The end of movie theaters?

[MiamiHeat]

Can anyone explain why the film industry hasn't introduced a way to watch NEW RELEASES from the comfort of your home?

Many people have spent money on great home theater systems. Huge HDTV's with surround sound living rooms....

Why go to the movie theater, pay 12 bucks per person, pay for the theater's overhead, then pay 5 dollars per hot dog, 3 dollars for a Snickers bar, when you can instead pay 10-20 something bucks for the whole family and watch it at home on release day?

They can still count towards "box office earnings", since it is a ticket price, but just not at a movie theater. The only problem would be - you can't control how many people are sitting in that living room, whereas a movie theater, you must pay for each person. But still, most families only go to a movie 1-4 times a year, on average. They could start a "Plan" on which you pay x amount of money yearly, or monthly, not sure, could be a way around it.

And the quality of the movie can be amazing, if you just let it download for about 1-3 hours ahead of time. Most movies are released on midnight the night before anyway, so you could just program your device to download it on schedule while you are sleeping or off to work.

Some movies like AVATAR are meant for the big screen, but many movies are not.

Just seems odd to me that in 2010, the only way to watch a new release is to go to a theater.

[TheManFromAcme]

With you on this Miami.

Although, I think this concept is around the corner and closer than the movie industry wants to admit. I read something last fall regarding movie theatre revenues and they are down. way down. With the developoment and never ending improvement of the internet it is only a matter of time.

When I do go to a theatre, I am still one of those guys who sneaks in whatever goodies I can and refuse to pay the outrages prices for the over-margined stuff I could otherwise get at a local store.

They (movie industry) should launch a marketing investigation and find out just how much the American public wants this and gauge it from there.

Good thread.

[redraiderinfiji]

I have been saying this for years. Samsung is the world leader in hd tvs and they are coming out with tvs that will blow your mind! In the next five years, hd will be a thing of the past, and 3d tv will boom. Yes, you will be wearing funky glasses, ahhhing over your 72 inch 3d tv. Imagine the sports games, god almighty! Imagine the movies! I see this as both good and bad. There is something special about a night at the movies, but is changing.

This would be a great time to invest in pizza chains, sales will boom if movies change from theaters to homes!

One thing that will suck for people who have young kids, 3d porn. The next generation will literally never get off the couch......They will be the generation that accepts obesity.

[redraiderinfiji]

Good thread.

Super bump!

[baseline bum]

Man, I hope not. There's nothing like watching Rambo shoot mother ers down on a 100 foot screen with speakers blaring so ing loud your seat shakes. There's no home theater that's going to match that. Forget convenience. I want to actually enjoy the show.

[leemajors]

Man, I hope not. There's nothing like watching Rambo shoot mother ers down on a 100 foot screen with speakers blaring so ing loud your seat shakes. There's no home theater that's going to match that. Forget convenience. I want to actually enjoy the show.

be nice if it didn't cost $15 just to get in

[CubanMustGo]

With you on this Miami.

I read something last fall regarding movie theatre revenues and they are down. way down.

Not sure what you read ...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335252,00.html

Global Box Office Revenue Hits Record $26.7 Billion in 2007

LOS ANGELES — The Motion Picture Association of America says moviegoers around the world pushed box office revenue to a record $26.7 billion last year.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/20...office-up.html

Global box office up 5.6 per cent to $28.1B US in 2008

The movie industry shouldn't apologize or be ashamed of its success in a down economy as moviegoers pushed global box office revenues to a record $28.1 billion US in 2008, the head of the Motion Picture Association of America said Tuesday.

2009 figures aren't released yet, but there is this:

http://www.thewrap.com/article/camer...orldwide-12440

The incendiary end-of-year performances of Warner’s “Sherlock Holmes” and “Blind Side”, juxtaposed against Fox’s “Avatar” and “Chipmunks,” has set up a bit of intrigue as to which studio won the worldwide revenue crown for the huge 2009 box-office year.

Amid a record-breaking $10.7 billion year at the North American box office, Warner won the domestic crown, with revenue of $2.13 billion (a record).

Fox, meanwhile, won the international medal, taking in $2.45 billion (yep, also a record).

On Monday, Fox is set to release its global number -- Warner has already called $4.003 billion for 2009, which will be (of course) the all time global mark if Fox doesn’t usurp it.

On the home entertainment front:

http://www.thewrap.com/article/anoth...ged-106b-12402

overall home entertainment revenue in 2009 is expected to be off significantly from the $22.4 billion the DEG reported for 2008 -- a third straight year of decline.

[MI21]

If they were to somehow get the latest releases into peoples homes, I'm thinking piracy would become an even larger issue.

I'm no expert, but it would certainly be easier to rip something in good quality playing on your TV at home than it is to get your hands on a DVD screener and would obviously be better quality than a cam version of a movie.

[I. Hustle]

Eff that. I love going to the movie theatre too much. You have to be some kind of hermit, lock your girl up, 15 minute pizza eating, taking the internet too seriously, faith losing, bucket to think that watching new releases at home is better than watching them on the big screen.

[resistanze]

Eff that. I love going to the movie theatre too much. You have to be some kind of hermit, lock your girl up, 15 minute pizza eating, taking the internet too seriously, faith losing, bucket to think that watching new releases at home is better than watching them on the big screen.

[Blake]

Can anyone explain why the film industry hasn't introduced a way to watch NEW RELEASES from the comfort of your home?

Many people have spent money on great home theater systems. Huge HDTV's with surround sound living rooms....

Why go to the movie theater, pay 12 bucks per person, pay for the theater's overhead, then pay 5 dollars per hot dog, 3 dollars for a Snickers bar, when you can instead pay 10-20 something bucks for the whole family and watch it at home on release day?

