Home Theater vs. Movie Theater

CNN has a great story about the decline of the movie theater, Most Prefer to Watch Movies at Home.

While 73 percent said they preferred staying home to watch movies on DVD, videotape or pay-per-view, 22 percent said they would rather see them at a movie theater, according to the poll conducted for The Associated Press and AOL News by Ipsos.

The story states that this is the longest box office slump in 20 years, and I believe it. Movie ticket prices and concession costs are ridiculous, and the recent releases from Hollywood are hardly worth it. Why go out when you can have your choice of 40,000 movies from Netflix or Blockbuster Online and watch them in the comfort of your home?

But the poll found that people who use DVDs, watch pay-per-view movies on cable, download movies from the Internet and play computer games actually go to movies in theaters more than people at the same income levels who don't use those technologies. That suggests the technology may be complementing rather than competing with theatergoing. Eight in 10 in the poll said they have DVD players at home.

I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I went to the theater, but I have two very small kids. I think I might venture out to see Revenge of the Sith (digital projection, if possible), but I'm normally willing to wait a couple of months to watch movies at my convenience. If the studios continue to shorten the release window, will the theaters suffer even more?

Do you still go to the theater?

Thanks to Evan for sending this in.

Comments

[Brent]

I have amassed a huge DVD collection (450+) and I still go to the theater. However there is a big difference between the movies that I will go see in a theater versus the movies I won't.

Let's just take for example the movies that I would be willing to see in a theater versus the ones I wouldn't that are currently playing down the road from me. There are 11 movies playing at this theater and of those, only 4 would I be willing to see there (Batman, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Longest Yard, and of course Star Wars).

The other 7 movies don't require theater watching as I call it. These movies are your low level dramas or comedies or just plain not going to see it type of movies. There is absolutely no argument for seeing a movie such as The Perfect Man or The Traveling Pants of the Sisterhood in a theater. None. They might have 1 or 2 total surround sound moments, but I come close with my home theater set up.

I guess what it boils down to is that the movies that SHOULD be seen in an actual theater are the ones I am willing to go see. Not to say I won't go see something that I would prefer to rent because I do have to give into my wife's requests sometimes. But in general we tend to only see the movies that would be enhanced by the theater going experience in the theater.

[Manda]

I just hate my local cinema, period. They never show anything with more than half a brain; the screening rooms are freezing; and nowadays it's impossible to get through a film without some kind of cell phone annoyance.

I haven't been to a theater in 8 years and have no plans to. I wait for them to come out on DVD and rent them. I don't need the hassle & aggravation of sitting on top of others, having cell phones ring, babies crying, people talking and laughing all thru the flick, $10 Goobers, $15 drinks, $20 popcorn!

Don't forget the 20 minutes of previews & ADs!!! Yep, you now get to PAY to see ads in the theatre!

I actually like going to the movies, but it's too much trouble to do it more then once or twice a month (if that - depends on the time of year). I don't have the kind of expensive home theater system which replicates the movie-going experience (no giant widescreen TV, no surround-sound, etc), so for me there's still a major difference between watching a film on the "big screen" and watching it at home on DVD. However, the time and expense involved makes it so that I tend to go only to select films which really interest me (and which are easy to get to, which is why I don't see many art-house flicks theatrically) - so far this year I've gone theatrically to five films (The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby, Sin City, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Star Wars Ep. III), and I'm planning to go to Batman Begins next week.

[Laura]

For me, there are criteria that go along with why I might go to the movie theatre:

1. Someone I am head over heels crushing over is in the movie.

Though this doesn't always make the cut, either. If the movie looks even remotely ridiculous, I won't spend the money. I have had a lifelong crush on Robert Downey, Jr., for example, but only last night did I see Gothika because it didn't look interesting enough to spend a lot of money in a theatre on it. (I was right, incidentally. It wasn't the worst movie I'd ever seen, but it wasn't great, either.)

2. I just feel like going to the theatre for something to do.

This happened, for example, over the Christmas holiday. I went to visit a friend out of state and it was just an activity to do one of the days was there. We saw The Aviator, which I enjoyed a lot, but if it hadn't been vacation for me I might not have made the effort.

