The Future of the Movie Theater
In A Digital Age
by Chelsey Tahan
MSS 495 Section B
MSS 495 Section B
When you think about going to the movies, there are a few very standard cliches that come to mind. Ticket stubs. Popcorn. An endless stream of trailers before the movie begins and, in some cases, those super stylish 3D glasses.
With the recent innovations in technology (especially as far as the film industry goes) it is no secret that movie theaters, like many other brick and mortar establishments, have been suffering. In 2014, the lowest number of cinema attendees in two decades was reported (McClintock 1). More and more people are turning away from the traditional theater setting for viewing movies. What is causing this? There could be a few reasons.
The first is very obvious; the price of tickets. The average price of a movie ticket in 2005 (only a decade ago!) was $6.55 (Box Office Mojo). Today, it is close to $9.00 a ticket. Many people can not justify spending so much money on a one-time viewing of a movie that they may not even end up enjoying. The Washington Post cites a few other reasons for movie attendance being down for the first time since 1995. "Sitting next to hundreds of noisy strangers in uncomfortable seats...being forced to watch an interminable number of movie trailers before the film actually starts...having your view partially obstructed by people in front of you...Plus, throw into the equation not being allowed to pull out your mobile devices for a full two hours at a time" (Basulto 1).
Basulto's last reason raises an interesting point that ties back to the emergence of personal digital devices. In the last ten years, society has adapted to smartphones being a natural way of life. Some people even get anxiety if they are apart from their phones for too long. We've all seen the slides they put up before the movie starts that instruct the audience to silence their cell phones. Since the nature of viewing movies in public is to be silent (Hassoun 1), it can be quite disadvantageous for audiences to have their cell phones on or even lit up during a movie. Doing so can cause aggravation to their neighbors trying to watch the movie and, in some cases, can result in the patron being removed from the theater.
(skip to :38)
Because of this, more people are turning towards the ease of buying movies digitally or even pirating them instead of going to the movies. While watching a movie at home, one can text, play games, check email, and cook whatever they want in the sanctity of their own home. When "The Interview" was released in 2014, it began a new idea of movies being released digitally instead of in the theater. The movie made approximately $17 million in its' first week, and film critics were quick to jump on the fact that it could've made close to $100 million if it had been released in theaters (Basulto 2). However, another similar movie starring Seth Rogen ("This Is The End") made about the same amount of money the year before in its' first week, proving that the digitally released movie could be just as successful as one in the theater.
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How do movie theaters plan to attack these newfound issues? They will do this by completely revamping the dynamic of how we watch movies in the theater. The North Haven movie theater underwent a massive refurbishing over the summer, like many other theaters across America (Turmelle 1). Patrons can choose their seating when they buy their tickets, and they can sit on relaxing seats that are more like reclinable couches than movie theater seats. Adult patrons can purchase alcohol and drink it in the theater. A wide variety of food and beverages have also been added to appease and attract more customers: french fries, wings, pizza, chicken tenders, candy, nachos, and of course, popcorn. The idea is to capitalize on the experience of going to the movies, not just seeing the movie itself. Even if the patron doesn't enjoy the movie, they can still enjoy the experience of going to the movie.
What's in store for the future of movie theaters? It's hard to say. Some view it as something that will eventually be swept aside as more digital releases become popular, but others think it will always remain a staple of American culture. It's important to adapt to new technology as it comes to light, but just because society can do something doesn't necessarily mean that they should. Movie theaters should continue to change up their dynamic and become more "modern", and ticket prices should definitely be brought down. If they don't figure out a way to keep their theaters open, digitally released movies may very well be the future.
WORKS CITED (with links)
"Adjusting for Movie Ticket Price Inflation." Adjusting for Movie Ticket Price Inflation. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. Link To Article
Basulto, Dominic. "Who Needs Movie Theaters Anyway?" Washington Post. The Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. Link To Article
Hassoun, Dan. "Engaging Distractions: Regulating Second-Screen Use in the Theater." Cinema Journal 55.2 (2016): 89-111. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. Link To Article
McClintock, Pamela. "Box Office 2014: Moviegoing Hits Two-Decade Low." The Hollywood Reporter. 31 Dec. 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. Link To Article
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven. The New Haven Register, 23 July 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. Link To Article
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlly D’Alia
ReplyDeleteI write this post fresh out of just viewing a movie in theaters this past weekend. I hadn’t been to the movie theaters to see a movie in almost 9 months because, well like Chelsea mentions, I don’t necessarily need to anymore with all the new technology. This past weekend I saw the newly released movie, Miracles From Heaven. The reasons I decided to see it in theaters was because I just finished the book, the commercials made is look suspenseful, and my mom wanted to see it with me.
