Do you expect you'll go back to movie theaters?

[kenny]

Even before C19, home big screens were getting bigger, brighter, thinner, sharper, and cheaper than ever.
The Internet is streaming many choices of content in higher and higher resolution.
Popcorn at home doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

With theaters closed by C19 even more customers have learned how to get a great film-viewwing experience in their homes.

Sure, I loved that big theater experience back in the 1980s, especialy in some of LA's biggest finest art deco showcases from the Roaring 20s.
They had state of the art sound systems, thousands of seats, and the crowds in West LA, especially Westwood, were hugely enthusiastic.
But I haven't been in a theater for maybe 15 years.

I voted, No, never.

 

[Elizabeth35]

I can live without them. Although I do like the newer theaters with big comfy reclining seats and the opportunity to grab an adult beverage on the way in. I prefer Netflix now.
But--for me, the advantage of a theater is that I am forced to focus on the movie and get immersed with no distractions. When I am at home I can get interrupted.

They will go the way of Blockbuster--an anachronism.

 

[winnietucker]

I didn’t like movie theaters before covid. There’s something about spending $45+ (with snacks) to watch a movie with a bunch of people I don’t know that’s so unappealing to me.

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

My vote assumes that there is a vaccine for COVID-19 and that there are no more virus risks.

I prefer to watch movies at home. I would only go to the movie theater if there was a new release I wanted to see or something best seen in the theater.

 

[pearlsngems]

I voted 9. Even before COVID-19, we didn't go to the cinema often-- really just for those movies that we preferred to see on a big screen. For the rest, we waited for the DVD to come out.

But now, I wouldn't feel it was safe unless there was a highly effective vaccine AND a large per cent of people were vaccinated. Is that likely? Look at the resistance to wearing masks and distancing. How much resistance will there be to a vaccine?

 

[dk168]

Definitely, unless I can replicate the big screen experience at home, which I definitely can't with my current home.

DK

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Not sure. Have always loved the big picture experience; but hated the germ creep factor. Yet I have never been sick b/c I went to a theatre. It's probably the hazmat suit I wear.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

yes
we don't go very often but some things are just better at the pictures with a big box of popcorn and a choc dipped icecream
although now days you can get a beer at the movies which goes awsome with the popcorn !

if we go to the movies its a combination of art house/doco/ festive type movies or the latest action blockbuster should it take our fancy

we are never going to have a home theatre, the telly is more than big enough as it is

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

last time i went it was the smallest theatre at our 3 screen multiplex
it was a 25 seater, just me and someone else

 

[Queenie60]

Maybe?? Haven't been to a movie theatre for 5 or more years. I have a big screen and surround sound at home. Much more comfortable than a theatre. I voted, 6

 

[kenny]

last time i went it was the smallest theatre at our 3 screen multiplex
it was a 25 seater, just me and someone else

We have those here too.
So depressing!

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I'm cheap and now I'm poor so never again.

I never did like going to the movies. I always felt it was a rip off so I'd get super annoyed when someone sat in front of me. I wanted my money's worth!!! For that reason I never enjoyed myself!

 

[PintoBean]

It is always too loud for me and I always end up forgetting to bring ear plugs when I go, which is few and far between.

The tickets are expensive and so are the snacks.

I probably go once every 10 years lolol.

But never say never, so I picked 9.

 

[kenny]

PintoBean, I always brought foam earplugs.
I keep a pair in my car ... always.
That's why I can still hear today.
Often in businesses they have loud obnoxious music or have a TV on tuned to TMZ-crap or worse content. UGH!

For me the worst thing about theaters was smelling mustard, relish, and ketchup on hot dogs, and jalapeño chili cheese nachos.

Second worst was A-holes talking loudly on their "smart"phones.
Third worst was 13 people in front of me blinding me with their "smart"phones as they text.

Thank Glob the movie theater experience, for me, is history.
Never again!

 

[acebruin]

I always try to watch a movie in the theater once a week. I just think home screen can't compare with the Dolby Atmos experience of AMC or XD experience of Cinemark. I'm more of a sound guy than a video guy. So when I watch movies I want to hear every sound every rain drop. I also don't like to be interrupted when I'm watching a movie. Can't get that environment at home.

As far as food at the theater... I used to work in a theater as one of my first jobs. I know all about the food. Don't get me started on it. I have never bought ANYTHING from the theater ever since. Except the occasional ICEE...

 

[missy]

We have not been to a movie theater in probably 15 years now.

We stopped going in the early to mid 2000s because the theaters were filed with people who made noise and kept checking their phones and the atmosphere was far from relaxing and enjoyable. We switched to watching movies at home and never looked back.

