r/movies Apr 05 '23

Most Moviegoers Will Still Go To Theaters Even If What They’re Seeing Will Soon Be Streaming – UTA IQ Study Article

https://deadline.com/2023/04/moviegoers-theaters-windows-theatricals-streaming-study-uta-1235318125/
6.3k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

2.6k

u/HowIsYourBreathing Apr 05 '23

Usually only have 1 chance in your life to see a given movie in theaters.

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u/bob1689321 Apr 05 '23

Yep that's why I go. When I look back there are so many movies I'd love to see in cinemas but never got the chance. I don't want to potentially miss that, and as a result I've seen so many good movies that I wouldn't have given a chance 10 years ago.

On that note, I had tickets to see interstellar in IMAX this weekend and now I can't go. Absolutely kills me.

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u/MicrosoftCardFile Apr 05 '23

Ayo where is Interstellar playing in IMAX

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u/Glum_Time_5887 Apr 05 '23

Not sure where the guy above is going but they’ve released 10 of Nolan’s films in imax in London to countdown to when Oppenheimer releases later this year

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u/bob1689321 Apr 05 '23

Yep that's the one. My work keep fucking me with shifts so I've missed out on Tenet (wasnt too fussed) and Interstellar (literally one of my favourite films)

Might still be able to make the Batmans at least lol.

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u/dawn_jelly Apr 05 '23

Man, I myself would straight up just lie and call in sick if it meant catching Interstellar in IMAX. There are few better cinematic experiences that I can possibly imagine. Sorry you’re gonna miss it.

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u/bob1689321 Apr 05 '23

Honestly yeah wish I could. I have done pretty much everything to try and get out of the shift short of faking my own death.

In hindsight I should have resigned from the weekend shift work I do the moment I saw I was rota'd for this weekend. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20 haha.

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u/Ganonslayer1 Apr 05 '23

Call in sick man, interstellar in imax is on my bucket list. Cant imagine how good it is in imax.

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u/-ORIGINAL- Apr 06 '23

I saw Tenet in my digital IMAX theater and it was pretty cool to watch especially for the beautiful cinematography and the intense sound. But Interstellar in IMAX is also on my bucket list. I hope they release it at my IMAX one day.

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u/Successful_Fortune28 Apr 06 '23

I saw Tenet in the crappy imax near me (10 minutes) where the sound cracks all of the time and sounds horrible. I have another one 45 minutes away that I go to from now on for imax. It’s worth the drive for the audio. If interstellar or any of Nolan’s films are released in California anywhere, I’m taking a vacation to see them

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u/Torcal4 Apr 05 '23

For those in Toronto, Interstellar plays every now and then at the Cinesphere.

They’re currently doing renovations so there’s not much going on there right now. But they always play a bunch of older and sometimes current movies.

And it’s still film IMAX.

Saw the whole Dark Knight Trilogy there a year before COVID.

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u/Panelak_Cadillac Apr 05 '23

"Top Gun: Maverick" in IMAX or 4DX was an experience.

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u/Particular_Put5007 Apr 05 '23

Haven’t seen much positive feedback on 4DX so this is a compelling take.

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u/samsaBEAR Apr 05 '23

Maverick is the best 4DX experience I've ever sat through, it definitely feels like a lot of love went into coding all the effects rather than a sort of generic "action scene=chairs move, gunshot=gust of air" and so on

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u/MS0ffice Apr 05 '23

I’m going to a screening in Austin in a couple weeks, bullock museum IMAX

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u/atreidesflame Apr 06 '23

Fuck that, where is Nope still playing on IMAX?

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u/bob1689321 Apr 05 '23

BFI in London. They're doing every Nolan film

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u/drmilesbennell Apr 05 '23

Not to make you feel bad but seeing Interstellar in a true 70mm imax theatre was fucking incredible

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

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u/bob1689321 Apr 05 '23

Yeah that makes me feel a little bad haha. The tickets were for the 70mm IMAX at the BFI in London.

I saw TDK there 5 years ago and it is probably the best cinema experience I've ever had. Was hoping interstellar would be the same.

Oh well I'm sure they'll do a 10th anniversary screening next November

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u/Int_peacemaker35 Apr 06 '23

I saw Dunkirk in 70mm IMAX theater when it premiered and it was a thrilling experience.

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u/galenwolf Apr 06 '23

I don't get that scared with horror movies, but seeing that black hole, that big on imax, terrified me. The dread I felt was intense.

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u/myserg07 Apr 05 '23

On this note I’m super hyped about getting to watch The Big Lebowski on the big screen for the 25th anniversary in a couple weeks.