The movie theater in my town has been other of the lucky ones that got revamped with new couch recliner chairs and better and more food options for viewing pleasure. This addition also contributed to my want to see the movie in theaters. One of my favorite lines in Chelsea’s post was, “Even if the patron doesn't enjoy the movie, they can still enjoy the experience of going to the movie.” Therefore it makes tremendous sense that more and more theaters are making the experience way more enjoyable to lure in more movie goers oppose to catching the flick when it comes out to stream. However, it’s very true that it comes with a price. It cost almost $40 for my mom, dad, and I to see the movie. Nuts!
I also find it very confusing how when we’re at a time where streaming is at an all time high, box office sales hit a record with $11 billion in revenue. Perhaps this doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the amount of people showing up to see the movie but the fact that ticket prices have gone up? “Much of this record came from ever-increasing ticket prices, and doesn't mean that attendance hit a record this year.” (McClintock) It would probably be more beneficial to record attendance oppose to revenue if ticket prices are different than the year before – just a thought.
The power of social media versus word of mouth is astonishing. The fact that social media plays such a huge role in film, TV, and entertainment in general is, as we’ve talked about all semester, super advantageous yet also has the power to hurt a movie or TV show vastly. "You can't cheat an opening weekend anymore," says Paramount vice chair Rob Moore. "And anyone under 30 is checking Rotten Tomatoes and telling their friends what the score is on a Thursday. You saw it with Fantastic Four: Fox actually had good tracking, but by opening day the audience knew the film was bad. The good news is that when you have a good movie, people equally share that."” (McClintock) It seems technology wins again. Not only are we able to wait until the movie comes out to stream and enjoy it in the comfort of our own home, but we can first decide if it’s something even worth watching thanks to the world of social media, thanks to technology!
McClintock, Pamela. "Box Office 2015: How Revenue (Narrowly) Hit a Record $11B in the U.S." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 29 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
McClintock, Pamela. "Box Office's New Normal in 2015: "You Can't Cheat an Opening Weekend Anymore"" The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
As Chelsey brings up, there are a few things that come to mind when thinking about a movie theater. I could remember those things from a few years ago and when I was younger. However in today’s society we are more use to sitting on our own couch, watching movies using platforms like On Demand, Netflix as well as other services. There is no doubt in my mind that the movie theater business must be suffering! I think some major reasons, as Chelsey also brings up in her response would be because of pricing and convenience.
ReplyDeleteWhen going to a movie theater, one is looking to have a great experience. But lately that is hard to do because the price of a ticket has become so expensive. Many people would go on dates to movie theaters but now people would rather just watch one in their own home because of that reason. Another point Chelsey brings up is the fact that you cannot use your cell phone when watching the movie. Cell phones and other technology devices are attached at our hips, and for most it is very difficult to let go for those two hours. Although that sounds very sad, it is the truth. Therefore, I can see why less and less people are going to the movie theater which results in them just watching movies at their convenience at home.
Movie theaters are trying to revamp to appeal to the public better and I think they are doing a great job. Personally I have not been to the movie theaters lately, but I know many of my friends have. Everyone who has gone to one of the theaters that has the upgrades has nothing but good things to say. Due to the fact that everything in our lives are changing, I think it is smart that theaters are upgrading certain things to make the public more interested in attending. “The new theater’s features include: Over 1,200 electric-powered, luxury reclining seats with footrests, the ability to buy beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages that can be consumed in any of the 14 auditoriums in the theater, self service concession stands, eight screens capable of showing 3-D movies, and one screen that is 68 feet wide by 32 feet high” (Turmelle). We are so lucky to have a theater so close to us that has all these new features. I think it is smart that they decided to do this in North Haven because of the surrounding universities and colleges, which will entice many students to come.