3. The movie actually appears phenomonally interesting.

There's nothing worse than spending 12 dollars (plus concessions if I felt like it) and you're looking at your watch for it to be over. It has to seem particularly intriguing from the trailers.

So overall, I'm pretty picky, and pretty skeptical. The Aviator was the last movie I saw in theatres, and before that I think it was Peter Pan, which was probably about an entire year prior, and was also just something to do and that looked like the most interesting, least annoying movie playing at the time.

When I can go hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a beautiful park under the trees for about the same cost as a mediocre movie, my entertainment budget gets shifted to things of higher artistic value, so I can know for sure I won't be disappointed.

[thattherepaul]

The last movie I saw in the theater was "The Matrix: Reloaded" in the Loews Fresh Pond Theater in Cambridge, Mass. Passing through a lobby rancid with the smell of hydrogenated popcorn oil, we found our cramped seats by trudging across a floor sticky with discarded gum and unidentifiable resins. The ear-piercing volume at which the interminable previews played was nevertheless insufficient to drown out fellow theater patrons' discussion of their personal lives in a series of monologues apparently intended for the entire audience. Their lively conversation continued well into the movie itself, a thorough failure of the imagination in the familiar manner of many Hollywood blockbusters (Instead of a car chase, why not a really long and complicated car chase? Instead of one Agent Smith, why not 700? Why not substitute mind-bending plot twists with a love story so dumbed down a five-year old would find it dull?) Midway through the film, the theater's ventilation system failed. As Neo effortlessly fought off an additional installment of 1,400 more Agent Smiths, the air temperature rose to approximate the ambient temperature of Venus. The last words I said to my bf as we shuffled towards the poorly marked exits were, "This is the last time I will ever go to a movie theater." That was sometime in 2003. I joined Netflix shortly after, and I haven't gone back since.

[DontBotherMe]

Amen Brother (sister)! Go tell it on the mountain! Theatre experience WAS a good thing but now, it just sux! Take the money you will save on the stuff and invest in your own home theatre setup.

[Oliver Taylor]

I work in the Film business, so I concede that my opinion of this matter is somewhat skewed. I make my living so that people will go to films, but I'm constantly dismayed at the lengths that theaters will go to in order to make more money, but that doesn't completely dissuade me.

The argument for the high prices of tickets, concessions and the "pre-show" countdown" is that if theaters only sold movie tickets they would loose money. That the cost of the tickets alone is not enough to cover the overhead of running a theater.

This is also the reason that so many small movie theaters have gone the way of the dodo in favor of mega-chains. It's the nature of the business. Everything is becoming centralized and integrated to maximize profit, and the only thing stopping the studios from opening their own theaters is a court order.

But if you want to know how much ticket prices would be at a theatre that doesn't use ads to line it's pockets, it's $14. And the popcorn still costs $4. If you've never been to The Arclight in Hollywood, you are sorely missing out my friends.

But we must remember that The Arclight is unique in that it is one of the best treaters in the world. The seats are reserved, the staff is always intelligent and helpful, the food is really good (if expensive) and they have ample validated parking.

I believe that if quality were to suffer -- no reserved seats, not always the latest and greatest sound and picture, cheaper food, cheaper staff, etc. -- there would still be a viable way to make money showing films without resorting to insulting guests with ads.

For me personally, there is nothing like the experience of going to a film in a real movie theater. When I say "real" movie theater you must understand that I will only go to about 4 theaters in LA and if I lived somewhere where my standards would not be met, I might be agreeing with all of you. I'm the guy that asks for a refund if the surround sound cuts out.

I recently went to see a print of Lawrence of Arabia that screened at the Arclight. I own the DVD but I go to see that film every single time it screens in the theater (which is about once every 2 years) because that experience cannot be duplicated in the home. I don't care how good your home theater is, it will never be able to reproduce that intangible feeling of excitement and wonder I feel every time I walk into a movie theater.

But then again, movie theaters are my church. When I go I know I'm walking on holy ground.