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u/ladyofthelathe Apr 05 '23

Wish I could have seen DUNE in IMAX.

As much as it gets panned, The Necromonger Way (a/k/a Chronicles of Riddick) was really damn awesome on a big screen.

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u/ItsMeTK Apr 05 '23

There’s still a chance if they reissue it when part two comes out

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u/ladyofthelathe Apr 05 '23

I'll have to make a 2 hour journey to find the nearest IMAX - but I will make that trip if it happens.

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u/attemptedmonknf Apr 05 '23

It was truly a day of days when that movie released in theaters

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u/laserfox90 Apr 05 '23

One of my biggest regrets is not seeing Blade Runner 2049 in theaters

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u/PiLamdOd Apr 05 '23

One of my biggest regrets was seeing Blade Runner 2049 in IMax before I learned I was near sighted.

Didn’t get what the big deal was at the time.

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u/Dense-Pea-1714 Apr 05 '23

Yeah you definitely missed out. One of my favorite theater experiences ever.

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u/RemoteImportance9 Apr 05 '23

I almost missed it but my grandma wanted to go to that one - I’m so thankful to her in hindsight. That was amazing on a big screen.

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u/stRiNg-kiNg Apr 05 '23

The other key element to this is it has to be a movie you want to see lol. So as long as good movies keep being made then there will be a desire for them to be seen in the theater.

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u/Mekkakat Apr 05 '23

I go to the theatre for the experience of the theatre.

The massive screen. The enveloping sound. The sense of excitement and energy from others ready for entertainment...

Sitting at home, regardless of how good my TV or sound system is, just isn't the same.

Besides—the cinemas near us are nice, clean, have huge comfy recliners and everyone is friendly. We also have a membership, which makes going to the movies (including IMAX and Dobly) less expensive than Redbox.

It's just fun.

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u/Cyril_Clunge Apr 05 '23

I find myself getting distracted watching movies at home. The cinema is far more immersive and I’m fortunate that I’ve rarely had a bad experience with other people ruining it.

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u/JoeMcDingleDongle Apr 05 '23

Sounds like you need some more willpower for those home movies lol.

But I am jealous your theaters are not frequented by shitheads who decide to keep looking at their phones at full brightness in front of you, take 8 minutes to open a candy bar wrapper during a quiet scene, chew loudly, or talk during a film.

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u/Cyril_Clunge Apr 05 '23

It also depends on what I’m watching and if I’m enjoying it. Usually I go to the cinema during the week so it’s often other adults who can behave. Last year I saw a film on a weekend and a teen near the front was checking their phone every few minutes and didn’t bother putting the brightness down.

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u/JoeMcDingleDongle Apr 05 '23

Ugh that's the worst. Well no the loud talkers are the worst but the screen is annoying.

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u/cantwaitforthis Apr 05 '23

I agree with loving the theater, as we go pretty frequently. For me it’s the memory, the viewing experience is always worse than at home on the couch with my setup, ability to pause when young kids need to pee, and no other kids making noise or adults playing on a cell phone.

But the actual wholistic experience is so much more of an event. The smells, the lights, the excitement. I remember lots of trips to the movies, but don’t remember every amazing movie I watched at home

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u/Best_Duck9118 Apr 06 '23

We are different. Personally I can’t think of a much worse smell than popcorn cooking (and I like eating popcorn!).

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u/BoiLudens Apr 06 '23

IF ONLY PEOPLE PUT AWAY THEIR PHONES

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u/Battery6512 Apr 05 '23

Yep, had to wait 40 years to finally see Conan the Barbarian (my favorite movie) in the theaters for it's 40th anniversary.

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u/BronchialChunk Apr 05 '23

reminds me, only one theatre still has avatar and I need to see it before it goes. I am not spending 20 bucks on it to watch on my 32" tv

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u/danorcs Apr 05 '23

Someday someone will make a biz model renting non popular cinema times during weekdays to show old movies that should only be watched on the big screen

But make it more personal, with guest speakers related to the movie and discussions on what went on or aged the best or worst, as I love listening to people discussing old movies on podcast. Could probably charge a lot more for the seats and food too.

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u/ILikeMyGrassBlue Apr 05 '23

I mean, lots of theaters already run older movies during less popular times. The AMC near me plays a lot of older movies, and it’s pretty nice. My local independent theaters do it even more. They’ll do themed months like horror or sci-fi and show one or two old movies a week.

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u/filthysize Apr 05 '23

Shit, I go see movies in theaters that are already available streaming or I own a copy of.