One last point I want to make is that I believe if the movie is popular enough, people will attend to see the movie. This is because regardless of the price and having to watch the movie with a crowd around you, one does not want to wait for it to come out on DVD or brought on by a service. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens, only the third film to surpass $2 billion in global box-office receipts, helped Disney top THR's profitability ranking for a second straight year. The studio turned in an impres¬sive 45 percent profit growth for calendar 2015 thanks to such titles as Inside Out and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Merchandise related to Frozen flew off shelves, also boosting licensing revenue to the film studio” (Bond, Szalai). Overall movies that are popular and have hype around them will do very well for the theater business!
Works Cited:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/film-studio-is-profitable-871676?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%20Headlines_2016-03-03%2005:00:00_jkonerman&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_headlines
http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20150723/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-cinemark-movie-theater-in-north-haven
Angela Holdorf
ReplyDeleteIf you were to ask me about two years how I felt about the future of movie theatres, I probably would have said not very promising. Much like the points Chelsey made, movie theatres have lacked appeal for many from the price to being uncomfortable. However, I have also noticed the recent changes much like Chelsey stated that could potentially bring costumers back to the theatre. I rarely go to the movie unless I am dying to see a movie. Yet, this past year with recent upgrades to local theaters I have been going more often. Not only has my hometown run-down movie theatre upgraded to newer comfortable recliner seats and snacks, but New Haven has as well. Only a few weekends ago I went to a movie theatre in Boston that had reserved recliner couches, drinks (adult drinks included), snacks, and meals (steak, chicken, pasta). Now, granted the tickets are still pricey, at least you feel like you are getting your moneys worth compared to how they used to be.
That being said, while these upgrades are definitely helping the movie theatres, I don’t know if it will be enough. Unless going on a date or going to see a movie that you really must see in theatres, people don’t want to spend $10- higher every weekend. Especially when in reality you can easily watch in the comfort of your own home. Chelsey proved this point with her comparison of two Seth Rogan movies “The Interview” released digitally and “This is The End” released in theatres, which made about the same amount of money. Like Chelsey also stated, you can be on your phone, eat whatever you, and be comfortable at home watching movie. With streaming and watching illegally now, it is so easy to do that. As stated in “Box Office: 5 Lessons for 2016 From Hollywood's Record Highs and Lows” by Pamela McClintock, “Going to the movies has become all about the social media conversation” (McClintock).
Obviously a key aspect to movie theatres is the audience, so I feel that movie theatres are taking a step in the right direction by aiding to make the audience really want to sit there in person. While prices could be less, I do appreciate the changes that are being made. Yet, I personally still won’t be going more than once a month due to the price, Netflix, and online. I agree with Chelsey that movie theatres should be more dynamic and modern to keep up and stay “afloat.” Digitally releasing movies can really be beneficial for theatres so that people can have the choice to stay at home and be on their phones. Like stated in “Box Office's New Normal in 2015: "You Can't Cheat an Opening Weekend Anymore,” “The challenge now is, if you don't have a good movie, how much time, money and energy [do you spend] trying to fix it?" (McClintock) Another problem could be that people won’t want to spend a major amount of money not knowing how good the movie will be. It was different when prices were lower and people cared less about that.
Work Cited:
McClintock, Pamela. “Box Office’s New Normal 2015: “You Can’t Cheat an Opening Weekend Anymore”” The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
McClintock, Pamela. “Box Office: “5 Lessons for 2016 From Hollywood's Record Highs and Lows”” The Hollywood Reporter. N.p. 6 Jan. 2016. Web. Mar. 2016
Maya Cohen
ReplyDeleteSuccess in current society is dependent on a product, company, or business model’s ability to adapt and upgrade itself to fit the ever changing desires of individuals. We have witnessed various social media applications, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat evolve to fit their audience. We have seen mobile devices such as iPhones and Androids continuously upgrade in the hopes of maintaining their popularity. When we think about the once tremendously popular movie theaters, we don’t associate much change with their image. The main problem for these specific businesses, as Chelsey reiterated in her blog post, is that movie theaters have, until recently, stayed relatively the same over the years. They have not grown alongside current society, and do not support desires individuals have in terms of their particular media viewing styles. Although a little late to the game, some movie theaters are catching on to the fact that change is necessary to their survival, and have upgraded accordingly. The Cinemark movie theater in North Haven is one of the companies that have decided to invest in change, in the hopes of reeling their customers back in. In the article, “Out With the Old, In With the New Cinemark Movie Theater In North Haven,” in the New Haven Register, Luther Turmelle discusses how, “Dallas-based Cinemark spent in excess of $16 million tearing down the former Rave Cinemas location on Universal Drive and replacing it with a lavish new 57,000 square foot, 14-screen multiplex that pulls out all the stops in an effort to lure the movie going public out of their homes,” (Turmelle). The finances involved in their upgrades showed how essential it had become for a serious revamping.
