Whisper It, But Maybe Movie Theaters Are Grasping The Need For Change
from the sticky-floors dept
There have been several signs over the past year that movie theaters are beginning to understand that they need to change their businesses if they are to stay in business -- for example: bigger and better screens, more luxurious environments, richer technology like 3D, even making the pre-show ads more entertaining. While we're skeptical about some of these enhancements -- particularly when they're really only used as justifications for higher ticket prices, it does reflect that theater owners have recognized they have to change. One idea that's getting more and more attention is that theaters don't have to limit themselves to just movies. It's become common for theaters to show special events like concerts, or the Metropolitan Opera, that are well outside the typical fare of Hollywood films. This week, a number of theaters nationwide will show the BCS college football title game, hoping to draw some viewers away from their couches or sports bars. That might seem like an exercise in futility, but the theaters can offer something more: the game will be in 3D. Movie theaters used to be relevant because, apart from waiting for movies to show up (if ever) on TV, they were about the only place to catch films. When home video came on the scene, their position began to erode, and it continues to do so as home theaters get better and better. As a result, many theaters offer a comparatively poor movie-going experience. In addition to improving that experience, theaters will do well to un-pigeon hole themselves as movie houses, take advantage of their unique offerings, and diversify their content.
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Filed Under: 3d, business models, change, movies, theaters
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Re:
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Re:
:D
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Sporting Events
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Free Refills
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It costs a small fortune...
Social pressure to hang out is the only thing keeping warm bodies in the seats right now, given the myriad of other public entertainment options available. If theaters want to survive, they had better start adding social value.
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Austin's Alamo Drafthouse has been there a while
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Adult only?
One reason why I stay home more often, is because of whiny, loud kids and babies, instantly ruining the evening for me.
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How about dumping the ads
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Oh, and theatres need to get with the times and convert from film projectors to digital ones. It is the 21st century, after all. Kill all preshow ads except for movie previews and other show previews. And drop the prices of everything. And perhaps starting putting the movies on dvd/brd when they're in the theatre, so after you've seen something you like at the theater, you can pick up the dvd/brd right there at the theater right afterward before you leave instead of waiting for months for it to come out. And quality movies should be made again, of course.
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theaters def need to step it up to get my money
they need to get RID OF commercials before the show. i'd rather have short cartoons play than the same f$##ING coke or M&M commercial play over and over. i'm sorry but i already paid $8 for the ticket and prob another $5 for bag of popcorn.
that alone is reason for me NOT to see a movie in the theater.
and having a full highdef setup at home makes it hard to justify spending that $15 for a subpar experience.
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Ad's
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Ad's
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Ad's
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Triple post
I still hate ad's at theatre's.
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Cell phones
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Never Again!!
Why go out to the theater to sit next to some smelly bastard that doesnt shower. Now I can be the smelly bastard at home, IN MY UNDERWEAR, watching movies.LOL
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What Happened to Movie Attendants?
I can rarely go to a movie here that doesn't get disrupted by some thug yelling at the screen, talking on a cell, a baby crying or couple arguing.
I don't care how much you "upgrade" a theater, I won't attend it as long as you allow bad behavior.
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Bring Back the Ushers
I cannot remember the last time I was able to enjoy an entire movie without some jerk screwing around with his (or her) cell phone, talking inccessantly or propping up their size 13 Timberlands on the back of the seat next to my face.
I would like to see an employee inside the theater for the duration of the movie to immediately toss anyone using a cell phone (including people using them to text).
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Great New Theater
http://www.cobbcinebistro.com/
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the drafthouse
Don't show any commercials before real movies. Instead they usually show videos that are related to the movie. For example, when Hot Fuzz was released they compiled a bunch of "On the next episode of ..." clips from the 80s show TJ Hooker staring William Shatner. The rapid succession of bad explosions and shootouts with William Shatner quotes was astonishingly hillarious.
And finally--they serve alcohol, hard liqour, and quality food for reasonable prices. They have real nice seats and nobody ever obscures your view because there's a bar table in front of you.
While are smaller in scale than a Cinemaplex, they are always busy and appear to be amazingly successful. If you're looking for an example of a modern day movie theater--this is it.
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Re: the drafthouse
http://blog.originalalamo.com/2008/10/20/the-november-alamo-montage/
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Texting Douches and Ushers
These morons don't and won't ever get it.
I bring my own M&Ms now, and I throw them at the asshats using phones. Oh, and I bought a Sony Bravia and Surround so I don't have to put up with this shit anymore. We just thought it would be nice to see a movie during the holidays. Big mistake.
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Why pay to put up with other people?
The seats are never THAT comfortable, the sound and picture can f*ck up, the movies and concessions are both overpriced, I have to drive to get there, I have to sit through crappy ads for crap I don't need and movies I'll never wish to see ALL OF THIS while putting up with the rest of the borderline retarded population I spend so much time trying to avoid.
ROKU, baby, ROKU. 'Nuff said.
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new fan of draft houses
Anyways, because it was a second release viewing, the ticket price is only $5. The great thing is that it's a full service restaraunt (with actual entrees) with beer and all the goodies you could possibly want. And the prices for the food and beer is actually cheap - I think it was like $6 for a platter of fully loaded nachoes that a couple people can split. And the beer pitchers were as cheap as going out for happy hour.
I ended up paying a boatload more than I would if I was seeing a new release movie. And I was perfectly fine paying that much...I mean, sitting around splitting pitchers/food with a group of friends while watching the joker make pencils disappear is a glorious affair. The downside to the theater is that it's rather run down and could go for some serious renovation (The theatre is VERY old). A movie theater could actually make up a ton of their revenue with discount new release tickets by doing a similar thing in a cleaner and more state of the art theater.
Sort of like the happy hour philosophy...Sell you cheap beer to get you there and make it up in food sales.
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Hate the theaters...
Wouldn't the distribution costs be lower if consumers could just order up movies via cable/satellite?
Not sure. But I'd rather sit in my living room than have my seat kicked by a loud, obnoxious teenager sitting behind me.
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At home I can drink beer.
At home I can make my own popcorn for pennies.
At home there is no annoying kids text messaging through out the show.
At home I have the best seat in the house.
At home I have 57 inches of viewing glory.
At Home I have 7.1 surround sound system.
At Home my floor are not sticky and I do not fear picking up something from the ground.
At Home I can watch the movie in underwear.
I find I only go to the movie theater for the 'experience' and typically remind myself why I like watching movies at home. Last year I saw two movies at the theater - Batman and the latest Bond flick. I have the Batman DVD at home and it does not lose much on my home theater system.
The theaters have to offer that something extra that warrants me spending that extra cash. The more 'extra' that something is the more I might be willing to part with my cash.
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captioning please
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Re: captioning please
So, we have them. And guess what?
I've never seen more than 8 people in one of the shows. So theaters aren't missing out on much of a market at all, as it appears people just don't really care.
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Oh screw it, just rent it in dvd.
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Movie theatres as concert venues
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here's an idea
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