The Future of Movie Theaters

[jwesty]

What are all of your thoughts out there on the future of movie multiplexes? I myself love going to a theater because nothing beats seeing a movie like Gladiator or any of The Lord of the Rings movies (some movies just beg to be seen on the big screen). Of course, when you go to a movie you have to put up with the rude people which can detract from the experience. But still it beats watching and listening on a 27" two speaker t.v. (the theater experience beats it still even with a 5.1 or 7.1 audio system).

However, if I were to come into some money, I would most definitely by a kick ass sound system along with a digital projector (to make the image even bigger) and I would be happy that way too. I know that in the future they've talked about realeasing DVD's simultaneously with a movies premiere but what is that going to do with all the multiplexes out there? less people will go so prices of movie tickets and food will get even higher which in turn will turn more people away causing the problem to worsen... what do you all think? don't hold back.

[Asonokirk V 2.0]

I think there will always be some sort of film exhibition venues in existence for the forseeable future. Seeing films, especially ones that have good SFX, on the big screens will always be desireable. It isn't feasible for people to have giant screens in their homes, obviously.

However, I don't think the multiplexes will survive as they are, ultimately. There are too many inconveniences at the multiplexes as they are now, and unless the theater owners start thinking outside of the box, attendance is going to continue to dwindle. The only way for the multiplex cinemas to survive is to make their venues much more customer friendly.

With DVD's, pay per view, et al, the film industry has reached a serious crossroads in its history, and sober people are going to have to think long and hard about their futures.

What I would like to see in theaters are headphones at each seat, that way you can hear the film without even worrying about someone making noises. Or, at least have headphone jacks at each seat, and people can bring their own to plug in.

Obviously, the ultimate future of an artform like film is a thing like the Star Trek holodeck, where everyone can be the star in their own fantasy. Technology like that is either not possible, or it is a very long way in the future.

[kah]

This is my opinion, and mine only. Personally, I hate crowded theaters. I wait till a popular movie has been out a few weeks before I go to see it. Sometimes, I am the only person there. I only go to the theater to see big special effects movies. Character driven flicks I will watch at home. I often go to the movie store and buy their used dvds, whether I've seen them or not. I figure, 6 or 7 dollars for a dvd is not bad, even if the movie is not that great, because we would've spent 17 dollars just to get in to see it at the theater, and I can always trade it in later.

Anyways, remember when we were kids, and it took at least a year for a movie to come out on VHS, and years to make it to tv? We had an incentive to go to the theater to see a movie. If we waited too long, we'd have to wait a long time to see it. Now, if you wait a couple months, you can rent it for 3 or 4 dollars, and if you wait a few more, you can own it for about 6-15, depending on where you bought it, and its new or used condition. If I had a big screen tv, I'd probably never go to the theater. I appreciate being able to pause, and get snacks for free, and smoke when I get the urge, and to be comfortable in my sweats.

Btw- I like the onDemand movie channel, but it can quickly add up to big bucks. I think Netfix might be a better option.

[Asonokirk V 2.0]

This is my opinion, and mine only. Personally, I hate crowded theaters. I wait till a popular movie has been out a few weeks before I go to see it. Sometimes, I am the only person there. I only go to the theater to see big special effects movies. Character driven flicks I will watch at home. I often go to the movie store and buy their used dvds, whether I've seen them or not. I figure, 6 or 7 dollars for a dvd is not bad, even if the movie is not that great, because we would've spent 17 dollars just to get in to see it at the theater, and I can always trade it in later.

Anyways, remember when we were kids, and it took at least a year for a movie to come out on VHS, and years to make it to tv? We had an incentive to go to the theater to see a movie. If we waited too long, we'd have to wait a long time to see it. Now, if you wait a couple months, you can rent it for 3 or 4 dollars, and if you wait a few more, you can own it for about 6-15, depending on where you bought it, and its new or used condition. If I had a big screen tv, I'd probably never go to the theater. I appreciate being able to pause, and get snacks for free, and smoke when I get the urge, and to be comfortable in my sweats.

Btw- I like the onDemand movie channel, but it can quickly add up to big bucks. I think Netfix might be a better option.

Yes, onDemand can certainly add up. What I do is tape every onDemand movie I order, that way I'm paying 3.95, plus the cost of the blank tape, and I then have the movie to watch as often as I may want. I find that to be a bargain compared with the price of DVD's or going to a theater.