[Christian]

Maybe once a month. I used to go around 2 or 3 times as often. Its just too damn expensive!

[Scott Rose]

The real problem is the RUDE PEOPLE in the audience at the movie theatres. I'd rather skip all that nonsense and just see the movies at home!

I understand Oliver Taylor's position. Having $20 popcorn is the only way a theatre can be profitable but as Scott Rosa said, RUDE PEOPLE (cell phones, babies, talking, etc.) really make for a bad experience. Add sticky floors, lines, nasty bathrooms, etc. and it is just a waste.

Theatres may need to go back to the old days and start showing double features, shorts, do giveaways, games, etc. as they did in the 40's & 50's to draw in crowds. As it is now, they have nothing to offer me. I have never heard of The Arclight in Hollywood, but it may take more like that to turn the industry around.

[Greg, CT]

I'm with everyone else! I typically avoid the theaters b/c I always end up right in front of the person who has to lean over and whisper or outright talk to the person next to them every five minutes. I enjoy watching movies in the theater, I just don't like the other people! If I do go, I usually wait til the movie's been out a few weeks.

Boo movie theaters and the tatics they use to wallet rape me!

[Joe]

I rarely go these days. Used to see at least one a week. Last night, though, I saw "Batman Begins" ( http://www.BatmanBegins.com ) and the couple in front of me had on so much perfume that I had to hold a napkin to my nose to keep from choking. Then, just as the movie was starting (after 20 or so minutes of previews), some idiot falls asleep and begins to snore like a pig gobbling slop. Not a good experience. I finally had to get up and shake him to get him to stop the racket. The price of the tickets are part of the reason for not going to the theater for me, but the rude patrons really keep me out of the theater. Plus, as the article notes, I have a big flat-screen with 5.1 surround (and no snoring or perfume to contend with).

"and the couple in front of me had on so much perfume that I had to hold a napkin to my nose to keep from choking"

My wife suffers from the same thing. How can you enjoy anything when someones perfume is making you cough up a lung?! Do they have to bathe in it? Just a dab a do ya!

[Emily H.]

I do go see movies, because it's something that I treat myself too--it's something I can do and feel kind of special and self-indulgent for the day.

I have a 13" television. So anything with action or anything visually impressive is much, much better on the big screen. I also have a deficient attention span, so given the opportunity to pause, make a snack, check my e-mail, I will--to the detriment of the movie.

Still, it's rare that I go to a movie. Maybe 4-6 times a year--I've only seen three since January as far as I can recall. But that's because nothing good's coming out.

The other people are what keeps me from going often. The crying babies and cell phones and jerks who bring their kids who seem to have a need to go to the bathroom or concession stand 10 times during the movie and making me move so they can scoot their asses by is just too much for me to deal with. I went to see SW Episode III. The last time I went to the movies before that was to see The Matrix when it came to an IMAX in my town, and before that was to see SW Episode I. Screw the theatres, I'm OK with DVDs until they can get guards in there to keep the morons at bay.

[ghlu]

It really depeneds on what kind of movies they sre showing in the theater. I just went to see "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" instead of waiting for the DVD, because I know it is more enjoyable seeing an action movie on the big screen than on my small 20" TV. But if its some comedy like "American Pei", I'd rather spend $1 and watch it on my TV instead of $7 in the theater. That being said, I might stop going to the theater completely once I get myself a nice 100" projector...

It all looks good to me at home on my 65" widescreen and 5.1 Dolby & DTS surround system!

[Pinball Mars]

No matter how vastly home viewing continues to dominate, I think movie theaters will always be there because people like to go out. You do pay a premium for concessions. However, you also pay a premium to eat and drink in restaurants and people still do that all the time.

There's a trend here in Texas that might point toward one way movie theaters evolve. In the past few years, we've seen several "movie taverns" or "movie bar & grills" pop up. They're movie theaters that are also restaurants with a fully stocked bar. In the theater there are tables where you get served while you watch the movie. It's pretty cool.

The giant 15-20 (or more) screen theater has all but taken over Texas, and most of the small theaters have closed their doors. These restaurant-theaters often get built in the former locations of small theaters.

