June 13th, 2005

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Movies
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Has Hollywood Jumped the Shark?

For 16 weeks in a row, Hollywood’s revenues have been in decline compared to last year. This trend is unprecedented. Historically, the movie industry has made more money each year since the 1950s. Home theatres, video games, the Web and DVDs are all contributing to the box office’s shrinking revenues.

Will the movie theatre become obsolete in my lifetime? It’s not quite an apples to apples comparison, but Vancouver’s last 35mm porn cinema closed down a couple of years ago. It was killed by the Web and DVDs, too.

Comments: 7 Responses so far

alexis
June 13th, 2005
10:46 am

If movie theatres become obsolete in my lifetime, I will be very sad. I really hope that it’s not even a possibility.

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filmgoerjuan
June 13th, 2005
3:15 pm

Actually, I thought the Fox Cinema was Vancouver’s (North America’s?) last 35mm porn theatre. And they’re still around.

It’s my understanding that they have a large collection of 70s & 80s 35mm porn prints that they own (finding prints being the chief problem with running a 35mm porn theatre). Although I believe I’ve heard that they’re also doing video projection now.

Please don’t read anything into my knowing these facts other than that I’m incredibly knowledgeable about the movie exhibition business in Vancouver ;)

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Darren
June 13th, 2005
3:18 pm

I thought so to, but apparently they’ve switched to DVD as well (note the parathetical statement here)

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Steve2
June 13th, 2005
5:40 pm

Of course, the MPAA would never admit that their lousy creative decisions had anything to do with it. Or did I miss the world clamoring for a remake of “The Bad News Bears”?

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Michael Kohne
June 13th, 2005
6:25 pm

Yes, the Movie Theatre as we know it today is doomed. I’m even going to make a prediction: It will be replaced in exactly the same way that the mall arcade has been - with something more social. The mall arcade has given way to Dave & Buster’s, Jillian’s, and Chuck E. Cheese (at least in my area). Why? My belief is that playing video games was an insufficiently compelling social experience to be sustained over the long haul. Throw in a variety of forms of entertainment and food (my local Jillian’s has several rooms where one can eat in whatever decor and as far or near the entertainment as one likes) and you create a more compelling experience.

Similarly, the movie theaters are going to have to change. Right now they are large boxes, focused on getting a lot of people in and out as quickly as possible, perhaps selling them some over-priced popcorn and soda along the way. It is a social experience, but it’s a darned expensive one, and fewer and fewer people are finding it compelling, especially with the amount of that hollywood is spewing out and expecting us to spend $10 bucks a head on.

No, I can’t see the latest movie on my 52 inch projection TV at home, but so what? Is the exact movie I’m seeing the most compelling part of the experience? Not necessarily. The friends I see it with and the fun we have are what make it compelling - and I can get that at home for a lot less money. And if it stinks? So what? Send it back to Netflix and get another one.

The only way for movie theatres to attract more people is for them to provide a MORE compelling experience than I can get at home. They have to offer more for my dollar. Either novelty (show a GOOD movie for a change. Show offbeat movies, or at least change the lineup every week!) or perhaps nicer chairs, with tables and wait staff to bring me nachos, popcorn and cheesesteaks.

That’s my take anyway.

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Daif
June 14th, 2005
7:42 am

I’m with Steve2… I don’t think it’s other entertainment forms stepping in (although the industry will blame downloaders). I think that the dreck that’s been coming out for the last little while is to blame. C’mon… crappy remake after crappy remake? The Longest Yard? The Dukes of Hazzard?
Give us a good product, and we’ll buy it.

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Jason
June 14th, 2005
10:48 pm

It may also have something to do with the advertising. The last couple of times I’ve been to the theatre, I couldn’t believe the number of commercials in front of the trailers and the movie itself! Honestly, why would I pay $10 to go see a movie with commercials? I can get that for free at home. Assuming I paid for even basic cable, which I do not, precisely because of all the commercials.

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