teruterubozu
Member
So I'm wrong about attendance and partially right about ticket prices getting jacked up.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Do you think movies will get hit like the malls are?
- Thread starter CampbellzSoup
- Start date
So I'm wrong about attendance and partially right about ticket prices getting jacked up.
So retail environments have been transitioning to "experiences," since everyone can get the best deals on Amazon or Costco or whatever (and its a race to the bottom).
Probably the best example of an "experience" store is the Apple Store, which everyone else is looking to and trying to emulate; high margin items, knowledgable/passionate staff, and the kind of environment it feels good to spend time in. It should sell the brand and "lifestyle" as much as it sells actual goods. Whole Foods, REI, and the Tesla dealership are other good examples of what retail is aspiring to be.
Movie theatres already are experiences, so theyre still technically relevant. Nothing is going to replace the experience of going to the movies any time soon, because its as much a social experience as it is about actually watching the movie.
What you will probably see is more theatres emulating meta movie experiences like Alamo Drafthouse.
Probably the best example of an "experience" store is the Apple Store, which everyone else is looking to and trying to emulate; high margin items, knowledgable/passionate staff, and the kind of environment it feels good to spend time in. It should sell the brand and "lifestyle" as much as it sells actual goods. Whole Foods, REI, and the Tesla dealership are other good examples of what retail is aspiring to be.
Movie theatres already are experiences, so theyre still technically relevant. Nothing is going to replace the experience of going to the movies any time soon, because its as much a social experience as it is about actually watching the movie.
What you will probably see is more theatres emulating meta movie experiences like Alamo Drafthouse.
SwordStruck
Member
It's not comparable. Malls have effectively been replaced now that online shopping and shipping has gotten so fast. Why go to a mall when you can buy something online (Often cheaper) and have it shipped to your door in a day or two? Movie theaters are still a novelty as there isn't another (Legal) way to watch movies ~2+ months before release as far as I know.
Dead Man Typing
Member
As long as comic nerds are scared of spoilers, the cinema is safe.
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
There's already nearly unlimited screenings for $10 per month, just not sold by theaters.
Unfortunately IMAX and Dolby Vision aren't covered and those are the only viewing experiences I'd call "premium" these days.
fluffydelusions
Member
and walmart
privitsan02
Member
That's not the point. A lot of people go to the movies due to the films being out there first. If they found ways to release said films day one through your streaming services, you can bet quite a bit that box office numbers would crash at the theaters.
I wish they did too. The whole idea of going to the cinemas has always been such an odd concept. If I want to watch a new movie by myself, I'd much rather do it at home rather than go to an early showing for some peace and quiet. Would give me more of a reason to invest further in a home theater setup as well.
Best wishes.
Small theaters like small malls will go away in the majority of places. It's just consolidation of space.
The only places that can get away with those at this point are bigger cities which have the population to fill those niche interests.
Everyone else in middle American suburbia will have the same large malls and theater chains with the same stores and restaurants. Homogenous shit already rules the landscape.
The only places that can get away with those at this point are bigger cities which have the population to fill those niche interests.
Everyone else in middle American suburbia will have the same large malls and theater chains with the same stores and restaurants. Homogenous shit already rules the landscape.
Fudgepuppy
Banned
I personally don't see why malls would disappear, even if they are.
In Sofia where I live, malls are very active and cool, but we don't have online shopping the same way the rest of the world has.
We go to the mall, buy some clothes, eat some food, go see a movie, then go for bowling and drinks. This is a good saturday.
In Sofia where I live, malls are very active and cool, but we don't have online shopping the same way the rest of the world has.
We go to the mall, buy some clothes, eat some food, go see a movie, then go for bowling and drinks. This is a good saturday.
MegaManTrigger
Banned
I think that's more of a niche thing. Idt the average joe would care about the cinema experience as much as the content itself. Especially with annoyances like phones, talking, etc.
TV has become so much better than movies these days imo
game of thrones latest season was better than any movie I'v seen in theatres in I don't know how long watching that on a 55 inch tv with full 5.1 surround was epic as was westworld
if google play or iTunes released movies day 1 for 9.99 I would defiantly rent it
I seen all the classic movies(alien,terminator etc) on a shitty tv back in the early90s when I was like 11-12 didnt take anything away from any of those movies
well i for one gave up on "going to the movies"... everything hits streaming or redbox soon enough, my home theater system is nice enough and i don't have to deal with little kids or waiting til a movie finishes to take a leak or grab a beer or whatever
but i'm not everybody. movies are still a family and group experience and i don't see that expiring for another three decades or so. back when Avatar was a hit i thought pretty much every movie would be like that and theaters would be mandatory but things didn't really pan out that way, so i dunno.
the industry has some issues to work out but i don't think the 20+ screen multiplex across the street is going anywhere
but i'm not everybody. movies are still a family and group experience and i don't see that expiring for another three decades or so. back when Avatar was a hit i thought pretty much every movie would be like that and theaters would be mandatory but things didn't really pan out that way, so i dunno.
the industry has some issues to work out but i don't think the 20+ screen multiplex across the street is going anywhere
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I've got a projector and surround sound. I'll take that over the cinema experience, which I associate with dumb babbling audiences, gross seats and way too loud sound systems. Seriously like every theater around here is trying to deafen me.
It's fun to go out and see a movie at the theater once in a while, but at least for me I'm happy at home for almost everything, especially the summer blockbusters. If anything I'm more willing to go see a small indie flick to give it support; the big films don't need my BO additions.
It's fun to go out and see a movie at the theater once in a while, but at least for me I'm happy at home for almost everything, especially the summer blockbusters. If anything I'm more willing to go see a small indie flick to give it support; the big films don't need my BO additions.
Except why would they do that?
"Instead of charging $10/person to watch our expensive movie, let's stream it on the internet so that it gets instantly pirated at high quality."
One of the problem is that in the States they built way too many malls, and built many of them in difficult to get to areas with non-existent public transit.
Malls like yours in Vancouver and ours in Toronto are thriving because they turned themselves into destinations. The mall closest to me spent something like $50 million remodelling itself in the last couple of years and is packed on weekends.
I think the US should hold on to their malls. They will provide useful to a group of ragtag survivors during the zombie apocalypse. Damn I'm still impressed how smart the characters were in the original Dawn of The Dead by building that fake wall to hide themselves. It is super rare to see people be smart in horror movies.
Master Of Illusion
Member
I honestly couldn't imagine never watching specific movies in theaters (Dunkirk in 70mm was a treat).
Its been weird to see how popular malls still are here in Thailand. Fucking crazy ass huge malls. There's a billion reasons they still survive (delivery services all suck, and people just wanting to avoid the heat), but not the least of them are that the owners actually try to make people want to come. There's fashion shows, release parties, bands, markets, playgrounds, restaurants up the wazoo. Big chain stores and random ass "I make these t-shirts at home" popup stands. They all have really nice theaters in them that beat the hell out of anything in the states as well. Like "Hey, here's a huge leather recliner and some blankets, and a guy who comes around and brings you treats during the movie" nicer. The one I go to regularly is busy as hell, and the billionaire owners still just shut down 2/3 or it the last few months to renovate.
Host Samurai
Member
I doubt movies will go the way of arcades anytime soon.
LookAtMeGo
Member
Malls are guna be like Blockbuster except I wont miss going there.
Actually I used to have fun at the mall for a few months back when I was like 14.
Actually I used to have fun at the mall for a few months back when I was like 14.
That hurt 😢
I feels it's also taken a lot of the spontaneity out of seeing movies with friends.
Anecdotal evidence only, but they are opening a huge cinema center in my uni town, after only having two small 1-cinema places for years.
But overall, I don't think so. Cinema is different than watching movies at home, that is imo the main reason cinemas are still around after over 60 years of TV. I think the prices are increasing too steeply though, they might have to drop over the coming years.
But overall, I don't think so. Cinema is different than watching movies at home, that is imo the main reason cinemas are still around after over 60 years of TV. I think the prices are increasing too steeply though, they might have to drop over the coming years.
n0razi
Member
I only have a 55" TV but its an OLED B6 and looks better than any 100' theater screen I have seen.
Quality > Quantity
I think some of you are too focused on the "movie experience" aspect and not on the social one. From my experience, going out to the movies is 50% about to see the movie and 50% to do something with your friends/date. Movie + dinner nights are so ingrained in our culture I don't see how it's going to change soon.
LizardKing
Member
Malls aren't going to disappear. They are just going to downsize the amount. People shop in malls there are just too many. In the 6 mile x 6 mile suburb city in the Detroit area where I used to live there used to be 3 malls! And at least 6 that you could drive to within 15 minutes. That's just way over done.
I live in the Portland area now and there are 4 enclosed malls in the entire metro area. And they are all good.
I live in the Portland area now and there are 4 enclosed malls in the entire metro area. And they are all good.
Depends on the country, I guess... A couple of the ones I visit from time to time have been fully redone and are packed with people, and in my town, they just designed a large outdoor one a couple years ago that is also really, really popular.
Some retails suffers, but home furnishing, tools, clothes, toys, chocolates, books... there's a lot of things people won't buy massively online (or in supermarkets) around here.
Theaters, on the other hand, are suffering a bit (large ones are popular, but smaller ones in downtowns sometimes struggle)
Fancyarcher
Member
Well actual movies (just addressing your title), will never go away. As for theaters, as long as their are still event films they should be safe for now. The future of cinema could primarily be at home now, and it basically is.
True Savior
Member
Malls are huge where I live so I can't really say.
GKSilKamina
Member
I don't think they will anytime soon. My town has a movie theater built in 1927 that's still in business, in addition to two fancy modern theaters. Though the cheapo dollar theater did finally shut its doors last year...
I think the peaks were outliers in 97 and 2001. Titanic and LOTR+Harry Potter weren't repeated.
But yeah there is a decline lately just not as big as it appears
If you offered me a bluray and digital copy of movies day and date with their theatrical release for the price of the movie ticket, I'd still see it in the theatres. It's such a vast upgrade in quality- especially nice theatres. It'll always be my preferred way to watch a film.
Other than the few 70mm Imax, A good 4k screen and Atmos setup is miles ahead of most theaters. A few theaters have been upgraded to 4k laser projectors but most are still 2k.
Imp the Dimp
Member
I don't really see the connection because we still got malls, but I'm not 100% sure about the future of cinema. The blockbuster movie quality has been pure shit for two years straight and the tickets are insanely expensive. I paid 14 for Dunkirk (IMAX though). That is unreasonable.
TheTylerDurden
Member
Haven't been to an actual "indoor" mall since like high school lol.
Dig these kind of outdoor malls though
I know this mall. I tend to go there whenever I need tenant signage. Lots of competition and selection, prices are very low.
They have been on a massive decline the last twenty+ years. Large retailers folding, etc.
Article brings up a good point. There's always going to be a need for some sort of central place for people to gather, which malls and cinemas have fulfilled for most of the 20th century.
They will shift and downsize, but they'll always exist until we get to the point where people never want to leave their homes.
Hexxen-Panda
Member
I don't want to see a future where movie theatres are gone.
Seeing movies at home is terrible for me. What with all its distractions, sunlight glare, and not having a decent sound experience because of neighbours.
At least in my town, I've never experienced anyone in a theatre using their phones or talking loudly while a movie is playing.
Seeing movies at home is terrible for me. What with all its distractions, sunlight glare, and not having a decent sound experience because of neighbours.
At least in my town, I've never experienced anyone in a theatre using their phones or talking loudly while a movie is playing.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Given choice I would always watch a movie at my home, Bluray, on an OLED TV, than in the theater :\ In perfect darkness (which you never have in theater) It just looks incomparably better, even compared to best theater screens I've seen.
While I don't personally care much about the huge screen viewing, I think that once very high resolution VR becomes available, even the "big screen" experience will be matched in the home environment.
While I don't personally care much about the huge screen viewing, I think that once very high resolution VR becomes available, even the "big screen" experience will be matched in the home environment.
Where are you going to get a half decent soft pretzel from?