While it is true that drastic changes have been made to increase people’s desires to venture out to the movies, a crucial aspect to the current individual’s viewing habits is still strongly prohibited in the movie theater experience. As Chelsey pointed out in her blog, individuals are significantly dependent on their mobile devices, and when they are told they cannot look at them for a longer portion of time, two things happen. The first being that a person is detached from their phone, a temporary break up most individuals today are strongly against, and the second being that their ability to use a second screen or use multiple devices and platforms simultaneously is ripped away from them. This issue, which has not been worked out yet, has led to significant drops in their overall revenue. In the text, “Box Office New Normal in 2015: “You Can’t Cheat an Opening Weekend Anymore,” in The Hollywood Reporter, Pamela McClintock writes, “Only a few years ago, a $15 million debut was considered poor for a major studio film — but now, $5 million or less is possible,” (McClintock). This being said, now that adaptations are being made and changes are being put into place to make the theater a more alluring environment, movie theaters have a much higher chance of climbing their way back to success, even with digital access taking away popularity.
Work Cited:
McClintock, Pamela. “Box Office’s New Normal 2015: “You Can’t Cheat an Opening Weekend Anymore”” The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
Turmelle, Luther. “Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven.” Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven. 23 July 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
Chelsey,
ReplyDeleteI really that that this blog post was very well done, and I think that much like the future of the television industry, very soon we are going to see the film industry start to change as well. It makes sense to me that movie theatres are now fighting to stay relevant while a push towards streaming seems evident. I am not shocked to find out that these theatres are not going down without a fight. It is frustrating to me to see movie theatres that are sort of rundown, so it was nice to see that the North Haven Cinemark movie theater was being redone.
Because of the history of these movie theatres when they are not as nice as they should be, it can be understood why people would rather stream movies from their own home. “During the first half of the 20th century, elaborate venues where motion pictures were shown were dubbed ‘movie palaces’” (Turmelle). By adding things like “the ability to buy beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages”, and a new screen that “is 68 feet wide and 32 feet high” (Turmelle), it can be seen that these theatres are doing everything that they can to attract people, to stay at the movies.
Like the guys talk about in the video that Chelsey linked to, some movie theatres are even now allowing people to text in the theatres. It is small things like that, that will attract millennials back to the theatre so see their movies instead of just waiting for the movies to come out on a streaming service.
While movie theatres are trying to make strides to attract people to the movie theatre, the movies that are being put into the theaters really are not helping them out. Like the article Biggest Box Office Flops of 2015 talks about there were “13 wide- release films from the past 11 months [now outdated] that crashed and burned at the box office” (Boardman). What is shocking about the movies that tanked it most of them were star- studded. Movies like Jupiter Ascending stared Channing Tatum, and Mila Kunis, the movie barely made a profit, after it spent $176 million and only made $183.89 million.
The problem is, people see trailers for movies and just wait for them to either come out on DVD or find a way to stream them before they come out. A good example of this is when the movie Inside Out came out. I knew that I was not going to go see that movie in theatres because I am a college aged male, so I waited and I streamed it illegally on my laptop.
Now I know that that is not ethical, but the problem is that it is so easy to do. And until movie theatres figure out a way to stop people from streaming these movies illegally while they are still in theatres, I really believe that the movie theatre industry is going to continue to suffer.
Work Cited
Boardman, Madeline. "Biggest Box Office Flops of 2015." Entertainment Weekly. N.p., 2 Dec. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." NHRegister.com. New Haven Register, 23 July 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.
Chelsey has pointed out some interesting issues with viewing movies in a traditional theater setting. I however have observed these issues as well and realize that these issues are only going to continuously be a concern of the movie theater industry. In order for the movie theater industry to climb back up the ladder of success, they need to keep in mind the needs and wants of today’s audience. The audience of today is rapidly changing with the emergence of new technologies.