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u/TheBestMePlausible Apr 05 '23

I saw Totoro this weekend, I totally have that on DVD already, but it was absolutely wonderful seeing it in the theater.

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u/Refugee_Savior Apr 05 '23

I always go and see at least one of the Ghibli fest vies every year. Such great films

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u/TheBestMePlausible Apr 05 '23

Regal is showing a different one once a month! The stars finally aligned where I was at a loss for what to do when the edibles kicked in, and I saw it was playing walking distance from me.

I feel like maybe they do that every year? I could swear I’ve seen the posters up every year since I moved to the West Coast.

Obviously everyone loves Totaro for good reason, but I had kind of forgotten how amazing it is, and on so many different levels. Really glad I got to see it in the theater!

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u/GoldFishPony Apr 06 '23

I have no idea how many years it’s happened but I’ve definitely seen them doing ghibli movies in theaters spread out through the year for multiple years

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u/Lombard333 Apr 06 '23

I saw Howl’s Moving Castle with my partner at Regal, just delightful

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u/shoii Apr 06 '23

Did it show the disney version or the original?

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u/TheBestMePlausible Apr 06 '23

I’m not sure what the differences are, but the dialogue was in Japanese and it was promoted as a Ghibli film festival, so I assume it was the original.

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u/filthysize Apr 06 '23

Miyazaki doesn't allow his international distributors to make any cuts to his films, so there's not really alternate cuts of Totoro. But there was an English dub made back in the 80s, and then Disney got the rights in 2005 and made their own English dub with slight differences in the dialogue translations. That original English dub hardly exists anymore though, so any English dub shown nowadays would surely be the Disney one. I believe Ghibli Fest had screenings in both subtitled Japanese and the Disney dub.

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u/Elcamina Apr 05 '23

That would be a great one for the theatre! I love the slappy feet when they run.

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u/CaptGould Apr 06 '23

One of my dreams was to see Lawrence of Arabia on the big screen. Waited years and got my chance about 5 years ago when my local cinema was playing Hollywood epics.

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u/Solomon_Grungy Apr 05 '23

Fuckin A! Cinephiles unite!

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u/ryle_zerg Apr 05 '23

"Most Moviegoers will still go to the movies"

...well yea, they're moviegoers.

How many are no longer moviegoers because they know the movie will be streaming? Seems like a deliberately misleading headline to make it seem like theaters aren't struggling as much as they really are.

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u/Thejlas1 Apr 05 '23

"We interviewed 200 people after they exited the theater and we've concluded..."

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u/NerdModeCinci Apr 05 '23

“…Avatar 2 sucks”

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u/TheConboy22 Apr 06 '23

I thoroughly enjoyed Avatar 2. The only film that has brought me to a theater in 3 years.

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u/mother-of-pod Apr 06 '23

I loved it.

I have been to the theater often in the past three years. I’m a movie goer through and through and only ever missed one year due to COVID. Before kids, we used to go weekly at a minimum.

But I still loved avatar. Story sucks, still got me crying. But the visual effects are seriously top tier. Even if there were no story, it’s hard to be bored by James Cameron in a big theater.

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u/ace_of_spade_789 Apr 06 '23

I thought avatar 2 was better than the first even with all the glaring problems, like the water tribe disappearing at the end during the battle, the fact they have sully in their sights and choose not to take the shot, or sully saying they were there for him when they seemed to be there for the whale brain juice.

I do find it funny that the third one will involve a fire tribe... I wonder if the final reveal will be that sully is the last Airbender.

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u/fadetoblack237 Apr 05 '23

and I am tired of pretending it doesn't.

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u/joepanda111 Apr 05 '23

James Cameron: “YOU GET WHAT YOU FUCKING DESERVED!”

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u/shellybearcat Apr 05 '23

Yeah. People that are still choosing to go to a movie theater are ones that have already decided they value this experience over streaming at home. All this information really tells us is that the deciding for factor for them isn’t whether or not a movie is already available to be streamed, it’s the actual experience. Which I think IS a relevant thing to note, but it’s buried under a nonsense headline.

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u/waywithwords Apr 05 '23

I'm a former movie goer. I can't stand the average theater experience anymore - extremely loud and excessively long advertisements at the start, overpriced snacks, people who can't be quiet or not get on their phone during the movie, "projectionists" who don't know how to properly size or align a projection to the screen - it all makes me crazy and I've supplanted it with all home viewing.

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u/mdavis360 Apr 05 '23

I would go only if the rest of the theater was empty. Everyone is an inconsiderate asshole and ruins things for everyone. Talking, cellphones, PHONE CALLS (yes), fighting with plastic wrappers, etc.

