Netflix CEO: Movie Theaters Are "Strangling The Movie Business"

Haven't been to a movie theater in 14 years because...
They're overpriced,
have uncomfortable seats,
there's nowhere to put up my legs and stretch out,
the really terrible food and no table to eat on,
the sound that is somehow always way too loud (I am not deaf pls turn it down),
annoying people in the theater,
proximity to comic book movies makes me break out in hives.
 
I would add to the list of reasons to not go:

Can't pause movie to go take a piss.

Can't smoke.

Can't smoke.

Cellphones and the glowing screens. This goes for concerts too.

Sticky floors.

Did I mention you can't smoke?
 
YeuEmMaiMai said:
Movie theaters are not the only guilty party here... Movie studios are just as guilty as they have BIG fees they charge theatres...
Click to expand...
I was told by someone that worked a local theater that the Star Wars prequel trilogy movie tickets cost the theater more than they charged (they had to pay more per seat to the movie company than they charged). Of course the profit is made up with concessions.
 
I still like the theater experience. Especially at Alamo Drafthouse that takes their no talking and no cell phone use seriously.
 
NeoNemesis said:
The people who surreptitiously check their phone every 15 seconds piss me off the most.
Click to expand...

And so the problem is not really the theatre, it's the people. Although the theatre could invest in some innovation! Our moral compass in America has been driven crazy and people are so narcissistic it's impossible to deal with them. While growing up, 30% of the country were useful idiots, that number is now 66% or higher. Where I live, we have some nice theatres that are very clean and affordable. Living room style with 4K screens and 5$ Tuesdays, beer is even like 3.50. Probably a lot different than maybe, downtown Philly. So I am biased a bit to still liking the movie going experience. It's just the people! 30 years of leftist ideology driven into public schools and through the media have turned the nation into a bunch of self centered, self oppressed, arrogant, lumbersexual, wussified individualists. Even around here I see it. And it's sad.
 
DejaWiz said:
I still like the theater experience. Especially at Alamo Drafthouse that takes their no talking and no cell phone use seriously.
Click to expand...

Same here. They own the the Movie Tavern chain, and it really is a great experience. Full service bar with a fantastic selection of local brews, reclining leather chairs, decent food(they do have an amazing burger), and kids typically aren't there. I have a "tankard" that is a 1L mug that they fill for 10bucks. They just relocated into a brand new theater so it has all the bells and whistles.
$50 include Uber both ways, two tickets, good dinner, good movie experience, getting shitfaced, and then a round or two of hide the snake when we get back home.
 
alxlwson said:
Same here. They own the the Movie Tavern chain, and it really is a great experience. Full service bar with a fantastic selection of local brews, reclining leather chairs, decent food(they do have an amazing burger), and kids typically aren't there. I have a "tankard" that is a 1L mug that they fill for 10bucks. They just relocated into a brand new theater so it has all the bells and whistles.
$50 include Uber both ways, two tickets, good dinner, good movie experience, getting shitfaced, and then a round or two of hide the snake when we get back home.
Click to expand...

The people that like going to the movies seem to fit two categories. Those that are fortunate enough to have "specialty" theaters near them and those that sacrifice where and when they go to get a better experience. There is a majority of people that do not have the first option and are not willing to sacrifice their convenience with so many other hobbies and entertainment to spend their money on.
 
I'd be quite glad if theaters went away. Too loud. Too crowded. No way to pause the movie. Seating is not comfortable.
I only go when I'm dragged to one by other people. The last movie that I went to on my own volition without being pressured with a group was Cabin in the Woods, and even then, mostly because I'm a Joss Whedon fan (and I can't recall the one before that)
 
Meh, not sure I agree with this. I still go to the theaters, but there are a few around here with fewer, reserved, and super nice reclining seats that serve food. I rarely go to older theaters that just try to pack people in. I don't think the theaters are strangling the business, I just think they need to start re-evaluating their business model. If ticket prices, food prices, etc are so expensive at least give viewers an experience that feels like it's worth the money.
 
We have a drive-in that we like to go to on the weekends. $6.00 gets me 2 first run movies. Popcorn is cheap but you can bring your own if you want. Tonight it's a triple feature, storks, the magnificent seven, and Masterminds. 2 bucks a movie.