So the pandemic has nothing to do with our current movie watching nor will it affect our future movie watching. I am OK with waiting for things to be released on cable etc and watching them from the comfort of my home. Where I can take bathroom breaks without missing any of the movie and enjoy affordable refreshments from the comfort of my cushy couch.

Yeah there is no downside with regards to this IMO.



And this is coming from someone who used to go out to the movie theater at least 3 times a week. At least. All through the 80s and 90's three times a week I would go to the theater.

 

[Niffler75]

I voted a 4 as chances are I will when things have settled a bit more. It's one of a very short list of things my son (who has additional needs) enjoys doing outside the home!
Hands up, who smuggles cinema snacks in?

 

[kenny]

LOL, for around 20 years I've never gone anywhere without a bottle of home made reverse-osmosis water and a ziplock bag of almonds I roasted at home.
I'd shove them up my @ss if I had to.

Fvck movie theaters and Disneyland.

 

[alittlelight]

We hardly ever go anyway, so I voted 10.

 

[eapj]

The movies is one of the place I can just relax. I’ll go back but not quite yet. Yes, they probably aren’t the cleanest places but I’ll take my chances, but probably not until next spring.

 

[diamondringlover]

I havent been to a movie theater in probably 15-18 years...if I want to watch a movie I just rent it on my TV....

 

[AprilBaby]

Much more comfy at home and you can go to the bathroom and get a snack without missing any of the movie.

 

[lyra]

Maybe. I have nothing against it. But I only go to the VIP theatre which is ridiculously expensive but has comfortable reclining seats and a chairside menu including alcohol. My main reason not to go when things are safe again, is that it would have to be a movie that would benefit more from being seen on the big screen. Otherwise, I just wait or rent later.

 

[mrs-b]

My husband and I are huge movie fans, and we used to go to the movies most weekends. Sometimes, we'd go more than once. Our theater has all reserved seating and all reclining seats - big and well separated. Mostly, we sit in the back row (there's only 7 rows per theater) on the 2 end seats. Consequently, we're not that close to anyone, with nobody behind us to breathe down on us. I'd happily take Clorox wipes to wipe down our seats before sitting. And post vaccine, I don't see any problem with it at all. Nothing beats a big screen.

 

[marymm]

DH and I absolutely love seeing new movies on the big screen (i.e., in movie theatres)! In reality, it has been about a year since we've been to the movies ... and now with the pandemic and our household including a vulnerable elder person, it will be quite a while before I find myself going to a movie. So, yes, I do hope/plan to see movies in theatres but not sure when we'll next go.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

No movie theaters for us until we have a vaccine. We have two that we frequent. One that's new and big, you pick your seats, they recline, you can get food AND drinks, it's very nice (and within walking distance). The other is a super old independent movie theater. It's sticky, not for profit, tickets are cheap, and the movies are GREAT. I miss them both

 

[Austina]

We were regular cinema goers. We used to go in the afternoon when it was quiet and on Monday’s it was only £5, and with our car insurance we got 2 for 1, so it was ridiculously cheap The only time there were more than 10 people max was when we went to see Bohemian Rhapsody, then it was packed.

The other 8 people were like us, older and didn’t talk, rustle paper or fiddle with their phones, so it was a nice afternoon out.

We’ll probably go again, but not for a while.

 

[Dancing Fire]

The last movie I watch was Titanic...

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

We have those here too.
So depressing!

i must say i miss the big old theaters of my childhod
we had big old ones in Dunedin with beautiful art deco architecture that was of course just horribly old fashoned then
the multiplex arrived after Jurassic park (the first one) and it was at a time the picture theatres was getting good ticket sales again after home videos had hurt their market share

anyway back to jurrasic park - it was a two storied theater and i could not remember them ever opening up both floors before.
It felt right out of the 50s, like happy days
After that they closed all the big picture theaters, the century, the odean, st james, the octagon
they pulled that theater down (the century) and didn't rebuild on that site for 20 years or more
It was left as a pile of ribble
I felt sad every time i passed it

I still remember seeing back to the future - it was the first movie i ever went to twice
people clapped at the end
My first movie was Dumbo, when i was 6, at the century with my dad
.....i doubt kids today will have found memories of going to the mall to see movies

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I love movies at the theater! I mostly see kid movies and take my grandchildren, but I enjoy those, too! We have a nice theater and people here have good manners in the theater. So no issues for me once the virus is gone. That actually is about the only thing I miss that is still not open here.

I think maybe the last adult movie I saw before the shutdown was Just Mercy...an outstanding movie and very relevant for the current times. It's streaming for free in June, but I think most movies are more powerful on the big screen.

'Just Mercy' Is Streaming for Free This Month to Educate Viewers on Systemic Racism

The 2019 film, which chronicles criminal justice reform in Alabama, stars Michael B. Jordan as lawyer Bryan Stevenson

www.smithsonianmag.com