I believe there is a way with my DVR box that I could actually save these films to my computer, and then burn them onto a DVD. I asked the Time Warner people about that, but they didn't know how that might be done. I'm going to ask the Scientific Atlanta company, which made the box, if they know if this is possible.

[jwesty]

kah... let's not forget either that back in the day a movie would be in the theater for over 6 months to a year. it had time to prove itself, get word of mouth out and make money. nowadays a movie has to prove itself the first weekend... it's crazy.

Also, the only thing bad about waiting a few weeks to see a movie is that by then sometimes they move the movie to a shittier theater with sub-par sound and screen... this sucks majorly when they do this because you're not getting the full 100% capability. it's best to find a theater that has matinee's during the work week and see the movie then in it's first week... it's a ghost town and you're getting the movie in it's most prestine surrounding (of course... you have to contend with missing work but I feel that's almost the best way to experience movies nowadays).

[jwesty]

Asonokirk V 2.0... that's a great idea about the headphone jack... you need to market that man. that would be awesome. you still would get the full effect of the movie because the bass and other sounds of the movie would add to the headphone sound which would not hinder the auditory experience. it could resemble what airplanes have... a volume control next to the jack so that you could turn it up or down as you please.

I wish I was rich because I would bankroll your idea in a heart beat man. all you would need is the jacks... people would then have the option to either bring their own or listen to the movie sans headphones. Also, the theater could sell/rent cheap headphones and make money that way too.

I would totally to do it if it were available.

[jwesty]

i just remembered something... they kind of do have something like this but it's for the hearing impaired, it's a radio signal that goes to a handheld device with a headphone jack. i don't think it's very commmon but it's out there. can anyone out there fill in the details about this as I'm not clear on it?

[kah]

kah... let's not forget either that back in the day a movie would be in the theater for over 6 months to a year. it had time to prove itself, get word of mouth out and make money. nowadays a movie has to prove itself the first weekend... it's crazy.

Also, the only thing bad about waiting a few weeks to see a movie is that by then sometimes they move the movie to a shittier theater with sub-par sound and screen... this sucks majorly when they do this because you're not getting the full 100% capability. it's best to find a theater that has matinee's during the work week and see the movie then in it's first week... it's a ghost town and you're getting the movie in it's most prestine surrounding (of course... you have to contend with missing work but I feel that's almost the best way to experience movies nowadays).

I never would've had to miss work before, since I was a second shift bartender, but it's a lot harder to get to the theater when you need to get a babysitter. I agree that the theaters that show the movies downgrade the screening room after a few weeks, but we have some pretty sweet, newer theaters where I live, and most of the sound systems and screens are high quality. With the older theaters, I have definitely run into that problem.

To be completely honest, I haven't been to a theater since two weeks before my son was born. My bf was going to take me to see the DaVinci code for my birthday, but he was mistaken about when it opened. We will probably still see it, but not until it's been out a couple of weeks. Ditto X-Men.

[jwesty]

yeah... kids do make it harder to see a movie. i've definitely noticed my movie attendance has gone down hill since i've had them... it even makes it hard to watch at home because there are certain movies that I can't watch while they are awake... so then it becomes a question of 'do I stay up late to watch it or do I get precious, precious sleep since I have to wake up at 5 AM?'

so now when I go to a theater I have to be very picky about what I see because it's a special event.

[kah]

yeah... kids do make it harder to see a movie. i've definitely noticed my movie attendance has gone down hill since i've had them... it even makes it hard to watch at home because there are certain movies that I can't watch while they are awake... so then it becomes a question of 'do I stay up late to watch it or do I get precious, precious sleep since I have to wake up at 5 AM?'

so now when I go to a theater I have to be very picky about what I see because it's a special event.

Ditto that. Except my bf gets up for work at 3am, so that seriously cuts down on anything we want to do during the week.

[tstone]

When real estate and funding permit, I plan on building my own home theater. But I always see a place for going to the theater. But I RARELY go on Fridays and Saturdays in the evening, the times most go, and I never go to the first few weekends of a popular film.

Crowds, and people in general, get on my nerves.

[Bill_the_Pony]

Yes, having kids has cut down on my theater going as well. :(

When people stop having them...or actually letting them survive past the age of 13....then I will start going to theaters again. :)

There are exceptions, though. :)