Are movie theaters dying?

I think about Broadway, the ballet, opera, sporting events, etc. People still go to those because they want the experience of seeing something in a larger and more-encompassing venue (and also to see the artists in person, but I digress). You bet your little batooty that people called those art forms dead during the rise of film, yet they still exist. Prices have gone up, that’s for sure, but we’re arguably seeing the same thing with movie theaters. I think of a recording of Hamilton being available on Disney+, but I went and saw it a second time on Broadway last week and the crowd was no smaller than the first time I saw it. Theaters are also a social outing and an option for people trying to get out of a house, but also not be out in the elements. Distributors are also combatting the decline of theaters by doing exclusive releases to theaters, special editions and special releases. I’d also be missing a huge reason to keep theaters around if I don’t mention concessions. It’s the only way to get that special flavor of popcorn and a year-old box of Milk Duds. There’s a lot of industry pressure to keep theaters open, too. The Academy Awards require a qualifying theatrical release for a film to be considered for an Oscar. All of this culminates in us asking ourselves what the value of nostalgia and tradition is. That makes me think of something like drive-in movie theaters. They’re wildly impractical, but they’re something everyone wants to experience from time to time. Maybe the experience changes? We already see bars and restaurants incorporated into theaters. Concessions are improving, along with their options. So I’ll leave you with this: I don’t think movie theaters are dying. I think they’re evolving and the business model and what makes them successful is changing. The theater companies who adapt are going to be the ones that survive, and there will very much be survivors for the near and somewhat-distant futures. Drive-in movies are rare, but they’re not gone. I like to think of conventional movie theaters the same way. #movies #movietheaters #theaters #filmindustry #film #films #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmmakers