To think cinemas will soon become obsolete?

[Keyansier]

Reasons why:

1. Home media systems are getting bigger and better as each year passes.
2. Society is getting more inconsiderate as each year passes and people think nothing of yakking all the way through a film or playing on their phone/kids playing on their ipads.
3. Films are available through home streaming 1 or 2 months after a cinema release these days, not like before when it would take over a year until a video/DVD release.
4. The cost, which isn't worth points 2 and 3.
5. The after effects of covid and lockdown and films being released on home media only - people realising they don't actually miss the cinema at all.

I’m going tomorrow with the kids but tickets only total £15 the last time we went I said they could have a small popcorn and a small drink each three of us came to £30 twice the price of the tickets - so no - flask of hot chocolate for kids and tea for me - I just can’t afford £45

We would go more often if I could access captions when I wanted to go (I'm deaf). But only being able to access captions for 1 showing of the entire time that film is shown and usually at 4pm on Tuesday evening (when DH/DC/DF are at work/uni) generally means we don't go very often plus if someone complains about the captions being on, cinemas often turn them off so why would I spend money to see a film I can't access?

My local cinema doesn't even sell refreshments which suits me fine - fewer people munching!

My local independent cinema is doing a roaring trade. They have membership options which give discounts on screenings, a fantastic lounge with reclining seats and at-seat service amd a linked restaurant directly opposite which also gives membership discounts. I often go to weekday screenings which are packed with older people (like me).

I much prefer live theatre, opera or concerts. They are more of a direct personal experience, whereas cinema is basically just watching tv, albeit a bigger one than you have at home.

Well to be fair everyone knows the snacks are very expensive in cinemas! You can just bring your own popcorn and drinks though.

During Joker I had a guy beside me constantly checking his emails on his phone until I intervened. Then when I chose a daytime film (I work shifts) I had two old dears yapping all the way through Spencer

Yeah, that's really annoying. I usually go to the odeon, and before I arrive I check online - if people have booked seats next to me (or near me) and there's plenty left, then I move to a different one. I often go on a Monday afternoon and it's usually pretty quiet then (but I realise that my working hours are not typical and most people can't go then)

I think they are going through a hard time but will come through it. As an industry it still hasn’t settled after covid, there are still gaps in films being released, and obviously not everyone who used to go to the cinema has returned.

for me personally it is absolutely one of my favourite things to do. Watching a film at home on whatever system just doesn’t compare to a proper big screen experience.
plus if I’m watching a film at home I’m usually distracted, looking at my phone, popping out to empty the washing machine etc etc whereas at the cinema you just have to switch off and watch.

What the hell? That's outrageous.

DH and I used to go all the time, but now it's just too expensive.

Our cinema charges £16 per ticket, yet if I wait a few months I can pay £16 to Prime watch it over and over again and from the comfort of my home. No parking charges then!

I wonder why they don’t just sell snacks and drinks at a reasonable price and surely they’d sell more therefore make more money?

A bottle of water at my cinema is £3!!! Scandalous.

I go often but I have great independent cinemas near me, one of which does £3 films on a Thursday (so I get two in if I can) and another which does lots of special events and I'm going to a classic horror all nighter there next weekend 😀. They do tend to be tougher on bad behaviour, but I think the people who go tend to care more about the whole thing so I suppose it polices itself.

I also go to film festivals (and to the PP looking forward to Matilda I saw it a couple of weeks ago at the London Film Festival and it was fab) and I have an Everyman within walking distance for special occasions - the only times I've been in near-empty screens recently have been at the multiplexes, but even then the streaming events and suchlike often sell out. I can't see it going anywhere yet.

Cinema was rammed on Tuesday night on the South Coast. I love going and find it more immersive (at home I am too easily distracted)

@Babdoc as I said a lot of cinemas stream some live performances now which means more people can get to see them. Pretty much every decent size town and city will have a cinema but not a actual theatre/concert arena etc. For some people going to the 'actual' theatre is impossible because they can't get there - but they can get to a cinema.
Not completely the same but much better than nothing.

I used to have cineworlds unlimited card so paid monthly which made it worth it for me.
Then we had a reel cinema open in my town and that has prices him happy with £3.49 before 1pm which is great for the children's films and then £6.99 in an evening which I can cope with and I just take my own snacks to avoid their prices.

We also have an independent cinema which seems to be thriving. It’s not cheap though (especially if you have a drink). But it feels like a proper occasion when we go. Very comfy seats, bar & snacks, tables as well as seating in rows.

One of Derby’s two multiplex cinemas closed this year. The site will be redeveloped for housing. Both were built on retail parks in the late 80s. One to the north of the city and one to the south. It was a big thing in Derby for us to have two modern multi screen cinemas. It makes me feel ancient to see a building I remember being built now being demolished.

I read they hardly make any money from showing films. In the opening weekend (the first and second week when it's most popular) I think 80-90% of the ticket sales sold go to the movie studios, not the cinema. By the time the cinema gets a significant cut of the ticket sales, most people have seen it and less tickets are being sold. (I don't know if that's true, but I did read it).

The local cinemas are busy throughout the winter.

They're an easy night out.

Personally it's just the price that stops me from going. I love the cinema and would go all the time if it was half the price. As it is I haven't been in a few years, as unless it's something I'm really excited about (of which there has been very little since every other film became a marvel film or spin off of some kind, but that's another thread) then it just doesn't feel worth it.

I don't find watching at home a good substitute, but this is primarily because of the sound mixes being designed for cinema. Constantly turning the volume up for the dialogue, then right down whenever there's any action. Really takes me out of it!

I love the cinema but at £17.50 a ticket I need it to be accessible and my local cinema hardly shows any subtitles screenings at suitable times/days. When I was in America they had smart caption glasses so I could go whenever I wanted! I do occasionally go with family if that’s their activity of choice but it drives me INSANE that people can’t go a couple of hours without checking their phone.

Cinema is so overpriced even when bringing my own snacks!! I’ve noticed even new films are only showing in our local cinemas on a Friday and Saturday and only two showings

I hope not.

I certainly can’t afford to spaff the £6000 my brother recently did on a massive, top spec TV, nor do I have the desire to have my living room dominated by one.

The cinema is one of the few places I enjoy going, either alone, with DDs or friends.

We go to an art deco cinema where there's a bar and they give you plates of cheese, it's lovely and always packed. It's ts an experience, you don't really care about the film.

Our local Odeon converted to an Odeon Luxe just prior to the pandemic and now the prices are ridiculous. An ‘Adult & Child Recliner’ combined special deal ticket is £20 to £28 depending on the movie.

We used to go to the cinema a lot but not anymore, and we’d rather wait for movies to appear on streaming services unless it’s something we really want to see now. Such a shame as some movies are best seen on the big screen.