ReplyDeleteOne theater in particular that has caught on to new audience trends is the Cinemark movie theater in New Haven, CT (Turmelle, 2015). They knew what they had to do to keep their audiences coming back. They took on a whole new strategy, instead of relying on peoples desire to visit a movie theater to see a movie, they decided to focus on peoples desire to enjoy the whole experience of going to the movies (Turmelle, 2015).
They have revamped their theater with brand new features that are designed to enhance the audience members movie-going experience. Features include 1,200 electric-powered, luxury reclining seats with foot rests, the ability to purchase alcoholic- beverages, self service concession stands, eight 3-D theaters, and one massive imax screen (Turmelle, 2015).
By including features like this, audience members will want to go to the movie theater for pure enjoyment, this eliminates the risk of waisting their time if they end up not liking the movie that they saw. I personally find myself seeking for theaters like the Cinemark movie theater. Traditional theaters often have uncomfortable seating and as a result you will find yourself anxiously waiting for the movie to end because you can’t stand sitting there any longer. Replacing the old seats with the large recliners, bring the movie watching experience to a whole new level.
Another issue theaters face is peoples addiction to technology, especially cell phones. Audience members are prohibited from using their phones during the film, for many it is challenging. I think it would be a great idea for theaters to incorporate the use of cell phones with the movie watching experience. If audience members are able to interact during a film, they will be drawn in with this new element of entertainment.
Amanda (Cont.)
ReplyDeleteBox office sales have also been decline. This is due to the accessibility that movie fans have to digital releases. To most audiences, paying $9-$12 to view a film in a theater isn’t worth it. They can rent or stream the same film online in the comfort of their own home. It is pointless to waist money on a film that you will just see once, never mind having the risk of not liking the film. There were even some films that were highly anticipated to be huge success, but turned out to be a big disappointment.
Films like Joe Wright’s Pan was a huge flop. With an estimated $150 million budget, it was a big surprise when it only brought in $34.06 . Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs was also a huge disappointment, only raking in $17.6 million (Boardman,2015). These are just a couple of the many films that were unsuccessful this year. This is a result of declining box office sales.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Boardman, Madeline. "Biggest Box Office Flops of 2015." Entertainment Weekly 2 Dec. 2015: n. pag. Print.
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." New Haven Register [New Haven] 23 July 2015: n. pag. Print.
I do agree that making movies theaters a luxury again will increase their appeal in today's movie market. One of the biggest selling points for watching movies at home is the comfort and ability to eat anything you want while watching the film. The movie theaters are smart when it comes to making movie watching in a theater as comfortable as watching it at home or more. The movies will feel like a nice date night or a great leisure activity.
ReplyDeleteI went to one of these fancy movie theaters a couple of years back in Florida, and it really was a great experience much better then any other movie theater experience that I had. If these movie theaters keep their same pricing, I can see a ton of more people frequenting theaters.
Katherine Chirillo
ReplyDeleteDr. Burns
MSS 495
22 March 2016
Chelsey,
As you mentioned so much that comes to mind when thinking about the movies is a cliché. However, this is what many love about their cinematic experience. There was once a contest on the radio and the clue for a riddle was, “this is something that people do all the time or almost never,” and the answer was the movies! I can definitely see this, and almost safely say that these people who go to the theater all the time will be the ones to keep them in business.
Do I like the popcorn? Sometimes, in moderation. Do I like the ticket stubs? Yes, I’ll save all of them. All the people sitting around me? Let’s try not to think about that too much. There are so many positives that outweigh the negatives for me. The best thing about the movies is that it is a time to de-stress. It’s okay to zone out and only think about the movie and nothing else for a couple hours. You do bring up the point that many suffer from attachment to their cell phones, and I have to admit I use mine more than I should, but the movies are a reason to not look. No one would judge you for not answering while in a movie theater!
The one thing I can see being an issue is prices. The movie theater near me at home just revamped and the tickets are closer to fifteen dollars. I try not to go there very often, but Cinemark in North Haven is a different story. Student tickets are barely over seven dollars and on Tuesday’s I believe they are a solid six. In the article from the New Haven Register the marketing director of Cinemark is quoted saying, “bigger is better” (Turmelle). In this case, yes. The theater is huge and I want to say doing very well. The last time I went on a Friday there were long lines at every turn.
