Are Movie Theaters Worth It Anymore?
NPR's Bob Mondello and Marc Rivers explore why movie theaters remain relevant despite the rise of streaming services, and what still attracts audiences to watch films on the big screen.
Experiencing "It Ends With Us" in a Theater
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.
PFEIFFER: It's about a toxic relationship. And I have mixed feelings about the movie, but the watching experience was terrible.
The audience included a family of five—two adults and three young children—who talked, laughed, cried, yelled, played with toys, ate food, and left and returned several times during the screening. Most disruptively, one child shone a flashlight at the movie screen.
This chaotic experience made me decide never to watch a movie in a theater again. Watching from my couch, even just on a laptop, is easier, cheaper, quieter, and much more pleasant, offering unmatched convenience.
The Unique Value of Movie Theaters
Despite the comforts of home viewing, I acknowledge that watching a movie on a big screen among an audience offers a different experience than streaming on Netflix at home.
For this week's movie discussion, I wanted to hear arguments about why and when we should still visit actual movie theaters.
Author's summary: Movie theaters face challenges from streaming but still offer a unique communal experience, even as disruptive audiences and convenience at home shape viewers' choices.
Would you like the tone to be more formal or conversational?