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u/waywithwords Apr 05 '23

When people treat the theater as though they're watching on their own home is when I just stay home!

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u/mdavis360 Apr 05 '23

I think that is exactly what has happened. People have become conditioned to talking during movies at home and using phones at home that they don’t think twice about doing it at a theater. It’s insufferable.

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u/LordRobin------RM Apr 05 '23

Heh. I get grumpy when my wife is on her phone at home when I’m trying to watch a movie. But then, I’m serious about watching movies. I gotta turn the lights out.

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u/Lekks7 Apr 05 '23

Someone above said they prefer theaters over home viewing because there are fewer distractions at the theater. That's quite the opposite for me because of all the things you mentioned.

At least I can pause the movie when I'm distracted at home, plus I know what to expect in terms of sound/picture quality.

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u/LordRobin------RM Apr 05 '23

Being able to pause the movie to pee is such a stress reliever. When I’m at a theater, I always go right before the movie and try not to drink too much. Don’t want a repeat of Return of the King, where I spent the last two hours with a full bladder, wondering when the fuck it was going to end.

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u/jupiterkansas Apr 05 '23

At home you can push pause, turn the volume up and down, turn on subtitles, and eat better food.

and all you have to do is put your phone down.

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u/fadetoblack237 Apr 05 '23

I bought a nice projector and sound bar over the pandemic. I have been back to the theater twice since they reopened because I didn't want to wait and neither time was any better than my home viewing experience. I've gotten to the point the waiting is fine no matter the film.

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

It’s such a terrible headline.

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

To my wife and I, one of our favorite dates is dinner and a movie, we like the whole experience. Sure we could order delivery and watch a movie on streaming, but it’s different and not always what we are looking for

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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '23

How does your wife feel about your username

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u/lupuscapabilis Apr 05 '23

Yeah I forgot about that part. The rare movie theater experience is also just a good excuse for my wife and I to go try a new restaurant.

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u/kdorsey0718 Apr 05 '23

My wife and I love to switch the order of that and do a movie and a dinner. Then we can enjoy dinner and talk about the movie!

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u/johnrugel710 Apr 05 '23

my partner and I do this! although lately we've been seeing afternoon showings then go to happy hour

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

The problem is I always eat a bunch of movie theater popcorn during the movie lol

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u/TheDeadlySinner Apr 05 '23

With the food delivery costs these days, it would probably be cheaper to go out.

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u/Dense-Pea-1714 Apr 05 '23

There's a million things that can distract me whenever I'm watching a movie at home. In the theater, I have no choice but to stare at the screen and pay attention.

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u/worst_driver_evar Apr 05 '23

That and the popcorn is better than anything I can make myself.

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u/Darnell5000 Apr 05 '23

Probably because theaters don’t use microwave popcorn.

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u/slvrbullet87 Apr 05 '23

Get a whirley pop and make it one the stove top. So much better than microwave. Melt your butter in the microwave before you start, and it will be cool enough that it doesn't wilt the popcorn when you pour it on.

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u/crs8975 Apr 05 '23

I pop a lot of popcorn. All you need is a good brand of popcorn, corn oil, salt, and butter. You can make some really good stuff. Current brand of popcorn I'm using is Snappy. Its fantastic. I also pop in a whirly pop.

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u/rickroll62 Apr 05 '23

The whirly pop is the key

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u/prince_pisspants Apr 05 '23

Nice to see the Gospel of Whirly Pop being preached at the grassroot level.

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u/willstr1 Apr 05 '23

Get yourself some flavacol apparently it's what most theaters use instead of salt and butter. It gives an authentic experience. Although I like to mix it with melted butter so that it sticks to the popcorn better without being overwhelming (because it's super intense).

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u/avelak Apr 06 '23

Flavocol and coconut oil

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u/Awdayshus Apr 05 '23

I disagree. Coconut oil, salt, no butter. I just pop it in a pan on the stove. And the fresher the corn, the fluffier they'll pop! I'll pick a cheaper brand if all the packages of the good stuff are dusty on the store shelves or getting close to the best by date.

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u/AlaskanThunderFlux Apr 05 '23

Whirly Pops are the way to go, they make phenomenal popcorn even with generic brand kernels

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u/BallerGuitarer Apr 05 '23

Why does a whirly pop make a difference?

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u/Rand0mredditperson Apr 05 '23

It moves the kernels around, so more pop and don't burn as easily.

I actually haven't ever used a whirly pop, I bought one but the company never sent it to me. I got a smaller version of what the cinemas use off ebay. Best $300 I ever spent.