Yes the movies can be expensive, but there are usually deals or reasonable matinee prices. The long line-up of comic based movies is another reason why I think the movie industry won’t see less numbers in theaters anytime soon. To name a few there’s Batman v Superman, the new Captain America and Suicide Squad still to come in 2016. According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter there has been an introduction of different marketing tactics. This would be provocative marketing in the case of Deadpool. When this movie came out, “Expectations were tempered due to the film's R rating, unheard of for a comic book property” (McClintock). This movie was definitely rated R, and I have to say it’s one of the best movies I have seen in a while. I think this is a great example of movies and the industry as a whole doing much better than people wish to anticipate.
Works Cited
McClintock, Pamela. " How 'Deadpool's' Marketing Won Over Fanboys (and Everyone Else)." The Hollywood Reporter. 2 Feb. 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven. The New Haven Register, 23 July 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Lea Herlihy
ReplyDeleteDr. Burns
MSS495
I think that you bring up a very interesting point about movie theaters needing to become “more modern.” In order to remain relevant in this ever changing society, establishments need to learn how to adjust to everything that is thrown at them. In the case of movie theaters, creating a comfortable, homelike atmosphere is important for success. I’ve been to a movie theater that offers food, drink, and ridiculously comfortable seats. While watching the movie, I felt like I was at home because I had all of the amenities in front of me that I would have at home. While regular theaters do have food, there’s just something about having a menu to choose from that makes the experience more enjoyable all around.
When reading about how much movies gross in the box office, it’s hard to imagine that yearly attendance is in a steady decline. Apparently, “Year-over-year, attendance is about 6 percent lower than 2013, when admissions clocked in at 1.34 billion” (Ford). Without doing any sort of research, I would never think that the box office was doing poorly. When you hear numbers like “[insert movie here] grossed $890 million in the movie theater its opening weekend” you don’t immediately associate that with being bad for an opening weekend. Whether it is good or bad is relative, and I believe it relies heavily on the movie that is being released and the anticipation associated with it.
It’s also interesting to think about the predictions that go into estimating the earnings of the box office for a designated year. If there is a highly anticipated movie coming out then the predictions are automatically positive. For example, “Wold notes that going into 2013, the slate seemed to be a weak one – arriving as it did without a Tiffany franchise like James Bond or Spider-Man” (Cunningham, Lang). This coincides with the growth of the international box office as well. Movies that have a large number of people following them, will succeed just as well internationally as they will domestically. “With China building 10 screens a day and Brazil and other markets fielding burgeoning populations of moviegoers, the global box office will likely grow even as the stateside market cools off” (Cunningham, Lang).
Considering the potential success that movies can have just by being released online, could play a big role in how certain movies are released. It’s less of a hassle to release the movie online through streaming sites like Netflix than it is to release the movie through thousands of movie theaters across the U.S. and seemingly hundreds of thousands of movie theaters globally.
Though I do believe that movies can find success online the way that The Interview did, I believe that releasing the movie in the theaters can lead to larger numbers in the physical and virtual box offices. So, who knows? Maybe movies will be released both through theaters and online.
Works Cited
Cunningham, Todd and Brett Lang. “Box Office: 2014 Will Likely Be Down, Because Not All Sequels are Equals.” The Wrap 2 Jan. 2014 Web.
Ford, Rebecca. “Box Office Winners and Loser of 2014.” The Hollywood Reporter. 2 Jan. 2014
Chelsea,
ReplyDeleteYou raise several an interesting points in this blog not only about the future of the movie industry, but about how people have developed what seems to be an almost crippling dependence on society. I fall under the category of a person who thoroughly enjoys attending a film in theatres. I firmly believe that in many cases a film is far better suited for the big screen rather than a home television set (The Revenant comes to mind). The main reason I enjoy going to the movie theatre is actually the most ironic reason of all. I enjoy it as a social activity. You may think “well you can’t use your phone the whole time and can’t talk to the people next to you, so how is it social”? I love the feeling of watching the same thing as other people for two hours and then discussing to see how similar of different your views are. One of the joys of filmmaking is for people to socialize about a films principals and values, not to tweet about a cool looking scene while its happening.