Right now, I barely go to movies at all. I live in a rural area the only theater we have here is a 20 screen Cinemark enormoplex showing all the usual stuff. My main interest is art films and it's a 40 mile drive to the nearest theater I'd care to go to regularly. I'll be moving soon to an area where going to arthouses will be more convenient. Then, I'll probably be at the movies a lot more.

"There's a trend here in Texas that might point toward one way movie theaters evolve. In the past few years, we've seen several "movie taverns" or "movie bar & grills" pop up. They're movie theaters that are also restaurants with a fully stocked bar. In the theater there are tables where you get served while you watch the movie. It's pretty cool. "

I think its stuff like that, that will be needed to keep theatres thriving in the future. The days of playing a movie and selling $10 popcorn are fading in the glow of DVDs, VOD & internet streaming.

[David]

The damn ads are what keep me from going. I watch maybe one TV show a week, so going to see a movie doubles my ad intake for the week, and tops that off by making me *pay* to watch it. Argh!!!

[Tony]

I agree with the first commenter (Brent), it boils down to what types of movies are theater-worthy (is that similar to sponge-worthy?) Big action, sci-fi, or fantastic cinematography are generally enhanced in a good theater. I saw "Sith" in the theater, and I'm glad I did. I'm seeing Batman Begins today.

The only category I'd add, though, is foreign and indie flicks. Not because they need the big screen, but for the whole experience. We have two main art-house theaters in my town, and both are very nice (one in particular, is a real gem: http://www.thecrest.com/ ). Both theaters offer discount cards, which bring the cost of the movie down to $5 each. The Crest goes a step further...for $25 you get 5 movie passes, 2 free popcorns, and 2 free sodas. I go with a group of friends, and we'll usually do dinner before (and possibly drinks after) the movie, so it's much more of an "event". Plus, you don't get the snot-nosed kids who like to talk all the way through the film.

[Tony]

Note to the person who hasn't been to a theater in 8 years: you may be surprised if you were to give it another chance. I agree with problems such as rude people (although that's easy to avoid by going during non-peak times) and expensive snacks (sneak in your own...)

Most modern theaters are really quite nice. Stadium seating with plenty of leg and elbow room...I can stretch out fully and not feel cramped or "on top of" the people around me. Doesn't matter how tall the person in front of me is...the stadium seating makes it irrelevant. I don't have anything in my house as comfortable as the new extra wide tallback theater seats...

[diego]

I rarely go to the movies for reasons already provided by others. My main beef is when people just act crazy like that they are in their living room at home i.e. talking, laughing for no reason (especially during "horror" movies), publicly chastising the movie or what is going on (why dont they just leave?), or any other behaviour that just is really the norm now for many moviegoers.

It's a sad state for movie audiences these days. Maybe that is why Netflix and BB Online have taken off?

I live in a major metropolitan city which is not the same as going to a movie in a smaller town (i am guessing). But, for the most part, I'll just stay home unless i just CANNOT wait for the movie to come out on DVD. But, these days, movies come out pretty quickly on DVD.

[eli]

I think the only other thing that should be brought out about the theater slump is the question of economy. war-time economy that is. it's not something that i'd prefer to think about, however i wonder what it has effect.
and i absolutely go to see movies in the theater. i can't match surround-sound with stadium seating in my apt with my neighbors :p. however recently i have stopped renting movies due to the cost vs time to watch ratio

[LaWilson]

I really enjoyed going to the show to see Batman yesterday at the IMAX at Navy Pier, Chicago. It was fantastic on the big screen. $14.50 for a ticket to see Batman on a 6 story screen and no previews; not bad at all. I will only go to IMAX for select movies though; the only other one was Spiderman 2.

As for the regular theatres, I absolutely hate them. I have yet to see Star Wars because I want the hype to die down so that I can actually enjoy the movie. Kids, people getting up, talking, cell phones, it's just not worth it. It's hard to build a theater system in my studio apt, but if I'm creative enough it just might work out! :)

[washburrn]

Bleh. A theater is still a theater, and worth going to. I've got not just the big chains in my town, but also a good local independent (http://www.boardmansarttheatre.com/) --are you sure there's not one near you?. I think staying home to avoid other human beings is basically timid and antisocial and unfortunately the way life in the US is trending. Go out there! Mix it up! Get some friends together and then go have a drink afterwards, too. Maybe you'll run into somebody new.

