Don’t Abandon the Big Screen!

[MsAmerica]

Sean Baker’s Oscars Battle Cry (and Mine): Don’t Abandon the Big Screen
The director of the best picture winner, “Anora,” urged viewers to keep seeing films in theaters. Our critic hopes the industry listens, and that Baker keeps his independence.
By Manohla Dargis

It was gratifying to see Baker win for “Anora,” which is the kind of scrappy, low-budget, independent movie that has been making the Oscars more interesting for, well, decades. Each victory for “Anora” also underscored the industry’s existential problems, in part brought about by large companies, including the remaining legacy studios, that have embraced expensive franchises and sequels to the exclusion of art. In the past 10 years or so, some of the best picture winners — the ones that stir up excitement and headlines, and help justify the continued existence of the Academy Awards — have been low-budget features that, like “Anora,” were bankrolled for $20 million or far less, including “Moonlight” and “Parasite.”

There’s a romantic and comforting underdog narrative that accompanies the success of these movies, though as Baker recently pointed out at the Independent Spirit Awards, the economics of indie filmmaking are unsustainable. During the Oscars, Baker again turned the awards circuit into a bully pulpit on behalf of the movies, urging viewers to see films in theaters. “This is my battle cry,” Baker said as he held his best director award. “Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen.” At that point, the show cut to a wider shot that encompassed the award presenter Quentin Tarantino, another big-screen advocate. I wish they had cut to Ted Sarandos, the co-chief executive of Netflix, who recently told CBS News that he doesn’t “think it’s sacrilege for someone to watch a great movie on their phone.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/movies/sean-baker-oscars-speech.html

I love the cinema, but only about half the time I go, do people behave. I have had:

-woman standing up rocking crying baby (in a 15 cert film)
-teenagers talking and on occasion shouting
-people on their phones and the little lights are distracting

Why pay to go and see a film and then talk over it/stay on your phone?!

I prefer going to independent cinemas but have to agree that big cinemas can be great. My local Showcase is only £4.99 for me on Mondays, has massive comfortable seats with loads of legroom and is usually almost empty so I can choose the best seat. It's completely soulless but if I can immerse myself in the film, that doesn't matter.

So many people now seem incapable of sitting still and quiet for longer than about half an hour. People moaning about the length of films! I don't see it is as problem.

If I had such a weak bladder that I could not sit through a film I probably would not go to the cinema but can't believe so many people have to visit the loo in such a short space of time.

I treated the kids to see a film at the big odeon in Leicester square the Christmas holidays before last. It was January and miserable and cold weather, and then went in the cinema when the air-conditioning was on really fiercely. We had to keep our coats on it was so cold, it's put me off going there again.
In nearby towns there are a couple of indie cinemas which are really nice I've seen 3 films at the cinema this year already which is quite rare for me.
I watched Bridget Jones last Saturday, and honestly there were about 8 people in that screening, I don't know how they made any money!

What annoys me is that despite the fact that my local cinema (a Vue) has 9 or 10 screens but it's just showing multiple screenings of the latest blockbuster but if I want to watch e.g. an independent film then I have to seek out whichever smaller cinema in a 30 mile radius has it on. Last year I couldn't find a screening of The Holdovers anywhere locally and still haven't seen it. I've just checked and Anora, The Last Showgirl, and A Complete Unknown are not on at my local cinema, I'd have to travel at least 15 miles to watch them. Meanwhile there are 4 viewings of Bridget Jones, and 6 of Marching Powder (in this case on the 2 biggest screens so overlapping performances). Thankfully it does show NTlive and so I've seen more theatre performances than films there recently.