The idea of films being released and available for rent at home on the same day as in theatres is something that I think has potential, it is far away from a successful idea. JJ Abrams and Peter Jackson believe they have found their alternative for at home movies in the screening room, an at home service that would allow people to rent a film the day it comes out for 50 dollars. “Screening Room will expand the audience for a movie — not shift it from cinema to living room. It does not play off studio against theater owner. Instead it respects both, and is structured to support the long-term health of both exhibitors and distributors — resulting in greater sustainability for the wider film industry itself” (Jackson). I am all for the expansion and sustainability of the film industry, but I think that paying 50 dollars to simply stay at home to watch a film is ludacris. The maddening thing is that the film would be released on blue ray dvd several months later and the industry would then ask for another 25 dollars so you can own the film. Think about it. You could wind up spending a total of 75 dollars on one movie, simply so you don’t have to leave the house. How backwards is that?
“The industry is going more and more towards making the customer’s experience something that they can’t get by staying home” (Jeffries). My local home theatre also has revamped its accommodations much like the north haven theatre. If you haven’t gone, you should. The movie going experience has become almost luxurious, with deluxe food options and unbelievably comfy seating. If luxury is what the people want, give it to them. It would be a shame to let such a wonderful industry go away simply because people want to tweet rather than watch.
Work Cited
"J.J. Abrams: Proposed $50 Home Movie Service "Beneficial" to Movie Theaters." The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven. The New Haven Register, 23 July 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Tessa McKinley
ReplyDeleteDr. Burns
MSS 495
22 March 2016
The North Haven Theatre is ahead of the game by creating a movie theatre that focuses on the experience of going to the movies rather than just seeing the movie alone. With luxury reclining seats, access to alcohol, favorite Starbucks drinks, and self serving concession stands spending upwards of nine dollars to see a movie once starts to make sense again. I personally had the experience of viewing the new James Bond movie last fall in the new luxurious theatre and I definitely felt pampered. My friends and I reserved our seats online when we purchased the tickets and were in awe that the recliner seats didn't cost more. Bryan Jefferies, Cinemark's marketing director, said this about the new movie theatre: "The industry is going more and more towards making the customer's experience something that they can't get by staying home,"(Turmelle). By making going to the movies more of an experience they are tackling the issue of people staying home and purchasing the movie on their television for a fraction of the cost because they are turning it into an exciting activity like going to see a broadway production. Cinemark was also smart in where they purchased property to build the new movie theatres, "The theaters that we acquired here had been around for a while and were ready for upgrades to be made," Jeffries said (Turmelle). By capturing the theaters that survived after movie goers opted to stay home to watch the latest hit in recent years they were able to determine that the new movie theaters would rise to popularity more quickly in markets they purchased them in.
On the other end of the spectrum, home movie services are trying to up their game as well. Recently, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams said he was in favor of making new feature films available at home for $50 dollars on the same day they hit the theaters, "I think the metrics on that are very impressive and they're targeting groups that actually don't go to the movies at all," (Ford, McClintock). High profile film makers and directors are trying to make the case that people that the $50 dollar at home option would target people that are waiting for the movies to come out on their tv's already and wouldn't be taking away from the current movie-goers. Personally, for $50 dollars I would want a little more than just seeing the movie on my boring old tv-- and this option may draw people out to see the movie in a Cinemark type theater instead once they have been enticed by the idea that they could have it in their own home. Although, I do see homes with home theaters taking advantage of the option frequently and creating a similar experience in the privacy of their own home with friends and family
Works Cited:
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven. The New Haven Register, 23 July 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Ford, Rebecca and Pamela McClintock. "J.J. Abrams-Proposed $50 Home Movie Service "Beneficial to Movie Theaters." The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
I thought Chelsey’s post provided an interesting outlook on the future of movie theaters. Like the "Box Office's New Normal in 2015” article said, “the real story of the year has been the dramatic highs and lows that have become the new normal”. Some movies have exceeded box office expectations, while others have simply flopped despite all of the advertising. I agree that social media and the internet in general are to blame for the failure or some films because unfortunately, we tend to value the opinions of others before making our own, instead of creating an opinion for ourselves. Especially in today’s society where anybody could be a critic, being heavily influenced by both critics and people we see on our social media persuades us more than any marketing.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that the movie theater business has been suffering and changing over the past few years, I don’t believe that movie theaters will die out anytime soon. The reason being that there is no experience comparable to watching a movie in theaters.
First off, I want to talk about this quote:
"Sitting next to hundreds of noisy strangers in uncomfortable seats...being forced to watch an interminable number of movie trailers before the film actually starts...having your view partially obstructed by people in front of you...Plus, throw into the equation not being allowed to pull out your mobile devices for a full two hours at a time" (Basulto 1).