We used to live in South Florida and went to a muvico in Boca Raton that had $17 tickets but you got unlimited popcorn and drink refills in a private area. You could also order liquor and cocktails not to mention actual food and you could eat and drink at your seat. It was laid out so that nobody was in front of you and no children allowed in that section.
 
^^I'm jealous. Drive-ins in socal are extinct. The only time we go to the theater is for Imax and early matinees when no one is around, hopefully.
 
I have my own theater I just want the movies realeased on disc sooner. I have no interest in going to a public theater.
 
twonunpackmule said:
I enjoy the theater experience, but I'm willing to pay a bit more for a higher end experience when available. I also thoroughly enjoy the Super Tuesday deals in the MD area. They offer $6 tickets all day Tuesday. So, even the crappiest of films become slightly more desirable to watch.
Click to expand...
Buy prima cinema
 
i rarely go to the movies anymore. maybe when there are some good scifi movies out, but the rest I just skip
 
1. Theaters are overpriced for the experience. (Tickets and concessions.)

2. The physical theaters run a gamut, and you're never quite sure if you'll:
- get the broken/uncomfortable seats
- listen to the bass thumping through the walls from the next-door movie's action sequence
- be able to listen to the captivating details of the narcissistic asshat on the phone nearby
- subset of the above: have the old man keep saying, "What did he say?" and his old wife yell, "He said he LOVED her!"
- screen with holes in it
- miscalibrated projector (out of focus, etc.)
- who knows what seat you'll get? Everyone has a favorite location...will it be available?

3. The 30 minutes of commercials after you sit down. (I live 22 minutes away from my nearby theater. If I leave the house AT the listed start time, I can park, buy tickets, popcorn, use the bathroom, then get seated...just as the last of the previews end.) I cannot imagine wasting 30 minutes of my life so Coca-Cola can tell me to buy their product to save the polar bears...or whatever it is they do.

4. The final nail in the coffin is the absolute crap being regurgitated out of Hollywood. Everything is a remake...with a bit of dressing up with large explosions. Very few are the movies without the heavy hand of leftist Hollywood proselytizing to me about their morality. See the polar bears, above. Original movies are few and far between.


I go about once a year.

Meantime, several years ago I installed a 1080p projector in my basement and purchased an amp with audyssey sound correction. The screen is 108". It appears larger than the movie screen. I sit where I want. I pause when I want...or not. I can drink and eat what I want. I can use the bathroom without missing what those plucky little dwarves got up to in that 3 hour movie. I can watch whenever I want...as many times as I want.

Plus, I can use that equipment for television, computer gaming, sports, etc.


I agree: movie theaters are killing the movie industry.
 
I rarely go to movies (only about seven over the last 17 years), but I've never run across most of the problems others complain about. When I do go I choose the discount $ show and don't buy any food or drink. The last movie I went to was Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I went to the 5pm show on the opening Saturday. The theatre(older, stadium seating, nothing special) was packed, but I got there in time to get a good seat toward the top middle. The audience was well behaved. I did not notice any phone use or talking during the movie. The seat was comfortable. I enjoyed the experience, and it only cost me $6.
 
niconx said:
Haven't been to a movie theater in 14 years because...

the sound that is somehow always way too loud (I am not deaf pls turn it down)
Click to expand...

This x10. Why do they have to have it so loud it hurts?

Maybe the problem is that I didn't destroy my hearing going to loud concerts when I was younger like so many other people. I can still hear very good for someone my age....
 
nutzo said:
This x10. Why do they have to have it so loud it hurts?

Maybe the problem is that I didn't destroy my hearing going to loud concerts when I was younger like so many other people. I can still hear very good for someone my age....
Click to expand...

The loud bass hides the low quality of their sound system, newly built theater near me has fantastic sound and they don't over crank it so you hear the little details that help the enjoyment.

Still, would rather curl up on my couch with my sound system and tv sometime after it comes out and watch it on bluray or hd stream. That way I can eat what I want, rewind if i missed something or pause when I need to step out.

Oh and that person that has to talk to their significant other during the movie explaining what other movies said actor has been in during the movie, is going to cause me to get an assault charge lol
 
Bowman15 said:
Bring back drive in's please...
Click to expand...


Not sure why they all went under, maybe because they can't afford to play ball with the studios? They obviously can't make near the money off concessions, and they can't charge as much as a theater either. I really thought our's was done when everything went digital, but sure enough, i spied a shiny new red Barco in the projection room. It's a great time, you get 2 movies each night for like 22 bucks/car and anything goes. I've seen people with camp stoves cooking hotdogs before. I think it helps it's about 4 miles from a 25,000 student university.