I like going to the cinema but wish that the big cinemas actually showed a big variety of shows. I grew up in the back of beyond and the local cinema had two showings a week and there was a different film every week. I couldn't wait to move to somewhere with multiple screens so I had a choice, I didn't realise that all that happened was multiple viewings of the same few big films. But it actually felt like more of an event having less choice, the local paper had what was on that week and everyone you knew would be at the same showing so it feel like a communual event. It was a big cinema, and it was always full because everyone knew that was there one chance to see that film.

if its eg dvd then i pause it, yes you could see it at the cenima and then catchup up etc

I definitely concentrate more at the cinema and like that feeling of immersion you get. Really enjoyed watching the new Bridget Jones at the cinema - it does help with a comedy or where people are sniffling because it's sad...(when I say people I mean me).

I'm hoping that this is another thing that will come round in cycles and it'll become more popular again

@PeppercornAnn God yes I remember that story. Haunted me for ages that poor woman.

OP I think you are massively missing the point. People will make their own minds up based on what’s important to them ( eg cost) and their past experiences. Not because of anyone pleading the case for the arts

I love going to the cinema and do it a lot now my kids are older and I don't need a sitter. When they were younger though I mostly went to kids' films during the day, because the showtimes didn't fit - they were either at teatime or finished too late for me to get back to the teenage girls I used as babysitters. I still notice this now although it doesn't impact me - that there is rarely a 7.30 pm screening, unless it's screen arts. I wonder if this has an effect on numbers - most other evening entertainment starts at 7/7.30 to pick up the maximum number of people who want to go Out Out.

Be careful what you wish for then, as if we all turn out like you ask then there will be a lot fewer small showings with small audiences.

And it’s not 2 hours, lots of films are around the three hour mark - plus getting there in a reasonable time, and being plied with huge drinks… it’s not surprising the toilet is an issue for some people. And then if I ask my seat mate when I get back, I’m one of those people others are referring to talking over the film and disturbing others. All while paying the same as my weekly food budget for a family trip.

Okay as a one off, just not a sustainable or enjoyable way to enjoy films regularly for a lot of people.

Love the cinema, we go often. In comparison, I hate watching films at home. Screen isn’t big enough, you can’t appreciate the cinematography on a TV screen. Too many distractions, one of the dc will come in, phone rings, doorbell rings etc. I want to watch the whole film straight through with no pauses.

I want to sit in the dark and properly switch off and focus on the film.

I dont go often but have been twice this month. Once on my own and once with others. No issues either time apart from the fact that I find the reclined seats very uncomfortable . I took a cup of tea with me in my flask and my frind had a gin can. 6.99 at ticket so not too bad. Very few films I want to see though.

Not only can't they sit still or quiet for a couple of hours, but they also seem to need a constant supply of snacks.

I want to focus on the film too, and enjoy the big screen when I can. But too often there are distractions in the cinema - phone lights, talking, eating etc whereas at home I'm alone and I'm in control!

I used to love going to the cinema.

I don't anymore.

It is too expensive, uncomfortable and too often you have to put up with poorly behaved audiences.

I also think the quality of the films that are being made has gone down and there hasn't been anything I really wanted to see for quite a while.

Lol. That's an interesting idea!

I'm not sure it's any more of a gamble than going to a restaurant, when you're not positive if the food will be good, not positive if you might be seated next to someone annoying...

But you could be like me and choose movies and times where it'll be near-empty.

That's a new one for me. I have never heard of a bathroom code required for a movie theater. The point of a code is to keep out unrelated people from using the facilities, but in a theater, you've already paid your admission! Very odd.

Exactly right! Thank you! I agree that we are far more willing to give up on a film if we're watching at home!

Wait a minute - I thought it was Americans who were the violent ones.

Wait a minute here - are you in the U.K.? And you're citing American television?

I know that's the general thinking, but I've come to believe that it's a quiet, subtle, intimate films that need to be seen on a large screen, not necessarily the eye-popping blockbusters.

Of course you're absolutely right. Going to the cinema automatically eliminates all (or most!) of the distractions at home.

I could, but I work 9-5 so if there was a film I wanted to see enough I’d need to take leave. And if I was going to use up some of my precious holiday, I’d be even more pissed off if there was someone there making a racket.