Current Events > So AMC says they're basically likely to go out of business.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Cinemark and Harkins claiming similar dire warnings. Many small chains already filing for bankruptcy. Hollywood movies are delayed and likely to be delayed even more.

This could very well be the demise of theaters.

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Good. Outdated delivery method, completely unneeded and expensive just because. The era of streaming is here, embrace it.
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some PE firm will probably scoop them up for cheap

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BigSexyShoots posted...

Good. Outdated delivery method, completely unneeded and expensive just because. The era of streaming is here, embrace it.

Conversely, drive in theaters are making a big comeback.

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pres_madagascar posted...

This could very well be the demise of theaters.

No way, another entity will come along once things are back to normal.
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3D finally dies its long-overdue death, and Avatar sequels 2 through 57 never have a chance to topple Endgame's box office take.



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Romulox28 posted...

some PE firm will probably scoop them up for cheap

They're already owned by one, a Chinese one at that

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Romulox28 posted...

some PE firm will probably scoop them up for cheap

this is what will happen

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voldothegr8 posted...

No way, another entity will come along once things are back to normal.

Thing is, things may not ever go back to pre-covid normalcy.

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I heard. Well, it was turning to shit anyways.

Godnorgosh posted...

Not surprising. I'm glad I went to the movies as often as I did before this happened. Probably won't get to have that experience again anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the last movie I saw in theaters before they shut down was Sonic the Hedgehog... lol

The last movie I saw in theaters was doctor strange.

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Thats capitalism

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BigSexyShoots posted...

Good. Outdated delivery method, completely unneeded and expensive just because. The era of streaming is here, embrace it.

theater experience > home viewing experience

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The will not be the demise of theaters

it may be the demise of huge nationwide corporate theater chains, and who gives a fuck?

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You know the funny thing is I think they're the chain that said it was going to ban Universal movies from being screened in its theaters because of launching new movies to streaming platforms. Man are they suicidal or what...

RIP

I hope Alamo Drafthouse style theaters become the new standard. The Mueller one with the reclining seats and individual tables, not those other worse ones with the tiny continuous tables.

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pres_madagascar posted...

They're already owned by one, a Chinese one at that

looks like they are public atm

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Im so happy to finally witness the death of Hollywood.

Kind of sad, but I've been wondering for years how long giant chain theaters can keep going. It's a dying business model

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The death of the theater means the death of the blockbuster. There will be no more space operas, superhero films, or disaster movies except on a much smaller scale.

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FortuneCookie posted...

The death of the theater means the death of the blockbuster. There will be no more space operas, superhero films, or disaster movies except on a much smaller scale.

Bullshit. Just means theyll jack the price of Disney+ to Netflix levels and more people will be giving money directly to Disney instead of sharing it with the theater industry.
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Okay so they basically disclosed standard going concern disclosures. Basically saying, "we aren't sure we'll be in business a year from now". This is pretty standard, and generally required, wording when a business is struggling, but hardly is a death sentence.

I've had clients include going concern wording in their report for like 5 years in a row and keep existing.

pres_madagascar posted...

This could very well be the demise of theaters.

I doubt it. Even if AMC, Cinemark, Regal, etc. all shutter for good (I have doubts that will happen). That just means there will be thousands of empty theaters out there. I seriously doubt that COVID will kill the desire for the theater experience. That just means when we settle on our new normal some company will go through and buy up the empty theaters and start a new company.

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COVID killed the theater star

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BigSexyShoots posted...

Good. Outdated delivery method, completely unneeded and expensive just because. The era of streaming is here, embrace it.

I agree. Comedies and Dramas don't really utilized the big screen format and don't really need to be seen on one. Blockbuster action films have become stale as well, and I just got Disney +, so eventually I'll get to see MCU movies anyways, so I really don't need to go see them in theaters anymore.


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BigSexyShoots posted...

Bullshit. Just means theyll jack the price of Disney+ to Netflix levels and more people will be giving money directly to Disney instead of sharing it with the theater industry.

Eww, gross.

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BigSexyShoots posted...

Good. Outdated delivery method, completely unneeded and expensive just because. The era of streaming is here, embrace it.

It's more about the social experience than the delivery method

Besides, we still don't have a good platform for streaming movies together without being in the same room

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TheHoldSteady posted...

It's more about the social experience than the delivery method

What social experience? Are...are you talking during the movie?

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Its weird to me that people are so certain about the future of the industry. I mean there are plenty of empty theaters that cleared out when dollar movies stopped being a profitable thing. How many dine in theaters can most media markets sustain? I doubt Cabot, Arkansas' little 6 screen could function profitably like that.

I mean maybe things will bounce back entirely but who knows

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Balrog0 posted...

