Corona Movie Theater Thread: 49% Say Movie Theaters Are Now "Obsolete"

[mkaroly]

Game, set, and match.

[Monterey Jack]

Why am I reminded of Michael Keaton's line from The Founder, "If my competitor were drowning, I'd go over and stick a hose in his mouth"?

[Paul MacLean]

I don't think cinemas are going to completely go way.

For instance, people still ride horses, we still have horse races, ranchers still rely on horses, mounted police still exist -- but as the primary mode of transportation for most of the population, the automobile has consigned horses to obsolescence.

In much the same way, there will always be cinemas -- but only as a niche industry for those who still enjoy the theatrical experience. Small towns probably won't have them. Big cities will however, and they'll probably be like the Alamo Draft house, and geared specifically to movie fans, not the average, casual filmgoer.

But as the dominant venue for exhibition, I fear its heyday is over.

[Monterey Jack]

But as the dominant venue for exhibition, I fear its heyday is over.

[Monterey Jack]

Just saw a YouTube ad for The Witches, "Bring the big screen home!"

[jkholm]

I can't imagine that the studios will make as much money on their unreleased blockbusters on a streaming platform as they could in a movie theater which is why I think at least some theaters will be open next year. But the big question is: will the studios stop making blockbusters altogether? If the number of screens is drastically reduced, the amount of revenue will also be reduced. Why bother making a movie that will cost $500K if there's no hope of getting that money back? If we hear Disney announce that one of their planned MCU or Star Wars movies will be made with the intention of it premiering on Disney +, that will truly spell the end of theaters.

[AndyDursin]

The budget is the whole thing. They can, and likely will, sell off COMING 2 AMERICA or something with a budget under $100 million, but the big franchise IP/super-hero stuff is designed to rake in theatrical revenue and premiums like IMAX and whatever else they take a cut from. You won't see that being siphoned off, I highly doubt, unless theaters are absolutely going extinct.

If we hear Disney announce that one of their planned MCU or Star Wars movies will be made with the intention of it premiering on Disney +, that will truly spell the end of theaters.

It certainly could, though the key difference is if they make one of those with the intention of it going to Disney+, it won't be the same kind of movie. They will make something with a drastically reduced budget than what most of those end up costing.

That's the trouble with just saying, WW1984 should go to HBO Max. MULAN cost viewers $29.99 on top of a Disney+ subscription, but the jury is out how well it actually performed. By no measure has it made anywhere near what it could've running in theaters:

https://gamerant.com/math-error-may-hav ... sney-plus/

That's kind of where they're at -- making some (but less) money now, or waiting to make more if the theatrical venue still exists.

The big takeaway is if there are no theaters, they will still produce all that Marvel stuff -- but they won't spend as much on the product. Same goes for all of those kinds of movies.

[Monterey Jack]

I wonder how MCU fans will react when the movies start having visual effects on the same level of quality as those CW superhero shows...



Face it...without that megabudget sheen, superhero stuff looks REALLY STUPID in live action.

[Paul MacLean]

I wonder how MCU fans will react when the movies start having visual effects on the same level of quality as those CW superhero shows...

They will have to make up for it with more original plots and characters that are at least two-dimentional.

I have my doubts they'll be able to deliver on that however.

[Monterey Jack]

They will have to make up for it with more original plots and characters that are at least two-dimentional.

I have my doubts they'll be able to deliver on that however.

Disney is gonna realize, and fast, how much their movies depend upon the fanciest visual effects once they have to resort to radically-reduced budgets in their all-streaming, all-the-time plans. Imagine trying to pull off Avengers: Endgame with $50 million to play with.

This is why movie theaters MUST be saved.

[Paul MacLean]

Disney is gonna realize, and fast, how much their movies depend upon the fanciest visual effects once they have to resort to radically-reduced budgets in their all-streaming, all-the-time plans. Imagine trying to pull off Avengers: Endgame with $50 million to play with.

This is why movie theaters MUST be saved.

Well, again, I'm sure they will always exist. They will just be fewer in number -- and probably be more like "revival houses", specializing in classics and cult movies rather than first-run pictures.

Though here in New York, Governor Cuomo is now permitting cinemas to open -- but at only 25% capacity.

I have a feeling that builders who specialize in constructing home theaters / screening rooms are getting more calls than ever before.

[AndyDursin]

Why selling to streaming isn't going to work for high budget franchise movies....even if they did try

[AndyDursin]

GODZILLA VS KONG is going to end up going to Netflix or HBO Max, like WONDER WOMAN 1984.

https://gamerant.com/godzilla-vs-kong-m ... g-service/

[mkaroly]

I will wait for the DVD if it ever comes out...or theaters in 2021...or 2022. Lol...

[Monterey Jack]

Yes, this giant monster movie will play like gangbusters on a dinky TV screen.