Megaplex Whine
Discussion of box office reminds me of a gripe I have had since the introduction of the 16+:screen theater became the norm.
Awesome when they were introduced, no more searching and driving to where a particular movie was playing. With that many screens there was always variety to choose..in theory.
Reality is they always have the same 1 or 2 big releases on 5-6 screens. So other films get relegated to single showings at weird times or aren't available at all.
@S_r_stone I'm incredibly lucky to have 4 good drive-ins within an hour drive, two within 15 minutes. My social anxiety makes it difficult to go to a regular theater, but the drive-in is perfect.
We had a smaller venue downtown that catered to adults. Quiet. Grown up food. Valet parking (downtown has parking issues). Latest movies played. Clean. Bit more expensive, but we loved it.
AMC bought it and right away it went to shit. Literally in a couple weeks. Dirty. Nasty food. LOUD. We went once after they took over and that was enough.
@Agatha @S_r_stone That's one of my complaints about multiplexes: sound. I had to watch the latest Mission Impossible with my fingers literally in my ears in most of the action sequences. It was physically painful.
I find that I now hate going to theaters. Not because of the risk of covid; I go at weird hours and sit where no one else likes. But you pay a lot and it's just not enjoyable any more. Too loud, sound too muddled, obnoxious audiences, expensive.
I detest loud movies - but usually the people in the audience are worse. I bring foam ear plugs to cut down on explosions (back when I went to movies - I don't go anymore because they're petri dishes).
If you want to see the big movie of the moment, it is great with showings starting every 20-30 minutes.
If you want to find a film that has been out longer or with less marketing muscle behind it, you scrounge to find a time or simply "wait for streaming."
The smaller venues were driven out of business. So the option to find a theater and drive as in the past is no longer there.
I know the theaters have to maximize profit, but it sucks that the promise of film options is gone.