On a side note, the whirly pop itself won't do too much, it's the popcorn oil and salt that do most of the work. Find a good oil that has a beta carotene in it and I recommend flavacol for the salt. If the popcorn at your cinema has orange salt on it it's probably flavacol.

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u/GaleTheThird Apr 05 '23

Not sure if you're already aware, but the seasoning they use (Flavacol) is available on Amazon, should you want to make some at home that has some hope of being similar to the theater stuff

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u/jbroui13 Apr 05 '23

I’ve purchased flavacol and coconut oil with beta carotene (that gives the orange/yellow color). I’m still not able to get it quite right like the theatre does!

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u/MDH_vs Apr 05 '23

It's because they can't/don't clean their machines fully. Not in a gross way, it's kind of like a cast iron skillet.

Look for a small popcorn machine like what you'd see at the theater or a fair and start using that along with the stuff you are currently using and you'll be there

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u/Mushroomer Apr 05 '23

There's a tiny bit of grime in every bag that dates back to the 1980s - you're never going to get that kind of flavor at home in your lifetime.

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u/funktasticdog Apr 05 '23

I've used it. It makes it very, very good, but it's still not quite right, and you need that movie theatre butter.

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u/WhatWouldTNGPicardDo Apr 05 '23

The last 3 movies we went to in the theater were all awful experiences. Bullet train the audio was messed up for the first 25 min. We told the thwarted but it took them a long time to fix it then we just kept going. When we went to antman there was a person in there sliding a straw up and down and up and down in the cup making awful scraping noises. The theater did finally eject them after multiple complaints and multiple times warning them, but it ruined the move. Last night for Mario some kid shat in the theater and they had to ask us all to leave, I got a refund but only saw the first hour of the movie (which was just eh). I don’t I understand how they expect theaters to be a good experience.

Edit: bullet train not bully train.

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u/SaintDiesel Apr 05 '23

Sliding the straw up and down lol I had the same guy a few weeks ago. So irritating

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u/whurpurgis Apr 05 '23

I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have a terrible experience in the theater. I do t think anything will get me to go back.

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u/gilfoyle53 Apr 05 '23

It’s the other way around for me. At the theater, I might have to worry about whether I’ll need to go to the bathroom, where I should sit, who’s making noise, who has their bright cell phone out, why does the projector have terrible chromatic abberation, why is the audio so low, why is the letterboxing misaligned, why did that person take off their shoes and leave them on the ground so I would trip over them, and why is my armrest sticky.

At home I get things just right and there are no surprises or distractions. I don’t pick up my phone. I’m interested in the movie. That’s why I’m watching the movie.

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u/MyMorningSun Apr 05 '23

That's another perk I hadn't thought of. Even if you do make yourself sit still and have absolutely nothing better to do at home, it's hard not to get distracted by the background noises and things happening around you.

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u/CritikillNick Apr 05 '23

I had to walk out of John Wick 4 because a group of 4 young adults were intentionally talking on their phones ON SPEAKER throughout the first ten minutes and literally threatening anyone to tell them to stop including staff.

There are lots of distractions at the theater far less than this too.

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u/RitaAlbertson Apr 06 '23

If I’m watching a movie at home, I feel like I should be doing something else at the same time. Like folding laundry or something.

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u/cbbuntz Apr 05 '23

I suppose it's a good way to force people to put their phones down.

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u/pipboy_warrior Apr 05 '23

Except a lot of people still don't put their phones down in the theater.

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u/barbarkbarkov Apr 05 '23

I went to a movie recently and I was amazed at how many people were using their phones. I feel like society was pretty good at that for like 10 years. There was a sense of respect about it. What happened??

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

The people who never experience life without phones grew up.

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u/Slurpyz Apr 06 '23

This is why I love Alamo Drafthouse because they actually enforce the no phones rule. I hope everyone gets a local Alamo drafthouse someday!

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u/Elcamina Apr 05 '23

Shit, I went to the ballet and people wouldn’t put their phones down even when they had a sign that said phones are banned and you may be asked to leave if caught using one (they don’t want anyone filming).

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u/cbbuntz Apr 05 '23

Dicks. It gets me to put my phone down

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u/nedzissou1 Apr 05 '23

They could at least turn their brightness down.

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u/Mist_Rising Apr 06 '23

But they won't.

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u/InnovativeFarmer Apr 05 '23

Except all the people being distracting, the lack of control of sound volume, not being able to adjust brightness, etc.

When I want to watch a movie or a show at home, I can pay attention. If I have a laspe for a moment, I can rewind. I cant do that in a theater. If I have to pee or someone or something makes me miss a line or important scene I have to deal with it. Quite a few movies had me confused enough that when I eventaully watch them at home with subtitles I has an "aha" moment and the scene made more sense.

