Over the past year, the movie industry has been massively impacted by the pandemic and people staying home by mandate or by choice. Movie theaters shut down and for a while, the entire movie industry hit the pause button.
Eventually, the movie studios were faced with a few choices when it comes to films that were already completed and ready for release.
1 – Push back the release until movie theaters would up again
2 – Release the films on a streaming service
We saw studios go both routes with their releases, with some movies going straight to HBO Max (like Wonder Woman 1984) and others being put on the shelf until theaters came back (like Black Widow). Then, as theaters began opening up sporadically or on a limited basis, some movies received simultaneous release dates on a digital platform and in theaters (like King Kong vs. Godzilla).
While various U.S. states have different rules about movie theaters being open to the general public at this point, in many cases movie theaters are fully open and often have dropped their mask requirements. So, the movie theater experience would appear to be basically the same as it was pre-pandemic.
But, the question remains – even if movie theaters are back, will audiences follow?
Why People May Decide to Watch More Movies from Home
At-home convenience – Want to watch a movie from the comfort of your couch, when you want to watch it (after its release obviously), and eat the snack of your choice without standing in a concession line? Well, then at-home is definitely your cup of tea.
More simultaneous releases in the future – The studios have wanted to test the idea of simultaneous theatrical and streaming releases for years, and they finally got their chance in 2020. It’s likely that more movies will be using this release strategy in the years to come. Meaning more first-run movies on streaming services.
Cost savings – Seeing a movie in a theater is expensive. Taking an entire family to the movies can be really expensive. The tickets themselves are costly and concession markups can be huge. Watching from home can be a big money saver.
Why People Will Head Back to Movie Theaters
There is nothing like a blockbuster movie in a theater – Anyone who has ever watched a great movie in a crowded theater, with a fun crowd knows this experience can’t be replicated at home. Having the audience cheering, laughing, and generally enjoying a movie together can make a good movie into a truly memorable experience.
Theaters offering a more enjoyable experience – Many theaters have begun focusing on the audience experience. There are more reserved seats, comfortable recliners, pre-ordered snacks, full bars, and even full dinner menus available at more and more theaters. Their idea is to take the movie-going experience to a higher level.
Not all movies will release simultaneously – Many movies aren’t released on streaming platforms at the same time as the theaters. So, the only way to catch some movies in the relatively early days of their release is to see them in a theater.
So, will people head back to the theaters at pre-pandemic levels? It’s really too early to tell for sure. We need a few more big blockbuster movies to come out later this year to get a better gauge on movie attendance. But, the expanded choices presented to viewers are almost certainly going to reduce the number of people who want to pay full price to see a movie in a theater.
