Are the days of Theater attendance numbered?

[aTOMiC]

With the advent of home theater technology do you think there will come a time when large cineplexes will become obsolete. If in the near future you will be able to instantly download a film to your large screen home supersystem (which will not only be your main conduit for super high speed internet access but also your home computer and entertainment center) may you finally be more inclined to watch new films in the comfort of your living room and very closely experience the depth and fidelity of a movie theater minus the audience?
I for one enjoy the movie going experience but I suspect there will be a time in the not too distant future where cinema as we know it will cease to exist. Movie theaters will go the way of the Passenger Pigeon and the 8 track tape player.

[TRC]

I believe it will be many many years before cineplexes are obsolete.
Most people use this as their only form of staying social and getting away from the TV.
And In most non-metro areas this is the only form of entertainment other than bars and about the only thing most Americans nknow to do for a date or evening out on the town.

[aTOMiC]

I agree that if if happens it will take a good deal of time. Maybe never.

[Dragonlily]

Besides, there's nothing like seeing a good action flick on a 30-foot screen.

I was already very familiar with The Big Chill when I saw it in a theater, and I noticed things I had never seen before.

[[Syl]]

Working at Circuit City in the Home Audio dept. for a while, I can say that if I ever have the cash for even a decent system, you'll never see me in the theatre again. Especially not if I can just download any movie I want for about the same price (and considering how expensive movie tickets are these days, that shouldn't be too hard). No more talkers, no crying kids (except my own), no five minutes of commercials before the previews. Nobody kicking the back of my seat or sitting down right in front of me. Blah.

[aTOMiC]

Working at Circuit City in the Home Audio dept. for a while, I can say that if I ever have the cash for even a decent system, you'll never see me in the theatre again. Especially not if I can just download any movie I want for about the same price (and considering how expensive movie tickets are these days, that shouldn't be too hard). No more talkers, no crying kids (except my own), no five minutes of commercials before the previews. Nobody kicking the back of my seat or sitting down right in front of me. Blah.

You have pointed out all of the problems I have with moviegoing very well. I still enjoy the experience but once I get my hands on a killer system. I'll probably only go for special films.

[matrixman]

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[[Syl]]

Eh, it's not that hard to make a system that will give you a better experience than the theatre, especially if you're talking about sound (a $700 set-up will beat almost any theatre, and about twice that will blow you away... anybody ever watched gladiator with a 7.1 set-up? when he throws the sword at the guy you can hear that thing fly right over your head). Replicating that ingrained feeling we get at the movies is a little harder, though. I just think with the way people act in the theatre anymore, the advertising, and so forth, the magic is beginning to fade.

[Loredoctor]

For a large proportion of the cinema-going audience, it is a social event. While it is true that they go to see the film, it is mainly so because others come along. This is mainly true for teenagers, who also happen to make up the largest audience numbers. I honestly don't see numbers waning in cinemas. As mentioned earlier, it's expensive to set up a home movie system; not that many people can afford it.

[duchess of malfi]

While I can certainly understand how people can be disenchanted with attending a movie in the theater...(my personal pet peeve is screaming little kids in a higher rated movie, where they shouldn't even be in the first place; I know to expect it and it doesn't bother me so much in family rated movies -- though adults talking bother me a lot more than the little ones do in general in ANY theater) -- but there is just something about seeing some movies on a huge screen -- say Lawrence of Arabia or other grand historical epics -- that you just can't duplicate at home...

That said, for most movies I would just as soon be able to sit home and watch them on my tv and dvd player...a lot of movies are just not worth the effort of trying to make an appointment with my family to try to go see them (and with our work, school, and athletic schedules you really do have to try to make an serious effort to find a block of time when everyone is free). The dvd player lets me sneak one in before or after work, while sacrificing little quality, and with the bonus of a pause button...
Again, some movies are worth any effort of schedule juggling -- for all of us, The Lord of the Rings movies, for the kids, the Harry Potter ones...

[Damelon]

I'm only an occasional visitor to the movie theater, maybe once or twice a year. To be honest, there aren't a lot of movies that I have to see, theater or not.

The biggest problem that I have is that everything is so expensive there. Probably $30 or more for 2 to go see a movie and get a soda and snack. If we're talking a night out, I could go to a decent restaurant for not much more, eat better, and have a better conversation.

I'm not as bothered by what others are doing, and havn't seen that as much of a problem at the few movies I've been to lately. The audiences I've been with have been polite. I saw Bad Santa recently, and saw no one bringing young kids into the movie. (That's a complaint I've heard about the movie - I certainly wouldn't bring a kid to see it, even though it was good).

If I really want to see a movie, but can wait to see it, it's far cheaper to rent a dvd when it's released in that format.

[aTOMiC]

13 years later and I'm still as enthusiastic about going to the theater as I ever was.

I guess I ultimately answered my own question.

[Cail]

The last movie I saw in the theater was the latest Star Wars. If there's another Terminator, Alien, or Die Hard, I'll go to any of them. I'll go to anything Mel Gibson either directs or acts in.

Otherwise, it's the 4K at home.

[sgt.null]

I like the matinee during school, cuts down on the people (kids) ruining the movie for me.

[Avatar]

I didn't even watch the latest Star Wars in the theatre...I meant to, but by the time I got round to it the only ones showing it in non-3d were too far away to make it an easy trip...screw it...

--A

[lorin]

I'll go to anything Mel Gibson either directs or acts in.

Loved Apocalypto.

[Cail]

I'll go to anything Mel Gibson either directs or acts in.

Loved Apocalypto.

My God yes. Say whatever you want about Mel Gibson, but that man can direct a movie like few others. I'll be there opening night for Hacksaw Ridge.

[Cagliostro]

Wow, I am late to the party on this one, but I do think that it will be hard killing off movie theaters. And they are doing good things like event TV moments screening in theaters. There really is something to a good sound system and big screen, even though a lot of movies don't warrant them these days, especially at the horrendous cost.

[Rigel]

My problem is, while I love a good movie, I hate most movies that come out. Why should I pay for overpriced tickets, overpriced drinks, 3D that I don't even want (most movies use it as a distracting gimmick), only to be presented with a movie full of holes so wide you could drive a truck through them?

Every now and then I find one that's worth it... Ghostbusters, for instance, was great. But the others I've seen recently? Not so much.

The trend in the industry is to skimp on story and writing and focus on the visuals. My problem is, when you can put literally anything on screen, then nothing is impressive anymore. So, forego the effects, and give me good writing, and I'll pay up. But another effects flick about superheroes trying to see who can punch the hardest? If that's all they can offer, then theaters are doomed.