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u/hankbaumbachjr Apr 05 '23

I'm old enough to have lived through Blockbuster and local rentals and my attitude is basically the exact same as back then.

If it looks worthy of seeing on a big screen, I will.

If not, I'll wait until it comes out on video/streaming/cable/the high seas.

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

Maybe make movie tickets cheap again and you’d have plenty of people going. It’s not worth it to go to the theater

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u/fadetoblack237 Apr 05 '23

A family of 4 is easily dropping 100 bucks to go to the movies.

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u/CritikillNick Apr 05 '23

What? It’s like $50-$60 max if you’re going during the most expensive times, many theaters have cheap ticket days like Regal where they’re literally $6

Maybe if you’re buying four popcorns and four sodas too

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u/WikusVanDev Apr 05 '23

I hate that argument since anything with a family of 4 is expensive lol

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u/YaGetSkeeted0n Apr 06 '23

Yeah isn’t it like $500K to raise your first kid from conception to turning 18 lol

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u/LavenderAutist Apr 06 '23

Watching movies is another $100k

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u/Mragftw Apr 05 '23

Honestly I'm not too worried about ticket prices themselves, but concessions are fucking horrendous. I went to see the DnD movie last weekend and getting a "regular" popcorn (the smallest non-kids size) and an icee cost fucking $20

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u/scarves_and_miracles Apr 06 '23

Completely agree. Ticket prices are one thing, but the snack prices aren't just high--they're offensive. It's legitimately ridiculous. It's been years since I've even considered getting a snack at the movies to be an option. I just won't pay that.

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u/TheCorrectOpinion2 Apr 05 '23

True, its a huge ripoff

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u/annalatrina Apr 05 '23

Expensive, unskippable ads that go on and on and on, and I can’t pause to go pee. Plus, I hate people/crowds.

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u/johnrugel710 Apr 05 '23

amc a list is your friend. albeit its only great when there's a ton of good movies coming out but it's def worth it imo

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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '23 edited Jun 30 '23

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u/Flash54321 Apr 05 '23

It’s <$20 for a 2hr movie without concession purchases. This feels like a pretty good return on investment for me. $10/hr of fun.

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u/WasherDryerCombo Apr 05 '23

I go see a movie in theaters for the experience, not because I don’t think I’ll ever see the movie again.

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u/isecore Apr 05 '23

Theater is always a mixed experience in my opinion. Yes, big screen, decent audio and all that, but also annoying other moviegoers who can't shut up, don't turn off their phones etc, overpriced snacks, seats that get more uncomfortable as it goes on.

It's never been a completely good experience for me. There's always something that makes it a bit "meh" for me.

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u/KnightInDulledArmor Apr 05 '23

I think a large part of it is the cultural shift away from theatres brought along by home entertainment, so people just are not well “movie trained”. Movie theatres have been on constant decline for over half a century now, and every innovation in home entertainment just reduces attendance more. No change is going to make most people go to the cinema every weekend anymore, it’s something people do a couple times a year now as a special thing, so they are not as good watchers. I think the majority of the population doesn’t really care about the benefits of movie theatre experience that much, they mostly complain about everything that is not like watching a movie at home (travel, snack prices, other people, no pausing, etc) now that watching whatever you want on your couch is the default expectation. IMO going to the theatre is as much about the social experience as the show, which most people actually don’t seem super interested in.

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u/thisisminethereare Apr 06 '23

I think you’re overthinking it :) People behaving poorly in the theatre since the first ever silent flick, I’m sure :D

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u/SteveTheManager Apr 05 '23

Get a fanny pack with multiple pockets or an Adidas jacket with a pocket on the inside and put all the Wild Berry Skittles you want in there.

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u/comec0rrect Apr 05 '23

We’ve done this with success. There’s a McDonalds nearby, and we use the in-app coupon deals, then just buy a soda or water at the theater. Takes the right jacket (one of those non-absorbent type Cotopaxi’s) to sneak in fries and a couple cheeseburgers but so worth it.

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u/CH23 Apr 05 '23

Guilty as charged. I prefer seeing movies in cinema even though I can sail the seven seas at home

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u/Z_as_in_Zebra Apr 05 '23

The sound is what gets me. I love feeling the sound from big movie speakers.

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u/metamorphosis___ Apr 05 '23

Exactly the only reason i go too, if i could afford an awesome surround sound system id DEFINITELY never go to the theater lol.

Also previews are a guilty pleasure.

