Kara Mauer - Expert Article Final

   Hollywood Magic

 The Power of Movie Theaters and Why They Are Here to Stay

 "The movie theater is one of the last places where we can still gather and experience something together. I don't think the desire for that magic will go away." - Wolfgang Peterson

By Kara Mauer

It's time. You have your ticket, popcorn, and a loved one next to you. The lights go down, the big screen in front of you lights up, and all of a sudden, you're transported into another world. The magic of movie theaters has been around for over one hundred years, providing a source of great entertainment to people all around the world. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, there has been quite a bit of conversation surrounding the survival of movie theaters. Streaming services have become an extremely convenient and quick way to watch your favorite films. This shift in movie-watching across all platforms leads to this question: Are movie theaters going away forever?

In reality, this bodes a great cause for discussion, but even with the last year completely out of commission, there is no proof suggesting that theaters will go out of style. Based on the trends of theaters over the span of a hundred years, and the experiences that they provide, movie theaters will not be going away in the near future.

100 Years of Movie Theater Trends

 In 1902, Los Angeles became the talk of the nation when Tally's Electric Theater opened up. The idea of a big screen displaying a moving picture was something that people had never imagined. The theater's first showing was at 100% capacity, with every seat filled. The Great Train Robbery was the first film to be featured on the big screen. (McDowell, 2020). 

With the rise of technological practice and better conditions for moviemaking, people continued to flock theaters every decade. In the 1990s, Disney was putting out a slew of new films that brought in all audiences. With the release of Titanic in 1997, audiences fell in love all over again with the experience of gathering in a theater. Titanic became the highest grossing film behind Gone With the Wind, bringing theaters a shocking $3 billion in revenue. (Box Office Mojo, 2021).

In 2017, admissions to movies decreased by 5.8%, which became the lowest attendance since 1992. This decrease was a supposed reaction to streaming services in households. Netflix became popular in the 2010s, and with their steady flow of movies and TV shows, people began to stay home. However, 2018 brought in more revenue, and theaters gained their confidence once again. (McDowell, 2020). The next year, revenue dropped once again. With the creation of Hulu, Disney +, Amazon Video, among other streaming services, a number of people who would attend a theater weekly simply began to buy these services. Industry professionals, however, believe that this is not the end of movie theaters.

Charles Rivkin, CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America stated, "Everyone has a kitchen, but everyone still goes out to eat." Entertainment behaves in the same way. The experience is what matters, the social aspect.

 The Effect of COVID-19

 With the virus sweeping the nation in 2020, movie theaters had to close their doors for almost twelve months. This lack of profit led to a dangerous decline in movie theaters, and a number of them had to close their doors permanently. At the beginning of 2020, things were looking up for the film industry and Hollywood, considering the Oscars line-up was the best they had in years. With movies like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, and 1917, an international audience tuned in to see the results, causing a record high. Every major Hollywood studio was pursuing new films, including sequels, and bringing in their biggest directors and A-list stars to spearhead these projects. When the pandemic began, this put a halt to production, and the release of movies were put on hold until further notice. (Li, 2021).

In 2019, the box office earned a record-breaking $42.3 billion, and completely collapsed 72% in the next year. This was a painful decline in movie theaters around the nation. However, with the economy reopening, theaters are slowly making a comeback, and are predicted to be a source of entertainment once more.

 The Magic of the Big Screen

 In a way, with the virus forcing people to turn to streaming, movie theaters are providing a sense of nostalgia, and audiences around the country are waiting in anticipation for the reopening. At the end of the day, movie theaters are all about the experience. You want the smell of buttery popcorn, the ticket stub in your pocket, and the fuzzy chair against your back. There is a sense of relief and happiness within a movie theater. You get to experience the laughter, the tears, and the joy with complete strangers. Only a motion picture can capture this kind of connection. (Sperling, 2021).

People go to the movies to escape their daily routine, and experience a different world, whether that be a world created by Christopher Nolan or Quentin Tarantino. These films allow you to feel surrounded by other people, not just the other audience members, but the characters within the movie. 

"If you have the movie and you don't have the theaters, then you have nothing." - Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Part of the magic surrounding your favorite movies is the big premiere, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and the idea of these characters. Movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Die Hard, or Top Gun are made for the theater. When you think back to your childhood, or even your teenage years, you think about all the times you spent on a Friday night at the movies, either with your family, friends, or a first date. The experience is what you remember.

Movie theaters aren't going anywhere. The experience from decade to decade is what makes the entertainment of movies unforgettable.

 "You go to the theater, you're just so excited to see anything - the moment the lights go down is often the best part." - J.J. Abrams

 

Works Cited:

Li, Shirley. “Your Moviegoing Experience Is About to Change.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 24 Apr. 2021, www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/04/movie-theaters-post-pandemic/618672/. 

McDowell, Erin. “The Rise and Fall of Movie Theaters - and How the Coronavirus Pandemic Might Change Them.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 26 May 2020, www.businessinsider.com/photos-that-show-the-rise-and-fall-of-movie-theaters-2020-5#major-streaming-services-have-come-out-with-smash-hits-of-their-own-15. 

 Mutter, Chloe. “The Magic of Movie Theaters.” The Forest Scout, theforestscout.com/27845/uncategorized/movie-industry/. 

Sperling, Nicole. “'It's Magic What We Do.' Movie Theaters Get Starry-Eyed Once More.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 May 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/business/media/movie-theaters.html. 

“Top Lifetime Grosses.” Box Office Mojo, www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross/?area=XWW.