It's more of an outdoor theater than a drive in, nobody stays in their cars.
 
Some of you go to shitty theaters. I just go to the IMAX at the nearest mall and have a good time. Comfortable seats with slots for drinks, lots of space, no way to even peak at the hands of the person in front of you unless you're 2m high.

Only problem is TV shows are much better these days. I have no interest in silly superhero/comicbook movies. Last time went was back in 2015. Saw Jupiter Ascending and was blown away by the first major action scene at the city. Watching that on Blu-Ray at home was quite underwhelming.
 
I have been to the theater a lot in the last 2 years because our theaters offer something called 5 star lounges.

There are only about 30 seats and they all recline and are heated. They also have enough space between rows so you can walk through. Prices are $13 for matinee and $17 for evening. You can order dinner/lunch (like $10 an entree depending on the item), have alcohol, and a server. Lastly, cell phone use is not allowed and they will ask you to stop or remove you.
 
dgz said:
Some of you go to shitty theaters. I just go to the IMAX at the nearest mall and have a good time. Comfortable seats with slots for drinks, lots of space, no way to even peak at the hands of the person in front of you unless you're 2m high.
Click to expand...

No IMAX theaters at all in my country.
 
Personally I like My DRIVE-IN..... heck I even buy stuff inside JUST to support them... Not many Drive-In's Left.

Vali-Hi Drive-In

valihi.jpg
 
Theaters are awful largely because of the consumers, but also because the prices are just out of line. I'm sure you could make an argument as a single person for them, but honestly I would rather just buy the movie. Even if I pay max price of $30, it's cheaper than two people and if it is something the entire family can watch even more of a bargain. Not to mention that since I cut the cable years ago and started not spending 2k a years on TV it allowed me to buy a Much bigger TV and sound system where quite honestly going to a theater and dealing with that garbage is a downgrade.
 
If all new releases were immediately out as official physical/downloadable purchases, and not delayed until the theatrical run was spiraling down, I bet the ticket sales would be just a fraction of what they are. Especially with current prices...

THEN theaters would evolve. Because they'd have to.
 
Last edited:
Mistral said:
Whatever. Series have long passed movies as the number 1 media anyways, and they can take more chances than Hollywood with it's tired cashing-in reboot remake cinematic universe comic book crap. It's the smarter media.

Sure there are still some quality smaller films and indy releases but not all of those get theatrical releases anyway
Click to expand...

I agree, plus there are decades worth of films you can catch up on from the days when they actually made an attempt to write an original story instead of big sequel/remake cash-ins. I can't really blame the movie studios too much for just going with what is guaranteed to make money though. Obviously what most people want are big sequels/remakes of the same thing over and over....just like in the video game industry with Call of Duty.
 
I like my theater, not that I have the chance to go often anymore. They kept the original sign up since opening day, they still have the crimson carpet-like walls and terrible lighting, and it just celebrated it's 75th birthday last week. They are revamping one theater at a time and taking out all the "airplane" seating and replacing them with electric reclining comfy arm chairs. I would go more if I had the time, I think tickets are still under $10 per.
 
Probleminfected said:
While I like the idea of the movie theater, the cost and the annoyance factor is too steep. Somebody always talking or on their phone, smacking lips and eating bags of noisy candy. I also love when somebody sits right next to me in an empty theater.

Also, I've had to go get security or the cops way too many times.

It's just not the same, no respect for anybody.
Click to expand...

I don't go to theaters because someone with a huge afro always sits in front of me and their hairstyle obscures 75% of the screen.

Start the clip at the 9 minute mark for an example.

 
Mistral said:
If all new releases were immediately out as official physical/downloadable purchases, and not delayed until the theatrical run was spiraling down, I bet the ticket sales would be just a fraction of what they are. Especially with current prices...

THEN theaters would evolve. Because they'd have to.
Click to expand...
And the studios would throw the theaters under the bus if they had reasonable expectations of making more money than the current system.
 
I haven't been to a theater for at least two years. I just don't have the money. But I don't miss watching a movie in a theater. As many people have pointed out: Idiots with cell phones, sticky floors, certain type of people yelling at the screen, 1000% markup on popcorn and drinks, etc.