To me, this just sounds like a personal complaint about someone who doesn’t like movie theaters, but it’s not something that the general public thinks.
Movie theaters are meant to be experience with a community. The great thing about movie theaters is that anybody can go to one and you are able to see that types of people that perhaps share similar interests. I personally find it fun to see the types of crowds certain movies draw. Yes it is annoying that sometimes people are sitting in front of you, but hey, don’t those annoying people in the theater create a good story for you to tell your friends?
As for the trailers, I think the whole purpose of having them is to be able to have a sneak peek of the experience you could have watching the movie being previewed. Finally, I think most people go to the movies with their friends and family. I don’t ever really see someone going to the movies alone. Since probably 98% of people are accompanied by at least one person, why can’t a person disconnect from a mobile device for two hours? the whole point is to pay attention to the movie.
Movie theaters are evolving to make themselves as comfortable as possible and provide not just entertainment, but other services as well. I think incorporating more comfortable seating, service food and drinks and alcohol for adults is genius. Movie theaters have also started replaying really old movies that premiered way before we were alive. Recently I saw that the North Haven movie theater was playing “To Kill a Mockingbird” which I was very tempted to go see. By creating all of these improvements, more people will be drawn to go to the movies and the movie theater industry will not die.
Sure we can watch a film on our phones, tablets or laptop, but what is that compared to watching a film on a huge screen with incredible sound while eating popcorn with your family and saving your ticket stub to remember the experience?
Work Cited:
McClintock, Pamela. “Box Office’s New Normal 2015: “You Can’t Cheat an Opening Weekend Anymore”” The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., 17 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2016
McClintock, Pamela. “Box Office: “5 Lessons for 2016 From Hollywood's Record Highs and Lows”” The Hollywood Reporter. N.p. 6 Jan. 2016. Web. Mar. 2016
UPDATED VERSION!
ReplyDeleteThe North Haven Movie Theater is ahead of the game by creating a movie theater that focuses on the experience of going to the movies rather than just seeing the movie alone. With luxury reclining seats, access to alcohol, favorite Starbucks drinks, and self-serving concession stands spending upwards of nine dollars to see a movie once starts to make sense again. I personally had the experience of viewing the new James Bond movie last fall in the new luxurious theater and I definitely felt pampered. My friends and I reserved our seats online when we purchased the tickets and were in awe that the recliner seats didn't cost more. Bryan Jefferies, Cinemark's marketing director, said this about the new movie theater: "The industry is going more and more towards making the customer's experience something that they can't get by staying home,"(Turmelle). By making going to the movies more of an experience they are tackling the issue of people staying home and purchasing the movie on their television for a fraction of the cost because they are turning it into an exciting activity like going to see a Broadway production. Cinemark was also smart in where they purchased property to build the new movie theaters, "The theaters that we acquired here had been around for a while and were ready for upgrades to be made," Jeffries said (Turmelle). By capturing the theaters that survived after movie goers opted to stay home to watch the latest hit in recent years they were able to determine that the new movie theaters would rise to popularity more quickly in markets they purchased them in.
On the other end of the spectrum, home movie services are trying to up their game as well. Recently, the Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams said he was in favor of making new feature films available at home for $50 dollars on the same day they hit the theaters, "I think the metrics on that are very impressive and they're targeting groups that actually don't go to the movies at all," (Ford, McClintock). High profile film makers and directors are trying to make the case that people that the $50 dollar at home option would target people that are waiting for the movies to come out on their TV’s already and wouldn't be taking away from the current movie-goers. Personally, for $50 dollars I would want a little more than just seeing the movie on my boring old TV-- and this option may draw people out to see the movie in a Cinemark type theater instead once they have been enticed by the idea that they could have it in their own home. Although, I do see homes with home theaters taking advantage of the option frequently and creating a similar experience in the privacy of their own home with friends and family.
Works Cited:
Turmelle, Luther. "Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven." Out with the Old, in with the New Cinemark Movie Theater in North Haven. The New Haven Register, 23 July 2015. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.
Ford, Rebecca and Pamela McClintock. "J.J. Abrams-Proposed $50 Home Movie Service "Beneficial to Movie Theaters." The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2016. Web. 22 Mar. 2016.