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u/Jaysonmcleod Apr 06 '23

Movies generally have incredible sound and picture which really immerses me in the movie. In my opinion a theatre is the best way to watch a movie.

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u/Elcamina Apr 05 '23

I would love if they would bring back more older hit movies or even tv content to the big screen. I would pay to bring my kids to see a Harry Potter or Star Wars or LOTR movie on a big screen. We loved watching the Demon Slayer anime in the theatre recently too.

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u/StrLord_Who Apr 05 '23

Return of the King extended edition is being re-released I believe on April 13th and 19th, so you can take them.

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u/condormcninja Apr 05 '23

For me personally, it’s a good reason to get out of the house on days when there isn’t any obligation to. Keeps me from becoming too depressed and sedentary.

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u/ThaMac Apr 05 '23

But this is Reddit, we aren't supposed to like getting out of the house on here.

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u/zjm555 Apr 05 '23

It's not impatience that drives me to the theater, it's wanting to see a big spectacle-type film on a big screen with big speakers.

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u/johnnyutah30 Apr 05 '23

People being inconsiderate assholes has ruined movie going for me personally. I used to love to go now I honestly can’t stand it.

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

Not me. I’d rather rent a new release at home for $20 than spend $30 at the theater just to have the experience ruined by people who don’t know how to shut the fuck up or leave their phone in their pocket for 2 hours. I can’t remember the last time I went to a theater and had a good viewing experience. People suck.

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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '23

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u/YanksCelticsGiants Apr 05 '23

Still upsets me to this day that I couldn’t watch The Irishman in theaters

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u/Hawaiian_Fire Apr 05 '23

It’s about the experience. Most people will still go out to eat even if they can cook at home.

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u/Strawberry2828 Apr 06 '23

I’m always going to prefer going to theaters. Thankfully my theater is awesome and clean and they have $5 Tuesdays and free popcorn with membership card( which is free) so I just sneak in a drink.

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u/alchemeron Apr 06 '23 edited Apr 06 '23

The worst thing about theaters are the other people. It has only gotten worse in my lifetime. I may never go to a theater ever again.

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u/longblackcar Apr 05 '23

I thought that I was in the majority in thinking that the theater experience sucks ass. People talking, opening loud packages, opening their bright phones in a dark room…fuck that. I prefer to create my own distractions at home.

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u/Sisiwakanamaru Apr 05 '23

That's r/movies echo chamber for you

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u/Grateful_Couple Apr 05 '23

Lol that is absolutely not how every movie experience is. Some movies are definitely worth the experience, even on the off chance you get a rude person or you might hear someone for a second. If you haven’t in a long while go see a matinee at imax or the equivalent, usually the riff raff goes to the evening shows lol.

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u/_IAmGrover Apr 05 '23

I don’t know who the majority is but personally I prefer the theater experience.

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u/Nowhereman123 Apr 06 '23

Watching a movie on the TV in my living room just isn't the same as on a giant projector screen in a theater. It's like the difference between going to a concert and listening to the album on Spotify for me.

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u/whyambear Apr 05 '23

Haven’t been in a theater since 2008. I have no desire to return to one, no matter what “experience” I’m being sold. The convenience of my own home, my own control, my own food, and my own toilet is better.

People and theaters are gross.

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u/The_Lone_Apple Apr 05 '23

Whichever is the least expensive and least annoying option is the one I go for.

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u/kaukanapoissa Apr 05 '23

It’s almost like many people don’t have the huge screens and great sound systems at home. Plus, there’s still nothing like seeing a movie at the theatre.

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u/GaleTheThird Apr 05 '23

It’s almost like many people don’t have the huge screens and great sound systems at home.

I have both and it's still way better to watch at the theater. Especially when I see pretty much everything in IMAX

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u/Solomon_Grungy Apr 05 '23

I go to see movies I own on dvd in theaters all the time. Guess what, its about the experience.

I will never have an interest in watching some films in theaters while others I’ll ALWAYS want to see in theater with an audience.

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u/reddgv Apr 05 '23

Shocking news: people who enjoy the experience to see movies at the theaters go to the theaters !

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u/soiledsanchez Apr 05 '23

I’ve always hated the movie going experience and it’s only gotten worse I have zero interest to spend that kinda money on tickets and popcorn for a movie I’m gonna be surrounded by people talking or with phones out on max brightness no thank you

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u/stebuu Apr 05 '23

Unpopular opinion for this sub:

Movie theaters are inconvenient and awful. The people are noisy and distracting, the movies always start 20+ minutes late, you can't pause for a quick bio break, and the showtimes are often inconvenient.

