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The future of movie theaters?

Bryan James

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Do you guys (and gals) think that movie theaters will be around forever, or do you think that they will eventually die off with the domination of streaming services and VR, etc.

Earlier, I went to see Toy Story 4 (really good btw). I expected there to be noise since the theater was packed with young kids, but that didn't bother me. Some guy sat next to me who must have been 6' 5" at least, and weighed no less than 350 easy. Within about 30 minutes he fell asleep and started snoring. His wife woke him up, and then he went back to sleeping again, and snoring. Towards the last 40 min of the movie, he woke up and decided to finish off his slurpee and made that irritating slurping straw noise when the liquid is scarce.

After I left I don't know if I'll ever go to a theater again; something like this seems to happens every time I go. I think I saw a great movie, but it was hard to tell with all of the annoyance and anger I was experiencing for an hour and a half.

Anyway, regardless of my isolated incident, from a tech/business point of view do you think theaters will last, or do you think VR and streaming will fully take over?
 
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TheProcess

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Do you guys (and gals) think that movie theaters will be around forever, or do you think that they will eventually die off with the domination of streaming services and VR, etc.

Earlier, I went to see Toy Story 4 (really good btw). I expected there to be noise since the theater was packed with young kids, but that didn't bother me. Some guy sat next to me who must have been 6' 5" at least, and weighed no less than 350 easy. Within about 30 minutes he fell asleep and started snoring. His wife woke him up, and then he went back to sleeping again, and snoring. Towards the last 40 min of the movie, he woke up and decided to finish off his slurpee and made that irritating slurping straw noise when the liquid is scarce.

After I left I don't know if I'll ever go to a theater again; something like this seems to happens every time I go. I think I saw a great movie, but it was hard to tell with all of the annoyance and anger I was experiencing for an hour and a half.

Anyway, regardless of my isolated incident, from a tech/business point of view do you think theaters will last, or do you think VR and streaming will fully take over?
I was just having this discussion with a friend of mine yesterday. I think we both ended up concluding that movie theatres will continue to exist. My reason was that despite all these streaming services like Netflix, people will want to get out of the house (it's part of our human nature). I sometimes go to the movies for that very reason, because it gets tiring staying home. People still want to dress up and go on dates or hang out with friends, for example. Also I think that movie theatres have done a great job of adapting to technology. Those are just my two cents though, I have not done any research on this, just my observations.
 

I AM THE SENATE

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I cannot stand watching a movie with a general audience. I'd pay 20 bucks to see a film opening day in the comfort of my own home. People ruin it for me every time I go unless I go midweek, mid day or early morning.
 

MJ DeMarco

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AMC is a great example of value skewing in movie theaters.

I gave up on movie theaters a few years ago and then came roaring back to them when AMC value skewed a bunch of stuff: They changed to all electronic recliners, advanced seat booking, and ZERO chance of having to share a seat rest with a stranger.

Pure value skew in action.

As a result, I started going back to the movies.
 
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GPM

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I agree with what MJ wrote. All the chains where I live just replaced their old shitty chairs with these huge electronic reclining lazy-boy style chairs. They are great. The theater is also 100% seat booking, so you always know where you are going to sit before hand.

I used to get stressed before the movie, to make sure I was early enough to get a good seat, and then be annoyed at how long I was actually there for. Now I show up 20 minutes late to the movie (there is literally 25 minutes of commercials and then trailers before the movie). I still see half the movie trailers, and I get to see the whole movie worry free.

I imagine in another 5 years or so the theaters will come up with something new and great to keep us going. If only they would kill off 3d movies as the only choice for blockbusters...
 

Kung Fu Steve

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I've been going to these "Alamo Drafthouses" lately (lately being just the last few marvel movies I make time for :hilarious:)

They have the big giant comfy chairs and waiters who bring food, booze, and goodies. Anything you want and they fill up your popcorn.

I thought it would be distracting but they do a really good job.

It's all about experiences!

The old theaters that don't adapt will go out of business but that can be said for any business in any industry
 

ChrisV

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I don't know. I mean you can honestly get just as good of a picture in your home, yet people still go.
 
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Kak

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AMC is a great example of value skewing in movie theaters.

I gave up on movie theaters a few years ago and then came roaring back to them when AMC value skewed a bunch of stuff: They changed to all electronic recliners, advanced seat booking, and ZERO chance of having to share a seat rest with a stranger.

Pure value skew in action.

As a result, I started going back to the movies.

AMC also let's you order concessions right to your seats for a buck! I'm a fan.
 

NCNY

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I don't know. I mean you can honestly get just as good of a picture in your home, yet people still go.
In my opinion it's about the huge screen and great sound - the atmosphere really, not the amount of pixels
 

TheCj

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Up here in Canada they have remained relevant, adding things like rows of motion seats in some theaters, also i think you can choose/reserve your seats online for certain screenings. They also have adult only VIP theaters that have loveseats and part of the theater is you can have a meal from menu and they serve liquor, to you in your seat. Pretty much a no brainer for a date night.

Also they screen events like WWE and for this last NBA playoffs they were screening playoff games, and I also believe they host e-sport/e-gaming events.

So they seem to be on the ball adapting and adding things to remain a relevant form of entertainment.

Myself I only go on a weekend morning, is basically like having the theatre to yourself. I'm spoiled with my home setup yet I still find it worth going to one or two movies a year.
 
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Stargazer

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It sounds as though cinemas all over the West have gone the big reclining seats route etc.

Livestream technology has allowed cinemas to show more than just films these days as CJ above has written.

My mother always used to go to London for Opera, Ballet and Theatre. Now she can go and see the performances 'live-ish' at the local cinema for £10 a pop

A few years ago - in UK- newspapers used to talk about the demise of cinemas. Hollywood then started to make good films again which helps over and above all everything else.

Dan
 

PedroG

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AMC is a great example of value skewing in movie theaters.

I gave up on movie theaters a few years ago and then came roaring back to them when AMC value skewed a bunch of stuff: They changed to all electronic recliners, advanced seat booking, and ZERO chance of having to share a seat rest with a stranger.

Pure value skew in action.

As a result, I started going back to the movies.

Same here. Just went to see Toy Story 4 in a "Dolby" theater. It was awesome! We had walls in front of us, and behind us. We couldn't even see the other people there, except for those that were in our row. Great experience. I can see myself going to the movies again. I had given up on that a long time ago.
 

minivanman

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I hadn't went to a movie in 20 years until earlier this year; I was talked in to it. The experience wasn't bad, since like MJ said, they have the big comfy chairs now. Will I be back any time soon? I might, I don't know. I'm not a movie watcher at all and not much of a tv watcher either. But.... how about someone make it so they show Youtube video's or people playing games? The kids nowadays love to watch others play those damn games.... not sure why...? So, maybe before the trailers start, have a half hour of either Youtube video's or the popular game at the time up on the screen?
 
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Stargazer

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, But.... how about someone make it so they show Youtube video's or people playing games? The kids nowadays love to watch others play those damn games.... not sure why...?

I wondered about this so had a mature conversation with my friends 13 year old about this once. :)

ME: Why do you watch other people play video games on Youtube?
TOBY: Why do you watch other people play football?
ME: That's different
TOBY: If one likes something, one wishes to watch the best people play that sport/game
ME: Bugger Off Toby. Have you not got any homework to be getting on with?
TOBY: Smugly exits room

I sort of saw the logic.

Dan
 

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