Are Movie Theaters Worth It Anymore?
NPR's Bob Mondello and Marc Rivers discuss why movie theaters continue to hold value in the age of streaming and what still attracts audiences to the big screen.
Personal Theater Experience
Last year, I saw the movie It Ends With Us in a theater.
JUSTIN BALDONI (as Ryle Kincaid): I want to see you again.
BLAKE LIVELY (as Lily Bloom): Now you see me.
BALDONI: You know what I mean.
The film centers on a toxic relationship. While I had mixed feelings about the movie itself, the theater experience was frustrating.
- A family of five, including three young children, was in the audience.
- Throughout the show, they talked, laughed, cried, yelled, played with toys, ate food, and left and re-entered the theater multiple times.
- Most disruptive was when one child shone a flashlight at the screen.
This experience led me to vow never to watch a movie in a theater again. Watching at home on a couch — even on a laptop — is easier, cheaper, quieter, more pleasant, and unbeatable in convenience.
The Unique Appeal of Movie Theaters
Despite this, I recognize that watching a film on a large screen with an audience is a very different experience from streaming at home. For this reason, I asked others to share why and when visiting movie theaters is still worthwhile.
Summary
The cinematic experience remains distinct despite streaming convenience, but distractions in theaters can diminish enjoyment for some viewers.