Everyone in here with personal large TVs and surround systems throwing the curve.
Honestly when I was in walking distance to a theater I liked (they served like pizza fries and other meal items for a good price) I went all the time. I was willing to go for movies I was less excited about rather than waiting it out cause giving up 4 hours of my time for an ok movie after driving, trailers and everything else plus cost is definitely less appealing.
I definitely think cost and spare money to spend on nice things other than food is a huge component of this all but I also would just like ease of participating.
Both time and money have felt like very precious resources in these new terrifying gilded ages.
If I had a cinema down the street I’d love to get the pass and just go check out some movies during the day (I’m an independent so I’d have that possibility, easier than evening/weekends when the kid is involved). But as it stands I have to drive there, park, pay the exorbitant parking, etc etc. And it’s not worth having a pass in these conditions so paying full price tickets every time, and yeah it’s a luxurious/time consuming outing.
It sucks because I personally love watching movies at the theater. I miss the days where I would see a movie every week with my $5 allowance.
Watching movies on your TV at home sucks, unless you have money for a giant TV and good surround sound. Part of the experience is the rumbling sound).$, And streaming quality still sucks. And I’m not paying to digitally rent a movie.
Ours was outdated, small seats, cramped. We would have to drive 45 minutes for a more “updated” one. No thanks, those days are gone, plus now it is costly.
Accessibility is only a tiny portion of it. Most of the US can’t walk to pretty much anything useful.
Lets start looking at ticket prices, and concession prices.
Family of 4 to watch a movie starts at $70 CAD at my local theatre. $10 for a single large popcorn to share, and $5ea per water. Fountain drinks are somehow more expensive than bottled water. That’s $100 for the start of an evening. Take a look at the rest of the economy, and figure out why theatres aren’t seeing the traffic they used to.
Being unable to walk has nothing to do with it. In the UK we can easily access theatres but any screening in my town rarely has more than 10% of seats booked, and in London is max 60%
