Among the US adults surveyed overall, reasons to watch a movie in the theater include enjoying the overall movie theater experience (38%), the movie quality (37%), specialized viewing experiences such as IMAX, 3D (32%), and the theater ambiance (28%). Combatting those motivations, though, is a simple turnoff: price.
“A lot of these movies have nostalgia and hold a lot of feelings,” Jamora said. “People are returning to theaters and seeing movies that feel nostalgic and realizing that the stylistic experience is still there.” With so many other options in competition to theaters, they have had to find their advantage.
The cinema offers an immersive experience that is impossible to replicate at home. The dark room, the big screen, the surround sound, and the comfortable seats all contribute to an atmosphere that enhances the movie-watching experience.
The findings indicate that audiences perceive cinema as an experience and that entertainment, escape, and socialisation are the prominent motivations for cinema visits nowadays.
So, although movie numbers are lower than before COVID and London's prices and size can impede the ease of movie watching, cinemas are still likely to stay open and attract a crowd.
Movies have always been interwoven with media since the 20th century, but the way audiences watched them has changed. Viewers don't have to go to movie theaters anymore now that movies and TV shows are on streaming services or can be illegally pirated at home.
In recent years, there has been a surge in movie ticket pricing, which has been turning people off. Additionally, movies hit streaming services and digital weeks after films are released in theaters, barely giving these movies room to breathe.
What are the disadvantages of going to the cinema?
However, it also has its drawbacks, such as the cost, crowds, and potential distractions. Ultimately, whether or not to go to the movies depends on individual preferences and circumstances, but for many people, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, making it a popular form of entertainment worldwide.
Watching a film in the movie theater offers a unique experience that cannot be replicated at home. The big screen and surround sound create an immersive environment that draws viewers into the story. The collective viewing experience allows for shared emotions and reactions, making it a memorable event.
While cinema may be beneficial in many ways, it is also very damaging in various areas. Firstly, it stereotypes a lot of things including gender roles, religious practices, communities and more. This creates a false notion and a negative impact against that certain group of people.
Watching movies and TV works in a similar way, offering a safe space to feel and express emotions without experiencing real-world implications. Film brings together images, story, metaphor and music – all of which are shown to have therapeutic benefits.
Is it better to watch films at the cinema or at home?
The quality of the video and sound is also a major aspect that shows significant differences between the two scenarios. Theatres have installed perfect sound systems and high-quality screens that create a perfect customer experience. At home, one may have a good sound system, but it rarely matches those in theatres.
Cinema is already seeing the adoption of laser projection, the rise of HDR to the Cinema Screen – which Barco showcased at its premiere during the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, alongside a massive rise in Virtual Production.
With the exception of China, cinema attendance has been gradually returning to near historic levels. However, the percentage of frequent movie-goers varies greatly across the markets surveyed in S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan's Asia, Europe and US Consumer Insights surveys.
In 2019, people bought about 1.2 billion movie tickets. By the time 2023 is done, a little over 800 million tickets will have been sold. That's an improvement over the COVID years. But it's still about a third less — and that's with the gloriously bizarro phenomenon that was Barbenheimer.
This “emotional effervescence” means you experience higher highs and lower lows simply by being part of a larger audience. These effects on your brain can have a variety of positive benefits. Going to the cinema offers not only short-term rest and relaxation, but may also provide more long-term benefits.
Only 852 million movie tickets were sold in 2023, down by 46% from the peak year 2002 (1.85 billion tickets), so that was 21 years ago, and down by 31% from 2019 (1.23 billion tickets), despite the one-weekend wonder in July of “Barbenheimer” – the simultaneous theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
One of the most evident impacts of movies on society is their potential to shape public opinion and attitudes. The portrayal of characters, situations, and cultures can create lasting impressions, influencing how people perceive different groups, lifestyles, and issues.
The world of cinema and entertainment remains a powerful tool for addressing social issues. The film industry can contribute to positive societal change through storytelling, awareness, conversation, challenging stereotypes, advocacy, and inspiration.
As long as high-budget and highly-anticipated movies continue to be made and first projected in large, franchised theatres, movie theatres will not become obsolete. Yet, the success of smaller, unfranchised theatres may not fare as well in the competition with streaming sites.
Struggling cinema chain Cineworld has said its screens will remain open despite its plans to file for administration to cut its huge debts. Cineworld, which is the world's second-largest cinema chain, was hit hard by the Covid pandemic when many of its theatres were forced to close.
They do so regularly, and many of them have done so for years or even decades. How do movie stars try to blend in with everyday people when they go out in public? It's no coincidence that celebrities typically find residence in big cities or idle country sides.
According to a survey of Americans Gen Z's movie-going habits led in 2022, only three percent of those surveyed said they visit a movie theater one a week or more often.
"Movie theaters aren't going anywhere!," insists director/writer M. Night Shyamalan, who posits that the pandemic, and the isolation it forced us all into, has only heightened the need for social interaction. "Taking that oxygen away from us, even just a little bit, made us go crazy.
