxtv]

I sure hope they do, I love being able to watch something in the quiet comfort of my own home.. but seeing Infinity War opening night was an experience I likely wont forget. I know some people are cynical shitters about this stuff but the atmosphere in the theatre was amazing. Literally full, people sitting next to each other before the movie started excitedly talking about their experiences with the films and comics and growing up with them. The emotional rollercoaster the entire theatre went on as one, the complete silence when Thanos snaps and the cheers when Thor arrives in Wakanda. Honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

[YungFett]

You think I'm going to watch movies at home because it's available I need somewhere to go on a date or to get away from my family you know

[Kiran_Nath]

The thing that annoys me the most about theaters is that buying food there is way too expensive, and most of the time I'd rather just buy food elsewhere and bring it in.

[SimpleGeekReviews]

Personally, I could care less. While I was younger, I really enjoyed going to the movies with my friends, spending money on tubs of popcorn and big drinks. It was neat having reactions with the rest of the movie goers.

But as I got older, I started to really hate other people. People whispering or cheering at weird moments. People getting up. Not finding the best seats to get that great view and sound. Uncomfortable seats that are hardly cleaned. I've tried also places that have smaller setups with bigger chairs, where you can order food. But the food was often crap for the price, it getting delivered in the middle of the movie took you away from the experience, and often times if there were mistakes or what not, you be interrupted by that.

Now I prefer being at home watching movies. I can pause if I need to. I don't hear anyone but myself or my company. Popcorn and drinks are WAY cheaper, and I can make myself some really good food to have with my dinner and a show.

I think studios and theatres need to adapt. Yeah I get that at home, they have to charge more for streaming to get back the cost of a ticket - they can't tell how many are actually watching it. But theatres aren't doing much to adapt - they need some infusion of cash from the studios (and dare I say the actors/actresses getting paid WAY beyond what they should be - you want money, tie it to ticket sales - make a great movie, make money - make a terrible movie, well you get dick). Replace the seating with better seating - wider, more comfortable. Make the audio work so that no matter what seat you have, you can hear the movie. Quit putting seating at neck breaking distance from the screen - move all the seating so that every seat gets a great view, no one has a 'bad view'. Put it massive air cleaners, and make it so there's plenty of time between shows for the seats to get cleaned - and I mean cleaned.

But no one wants to spend 'their' money to make audiences have better experiences. That's truly why theatres will die - no one wants to make them better, yet they rely on them to still bring in audiences, despite this pandemic and economy.