They can still count towards "box office earnings", since it is a ticket price, but just not at a movie theater. The only problem would be - you can't control how many people are sitting in that living room, whereas a movie theater, you must pay for each person. But still, most families only go to a movie 1-4 times a year, on average. They could start a "Plan" on which you pay x amount of money yearly, or monthly, not sure, could be a way around it.

And the quality of the movie can be amazing, if you just let it download for about 1-3 hours ahead of time. Most movies are released on midnight the night before anyway, so you could just program your device to download it on schedule while you are sleeping or off to work.

Some movies like AVATAR are meant for the big screen, but many movies are not.

Just seems odd to me that in 2010, the only way to watch a new release is to go to a theater.

pretty simple. because the production companies can make money off people going to the theaters as well as off those same people buying the movie later and watching on their home theater system for a 2nd time.

I would think you are also aware of the many movies that go straight to dvd. The consensus of course is that if a movie goes that route that it sucks.

[Mister Sinister]

Eff that. I love going to the movie theatre too much. You have to be some kind of hermit, lock your girl up, 15 minute pizza eating, taking the internet too seriously, faith losing, bucket to think that watching new releases at home is better than watching them on the big screen.

Word. There's also the fact that nothing can replace the atmosphere of, say, going to a midnight release. The midnights for Iron Man, Dark Knight, and Watchmen stick out particularly in my mind.

[I. Hustle]

Word. There's also the fact that nothing can replace the atmosphere of, say, going to a midnight release. The midnights for Iron Man, Dark Knight, and Watchmen stick out particularly in my mind.

Must.

Hold.


Back.

[FalleNxWiZarDx]

Eff that. I love going to the movie theatre too much. You have to be some kind of hermit, lock your girl up, 15 minute pizza eating, taking the internet too seriously, faith losing, bucket to think that watching new releases at home is better than watching them on the big screen.

[lebomb]

100ft screen vs 50" LED TV...................10,000 watt surround sound system vs 1,000 watt home theater.

Movie Theater >>>>>> Home Video

[EmptyMan]

Who goes to the movie theater to eat.

It's 2 hours ffs. People can't go that long without a $5 hotdog?

[Mister Sinister]

Must.

Hold.


Back.

Heh. "Release." "Atmosphere." "Nothing like."

[leemajors]

Word. There's also the fact that nothing can replace the atmosphere of, say, going to a midnight release. The midnights for Iron Man, Dark Knight, and Watchmen stick out particularly in my mind.

Unless you worked those midnight releases for 4 years and had enough of them.

[SA210]

Man, I hope not. There's nothing like watching Rambo shoot mother ers down on a 100 foot screen with speakers blaring so ing loud your seat shakes. There's no home theater that's going to match that. Forget convenience. I want to actually enjoy the show.

[jcrod]

With you on this Miami.

Although, I think this concept is around the corner and closer than the movie industry wants to admit. I read something last fall regarding movie theatre revenues and they are down. way down. With the developoment and never ending improvement of the internet it is only a matter of time.

When I do go to a theatre, I am still one of those guys who sneaks in whatever goodies I can and refuse to pay the outrages prices for the over-margined stuff I could otherwise get at a local store.

They (movie industry) should launch a marketing investigation and find out just how much the American public wants this and gauge it from there.

Good thread.

They are not down, they're up. I'm with the leading projector company and Theatres (as so are we) are doing great. Avatar especially lately has made everyone a lot of money.

It will never switch to home, too much money involved for everyone.

[I. Hustle]

They are not down, they're up. I'm with the leading projector company and Theatres (as so are we) are doing great. Avatar especially lately has made everyone a lot of money.

It will never switch to home, too much money involved for everyone.

Hey hook me up! I want to do that stuff.

[The Gemini Method]

While I'm super proud of the set-up I have at home, I would rather take a date to the movies because there is something about the atmosphere and the ability to spend wads of money for popcorn and a drink. All kidding aside, I like both sense a blu-ray and intimacy is so much easier to obtain at home than the movie theaters. Although it isn't hard to get yours in a less-than-crowded movie theater. Just sneak into the next Ben Stiller movie and you're straight.

[CuckingFunt]

I don't see movie theaters going away completely, but perhaps becoming more specialized. I would like that, personally.

I fully support the idea of new released being made available to home viewers as it would provide an option for those who would rather tend to screaming babies and cell phones than pay attention to the movies, and I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes a viable option within the next few years, but I think the hardcore movie geeks will always make movie theaters a viable business. Maybe what happens instead is that movies become more about IMAX and midnight releases and spectacle than about romantic comedies, dramas, and kids movies.

[sabar]

I don't see movie theaters going away completely, but perhaps becoming more specialized. I would like that, personally.

I fully support the idea of new released being made available to home viewers as it would provide an option for those who would rather tend to screaming babies and cell phones than pay attention to the movies, and I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes a viable option within the next few years, but I think the hardcore movie geeks will always make movie theaters a viable business. Maybe what happens instead is that movies become more about IMAX and midnight releases and spectacle than about romantic comedies, dramas, and kids movies.

This man will never let that happen.



The problem is assuming that the movie industry actually cares about people instead of profits. Judging from the relentless attack on their own consumers by the MPAA over piracy, I imagine they are more than glad with the jacked up theater prices and double buying the dvd and the ticket.

There is definitely a market and desire for it, but it will only hurt the bottom line.

[Jacob1983]

Don't buy food or drinks at the movie theaters. That will save you a lot. Go to matinees. That will also save you. And if you really want to be a cheapskate, you can always go see it at the dollar movie theater. If movies weren't shown at movie theaters, then what would be the purpose of movies in the first place? Movies were meant to be shown at movie theaters.