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u/ThaMac Apr 05 '23

This is in fact the opposite of an unpopular opinion on this sub.

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u/JJaypes Apr 05 '23

That's literally the majority of this thread though?

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u/meowbombs Apr 05 '23

I have severe adhd. It's the only way I can force myself to pay attention to movies

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u/parker1019 Apr 05 '23

AMC shorts ready to close…?

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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '23

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u/RubyNotTawny Apr 06 '23

Makes sense to me. Some movies really are made for the big screen.

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u/Nonofyourdamnbiscuit Apr 06 '23

Movie theaters are at their best a really wonderful experience.

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u/spoonard Apr 06 '23

So, I like movies. My TV and sound system are better than cinema quality for a 15x25' rec room. But I still REALLY enjoy the movie-going experience. So much that I go at least once per week. Streaming has had no effect on my theater going, and I don't think it ever will.

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u/nnefariousjack Apr 06 '23

A good movie in the right theatre can be a great experience.

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u/NunyaBeese Apr 06 '23

Well yea, seeing as you have to go to a theater to be a moviegoer...

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u/IndependenceFew4956 Apr 06 '23

Until i have a massive screen the size of a small building and super surround system and no glare on my tv and super blacks, yes I will.

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u/PlumbRose Apr 06 '23

Who did they survey, 50+ year Olds?

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u/fuzionknight96 Apr 06 '23

Your telling me audiences will go to an expensively built and crafted theatre to experience a movie over watching it on their phone or TV at home? Colour me shocked!

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u/niks_blin Apr 06 '23

Hell yeah, I love going to the movies. I loved it since I was a kid and in the last 5 years we got an incredible new movie theater brand in my country too!

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u/Ok_Business84 Apr 06 '23

Yes, I don’t have a 40 ft screen and surround sound. Don’t ever let the movies die!

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u/MikeTheActorMan Apr 06 '23

To be honest, I like going to the cinema, not only just for the experience, but also because it kinda forces me to go and watch the movie. It gives me a limited window in which to see it while it's out, so I'll actually make plans to message my mate or speak to my fiancée and arrange to see it one evening, whereas if it's coming straight to streaming, I kind of just mentally add it to my list to watch eventually, as there's no "rush" or pressure to watch it soon, and I find I often just don't end up watching it because the list just gets bigger and bigger!

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u/DarkLordKefka Apr 06 '23

Theatre-going is an experience entirely unlike streaming. Different people do it for different reasons too; like a group social activity, a date, or just viewing alone.

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u/Haunting-Scientist68 Apr 06 '23

I love the reality of this. It doesn't matter how much companies with a certain mindset will try to use "convenience" as it's greatest weapon to win over consumers. People still want to have a memorable experience. Even if it's something as small or simple as watching a movie in a movie theater. These types of experiences and pastimes still matter to people... thankfully.

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u/TheAnimatorPrime Apr 06 '23

The experience in movie theaters are just irreplaceable. Sometimes, I think movies are just best watched in theaters to fully appreciate its value.

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u/AlternativeSuit131 Apr 06 '23

Movies are an escape for me. They are perfect for my self care days. I love going out and treating myself to a manicure before going to the theater. The experience is just different, I suppose?

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u/UNAMANZANA Apr 06 '23

I pay so much better attention to movies in theaters, plus it’s a night out of the house.

Great experience. People should do it more often.

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u/JuRiOh Apr 06 '23

Haven't been in a cinema for 13 years. Maybe I am just lazy, but watching from home is much more comfortable in many regards. Having to dodge spoilers for some time is the only notable downside for me.

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u/ArgyleTheDruid Apr 06 '23

The silver screen is a magic experience, a journey into a story we share in a communal setting. It’s completely different than your living room or on an airplane etc.

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u/am0x Apr 06 '23

For me it depends on the movie…action, cool visuals, or a movie I really want to see I will get My first watch in the theater.

Anything else? Home. Cheaper for a group, we can even make a nicer meal or better snacks, we have cheaper booze, if people are into it - smoke some herb…

But it also depends on the home setup.

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u/silentraven127 Apr 06 '23

The only reason I go to a theater is as an excuse to get my friends out of their homes every now and then. Maybe even convince them to get dinner or a drink after. It's something to do, but not necessarily a better experience than watching at home.

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u/New_Principle_9145 Apr 07 '23

If you are like me, you weigh if it's worth seeing on the big screen. There have been plenty of movies where I'm "you have to see that on the big screen period." Then there are those that are, "yeah....Netflix/TV/whatever" I can wait. It's just a matter of preference and interest.