I've given up theaters, to me they are just another win for "urbanization."

There's nothing I can do about people using their phones during a movie, and there definitely isn't anything I can do to get certain people to stop yelling at the screen.


So, yeah, I give up.
 
Wyodiver said:
I haven't been to a theater for at least two years. I just don't have the money. But I don't miss watching a movie in a theater. As many people have pointed out: Idiots with cell phones, sticky floors, certain type of people yelling at the screen, 1000% markup on popcorn and drinks, etc.

I've given up theaters, to me they are just another win for "urbanization."

There's nothing I can do about people using their phones during a movie, and there definitely isn't anything I can do to get certain people to stop yelling at the screen.


So, yeah, I give up.
Click to expand...

Depends on the theater. Alamo Drafthouse is my fav. Decent place with decent food and reasonable pricing. Good screens as well. Mainstream theater? Then no, sticky, unpleasant and overpriced.
I only want to see a few of the ones I am really interested in in theaters. Beyond that my home TV is perfectly fine, sadly cant always spare the cash for a baby sitter and the move so we prioritize what we get to see.
 
Being in Burbank, CA, there just aren't any theaters that I'm happy paying $15+ per ticket at. There's the iconic theaters in Hollywood, but they are overpriced and parking is horrendous. There's a few AMC locations North of me, but again, expensive. Every now and again I'll go and see a movie, but only if it's one I really know I'll like (though the last movie I saw was Star Trek, which was a huge waste of money).

My Wife and I are more than happy to wait for home releases. We have a projector, a 110" screen, and a comfy couch - which really gives us no reason to go to the theater at all.
 
Mistral said:
THEN theaters would evolve. Because they'd have to.
Click to expand...
Nah. It's a dying business model going down the same path of Blockbuster, Redbox, etc. Movie theater chains ruined the experience and Hollywood got too greedy and produce mostly rinse and repeat shit now. People are so hooked on streaming that the thought of going to a movie theater seems weird, inconvenient and ancient.
 
dark_reign said:
Nah. It's a dying business model going down the same path of Blockbuster, Redbox, etc. Movie theater chains ruined the experience and Hollywood got too greedy and produce mostly rinse and repeat shit now. People are so hooked on streaming that the thought of going to a movie theater seems weird, inconvenient and ancient.
Click to expand...

Yet the ticket sales are higher than ever (not adjusted to inflation)

Anyway obviously I agree with the inconvenience of theaters and all the reboot crap
 
IcePickFreak said:
So has the originality and/or quality of movies.
Click to expand...

Which is often a direct result of a movie that was different/original/risky that didn't take well. Studios will play it safe because they know people eat up the stupid shit and that earns a profit. Step outside that box and you get a quick reminder that you have to shovel drivel down their throats to make anything.

People want safe bets with their money and time just like the studios do.
 
Bandalo said:
Why would I pay $50 (4 tickets + popcorn) for a movie? I can just wait a couple months and pay $22 and buy the Blu-Ray and watch it over and over. Even if it sucks, I've still saved money.
Click to expand...

That is why it would have been nice if more people would have jumped onto that bandwagon of allowing movie rentals while in theaters at the cost of something like $35 a movie. Sure it is a tad costly, but would still be a saving over the $50 that a family normally pays.

NeoGohan said:
I prefer drive-in theaters now since you basically have your own private "room" and you can bring your own food.
Click to expand...

That is fine for some movies, but that also adds in a lot more issues. Honestly I have far more problems at a drive in than I have at any theater. First off normally when you do during summer shows (which is normally when most are open) you run into it still being a little light when the first movie starts, so it isn't always the easiest to see the first 10 - 20 minutes at times. You also have the people that leave their rear van doors too high till somebody comes to yell at them. people getting in and out of their cars meaning that their lights are coming on, people turning on head lights if they decide to leave mid movie...

umeng2002 said:
For the price you pay, they need better equipment: Perfect sound and video calibration, 4K or 8K screens.

I like the experience of a big screen, and good sound... but from a technical perspective, most theaters don't hold up well.
Click to expand...

If they are using digital projectors they are 4K, have been for years. That is why the change from 1080 to 4k wasn't that big of a deal for the movies being releases as for years they have been recording in 4K then scaling it down for bluray. now they can take their 4K master and just copy it untouched. If you aren't seeing good quality it sounds like your theater isn't doing something right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top