[roror]

Despite of being a big fan of netflix and movie rental, I must say these are the compromises I am making because movie tickets are too expensive. I was thinking about it when I watched Batman in the theater. In a theater you are in the scene. In a TV, you are not.

"Get some friends together and then go have a drink afterwards, too"

Great! Now I have to get drunk to go to a theatre?!

"In a theater you are in the scene. In a TV, you are not."

I guess, if all you have is a 19" set. Step up to a 65" - 80" model and you are there as well! (no talking, laughing, ringing, crying, farting, getting up/down people at all).

[Sonja]

Some movies you just have to see on the big screen. Some special effects have a better impact on the big screen.

[roror]

65 - 80 inches is far smaller than movie screen. Only because your living room is smaller than the theater, 65-80inch is no substitute for the big screen.

I guess a more fundamental difference between me and many other people who hate movie theaters is: they hate the crowd. I love the crowd. May be I am from a different country and a different culture where people like being with other people for recreation. Being holed up in my apartment infrot of a big TV is hardly recreation--just killing time.

"I guess a more fundamental difference between me and many other people who hate movie theaters is: they hate the crowd. I love the crowd."

I agree. A good movie in a crowded theater greatlly adds to the experience. The collective shrieks during a scary moment, the contagious laughs during a funny scene...they all make the experience better. Have you ever watched a comedy at home, only to wonder what all the hype is about? See it with a theater full of people, and you're likely to see it in a different light.

The cheers and applause at the end of Batman Begins were very satisfying. That was a feeling and response you won't get at home. The theater was sold out, and I did not hear one cell phone. Nobody was talking during the movie (they were too intent on *watching* the movie), and there were no crying babies.

Sit at home if you must...but you're missing out on half (or more) of the experience.

Big movie screen - sitting 20-40 feet away. 65-80" screen sitting 8-15 feet away; not much difference for me either and I can stop when I want, get a snack when I want and be in peace and quiet.

[PT]

I rarely go to the theater due to having small kids and the price (in my area they are relatively clean). However, We've got three Drive-In theaters within striking distance and usually catch several double features per summer. You're in your comfort zone with a decent stereo system, bring your own soda/snacks if allowed (if not, sneak them), and enjoy two movies for less than $10.00 per person, gas included.

It's an entirely different experience than either staying at home or going to an indoor theater.

[renee]

I used to go to the movies every single weekend up till about 3 months ago. No real reason for stopping, I just saw so many movies, I was tapped out. That and renting 8 out from Netflix. Now I try to go every other week, but even that is a stretch. It only takes one cruddy movie to make me want to stay home, but then again when I see a really good movie, like Crash, I get the bug back.

The price is okay for me, used to be 4 now 6.50. I don't buy refreshments and as annoying as the ads are, I force myself thru them to get the good seat.

The one thing I resent is the behind the scenes featurette that ruins movies for me. Save that for the DVD. I like seeing movies without the hype and knowing too much about it.

As for my movie going habits in the future, it'll probably be once a month. I'm really over these latest PR stunts. Unless the movie has special effects, I can wait. Plus at the rate they are coming on DVD (Hitch, Miss Congeinalty) it's only 3 months.

Heck it's now shorter to wait for a new release to hit DVD than it is to see a trailer a year in advance.

[roror]

"Big movie screen - sitting 20-40 feet away. 65-80" screen sitting 8-15 feet away; not much difference for me either and I can stop when I want, get a snack when I want and be in peace and quiet."

then a 12" laptop 12" away from face is the same thing .. for some people at least.