Its weird to me that people are so certain about the future of the industry. I mean there are plenty of empty theaters that cleared out when dollar movies stopped being a profitable thing. How many dine in theaters can most media markets sustain? I doubt Cabot, Arkansas' little 6 screen could function profitably like that.

I mean maybe things will bounce back entirely but who knows

Oh I doubt they bounce back to the same level before, at least not initially, but I just have a hard time imagining a mutlibillion dollar industry dying in a single fell swoop.

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Gheb posted...

Oh I doubt they bounce back to the same level before, at least not initially, but I just have a hard time imagining a mutlibillion dollar industry dying in a single fell swoop.

Netflix killed Blockbuster.

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Jabodie posted...

RIP

I hope Alamo Drafthouse style theaters become the new standard. The Mueller one with the reclining seats and individual tables, not those other worse ones with the tiny continuous tables.

Alamo draft house just filed for bankruptcy. All three of them here in the Phoenix area are likely not opening again.

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BigSexyShoots posted...

Good. Outdated delivery method, completely unneeded and expensive just because. The era of streaming is here, embrace it.

Watching movies in theaters is better than watching it streaming, though.

pres_madagascar posted...

Alamo draft house just filed for bankruptcy. All three of them here in the Phoenix area are likely not opening again.

Filing for bankruptcy doesn't mean closing for good.

Ive got 20-30 free movie tickets to AMC and Regal. Lame.

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Gheb posted...

That just means there will be thousands of empty theaters out there.

I can finally make my super arcade!

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Jabodie posted...

RIP

I hope Alamo Drafthouse style theaters become the new standard. The Mueller one with the reclining seats and individual tables, not those other worse ones with the tiny continuous tables.

All Alamo theaters are being converted to this model over time, assuming they stay in business.

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Kajagogo posted...

What social experience? Are...are you talking during the movie?

The act of getting together with friends, making a night of it, going somewhere together,

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except this isn't remotely accurate. Their statement is something they legally have to do to cover their basis (if movies don't come out, they don't have a source for revenue, and sets up for declaring bankruptcy should that happen)

Due to the fact that many states are not legally allowing theaters to open and even the ones that can, AMC has no intent of opening again until major movies are intended to be coming out. The importance of Los Angeles and New York city to domestic gross and how far behind these areas are in comparison to many other parts of the country (largely due to population density before anyone wants to say something stupid) is also going to be a big determinant to opening.

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Doom_Art posted...

The act of getting together with friends, making a night of it, going somewhere together,

i'm picturing these guys arms crossed and brow furrowed when the people around them cheer at avengers assemble lol

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Kajagogo posted...

Netflix killed Blockbuster.

This isn't quite apples to apples as firstly it took quite a bit of time for Netflix to fully killed the video rental industry and because while the methods of obtaining the rented video might have differed, the overall product, watching a movie in the comfort of your own home, was ultimately the same.

Streaming a movie at home is not the same product as seeing a movie on a giant screen. It also isn't a communal experience. There are people who want that, particularly for the blockbuster movies. So unlike the Netflix and Blockbuster situation, streaming is an imperfect substitute.

The other big difference is that significance to the movie industry as a whole. Video rental was always an auxiliary part of the movie industry. Hollywood wasn't making their movies with video rental, or even VHS/DVD sales, in mind. Whereas here, the movie industry designs most of its big movies in mind for theater viewing. Changing that requires the movie industry to reevaluate how the budget and make movies (so they cost much less) or how they charge for streaming fees (increasing so they can recoup the lost ticket revenue). So right now there is a direct incentive for the major movie companies to keep the theater industry alive until they are more able to pivot to a different primary distribution method.

Even if streaming and direct rental ultimately becomes the primary distribution method for movies in the future (and it probably will someday) I don't see a world where the theater industry is completely dead. It just might become more of a more niche thing. But I think there will always be a novelty in seeing movies on the big screen.

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I like the movie theatre experience. Why so many haters?

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good. fuck theaters. also wasn't AMC the one that vowed to not show Universal movies anymore cause Universal started putting out films online?

But theater popcorn.

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Squall28 posted...

I like the movie theatre experience. Why so many haters?

remember where you are

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I miss going to the movies

the walking dead is still making them money...

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Godnorgosh posted...

Not surprising. I'm glad I went to the movies as often as I did before this happened. Probably won't get to have that experience again anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the last movie I saw in theaters before they shut down was Sonic the Hedgehog... lol

Same. It was fun.

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theaters suck because

you have to deal with other people who might talk during the movie
seats might be dirty
sometimes you get sucky seat
overpriced tickets compared to streaming a rental
can't pause the movie if you want to
gotta leave the house

I prefer just watching in my home

Theaters should switch to small rent-out models. Adjust the seating. Rent out theater screens for parties and events. Kid wants to play Smash with his buddies on a movie screen? Sure.

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