[Scott Elkin]

I wrote some shizz on this topic back in the day:

http://www.scottelkin.com/archive/2004/05/29/194.aspx

Movie prices are continuing to escalate, yet you can still buy DVD's for right around $20. Am I WAAAYY off based, or does it just seem loony to spend $27 for two tickets, drink and popcorn to have to brave waiting in line for a good seat and being forced to watch 10 minutes of commercials all for the price of what it would cost to wait 6 months and buy it on DVD with none of those things?

In Los Angeles where I live, The Grove across the street is $11.50 per ticket, and the Arclight is $14.50 (but you can choose your seat).

Sure, you get out of the house, and you can hang out with friends. And yes, you get to see the movie NOW instead of having to wait. But with a couple of mental changes, I think it is better to limit going to the movies.

1. ONLY go to movies you are pretty sure you will like. There are too many review sites out there to not be able to find one that works most of the time. I use http://my.yahoo.com which averages thousands of people like you and me into a report card. Since I have started using this as my Movie-Go-To, it has NEVER been wrong. I now will never go see a movie less than a B+ rating unless I it is a really dumb movie that I know no one would like besides people like me (ala Super Troopers). Going to movies is gambling at the casinos. They lure you in to take your money. Sometimes you walk away a winner (you enjoyed the movie), but much of the time that does not happen. When you go to crappy movies, you are telling the movie companies that it is ok to release terrible movies.

2. Just stop buying in to the endless commercials on new movies! I have found that the more the commercials and billboards, the worse the movie sucks. Just go off the ratings, not the hype. They know that the ONLY way they can release a crappy movie is if they get you there the first weekend before anyone can tell their friends to not see it. A better solution is to eliminate commercials altogether and buy a Tivo.

3. Do you have to see the movie right when it comes out? If you can wait 6 months, you can have the DVD forever? Or at least afford Netflix and get endless amounts of movies.

4. Have you noticed the almost absence of special prices for children? Sure this prevents people from spending money on taking kids to the movies, which makes it better for us so we don't have to listen to their whining and crying, but it also costs a family of four almost $50 to see a movie.

[Brent]

I find it very interesting all the complaints that people do have about going to the theater. The rude people, the cell phones, the talking, the babies crying, and of course the price.

Now of those 5 things, 4 of them you can control and the last you sort of can control. So lets talk about this last one, price and then go from there.

So the average price of an evening movie here is $9.50 (which is up .75 from the last city I lived in). The matinee is $6.50 and that is for any movie before 6pm. So I can save $3 just by seeing an earlier movie, that's a great deal. But then it gets better. I belong to AAA (www.aaa.com) because I had a lemon for a car. But one of the perks is that I can get discount movie tickets. Here I get a pack of 4 for $24 which is $6 per ticket. Finally there are coupon books, such as entertainment and other companies. These books typically cost $20 but you get hundreds of dollars in savings. In the last city I lived in our coupon book got us tickets for $5.50 and we had to pay $1 more to use the coupon opening week. So there are some ways you can control the price of the ticket to an extent.

Now for the other complaints that people have about a theater. You paid to go see the movie in all of its experience. If something caused that experience to not be a good one (other that the movie itself sucking) talk to the manager.

Look at it this way. If you went to your local steak house and ordered your steak Medium Rare and it came back well done you would complain right? Would you let a car dealer give you an orange car when you wanted a blue car? No.

The issue here is that for every one person that complains, 10 others have the same issues but never speak up. Almost all managers have heard this, but don't think about it. If you complain enough the manager should start to force changes to the theater. If some idiot is on his cell phone in the middle of the movie, notice where he is, get up and go get the manager. Sure you will miss part of the movie, but my guess is the manager will do two things - throw the idiot out, and refund your money.

Once changes start happening, people will understand and actually follow the rules.

One last thing I just remembered. The cost of food. You may think that you are not allowed to bring food in, but you are. Take a look around the theater and look for a sign that says "Food and beverage is not permitted". I remember these signs from growing up (thus the sneaking of candy in), but they are gone. I will go in all the time with a fountain drink from McDonalds or the local gas station and a pocket of candy. Sure I don't get to eat popcorn, but then I am not a fan of it.

Just remember that you are PAYING them to cater to you. You aren't paying them so you can cater to them.