OldBoy

so i was seriously thinking how laborious it has become for the whole theater experience. coordinating times, people, snacks, etc...

maybe it is my advancing age or something that just doesn't hold the same magic as it once did...

but, if movies, all movies, upon release were able to be streamed via a streaming media device or even through the cable companies for the exact same price as a going theater ticket in your area, would you give up the theater experience entirely to watch at home?

E Unit

Um, yes. Has there ever been another way you've gone to the movies? There's always been coordinating times, people, snacks etc. In fact, while I go a lot less, I still go on a somewhat regular basis. It's made easier since I go to the Drafthouse where you have reserved seating. So no worry on coordinating times and people and snacks. And no, I wouldn't stream at home even if it was the same price. Which I doubt that will ever happen.

TomOpus

I still enjoy the he'll out of going to a movie theater. I don't have any of the issues people seem to have each time they go. Not sure if it's the time of day I go or the area of the country but it's still a good time. I love seeing a movie on a big screen.

DJariya

I still go to the theater 3-4 times per month. There's nothing like seeing a big summer blockbuster in the theater. There are 4 theaters within 5 miles of my house, so distance and convenience aren't problems.

If you have kids or work extremely odd hours, then I can see it being a huge hassle. Most of my friends including my sister rarely go nowadays because of their kids.

OldBoy

don't get me wrong, the theater is amazing when done right (stadium seating, sound, etc...) but it seems hit or miss for me these days. i really thought early buzz would be home...

fumanstan

Yup, i'd easily go to the theater for the big summer releases and event movies. Having fancy theaters with reserved seating and stricter rules makes it easy around here, not to mention IMAX.

OldBoy

see we don't have that. that i would like...

E Unit

I guess it's location and what's available near you. I'm spoiled that I have 4 Drafthouses and several stadium theaters near me. I pretty much do Drafthouse all the time, so I guess I haven't been in your situation for a few years now. But your other scenario if a new release was available via streaming for the same price just seems really unrealistic. Not sure how I could see that ever happening. Hollywood already has enough to deal with when it comes to piracy, and if a new movie is streamed, then it's almost guaranteed it'll be pirated at the highest quality.

RichC2

Yes, especially for the spectacle movies.

Cardsfan111

I voted "are you high?"

I still love going to the theater. I don't see that changing.

asianxcore

I still love going to the theater. All my bad experiences with other patrons can be avoided by going to Early Bird or Matinee showings.

Still being able to have great times with groups of friends at movie theaters as well as various Cult/Midnight showings in my area, will almost guarantee I will keep going to movie theaters.

fumanstan

Also, you should have phrased the thread subject and poll question better, instead of relying on the post to explain what you're actually asking. Something tells me a lot of people will miss the hypothetical about streaming.

Abob Teff

I enjoy going to the theater ...

I go alone. I hate going to a movie with people. To me, it is a few hours of escapism, no a social event.

I go at odd hours and usually try to go when I am out of town for work. I HATE (stress: HATE) our theaters in Springfield. I have found a few that I really like going to in other towns.

That said, I go for "event" type movies. The vast majority of movies I don't mind waiting to watch, so there is absolutely NO way I would pay the same price to stream as I would to go to a theater. That concept is completely absurd to me.

devilshalo

I don't think I'd have the same experience at home viewing something like Gravity or GotG.

Ash Ketchum

This past week, I went to see MR. TURNER at one of the last single screen cinemas left in Manhattan, the Cinema 1 on Third Avenue, which I used to attend often back in the day (when I used to see new movies at Upper East Side theaters regularly), but haven't been there in years. They've got new seats, easy-chair-type seats, as opposed to stadium seating, and quite comfortable. And the last row is not too far away to enjoy it. My only complaint is that I wish MR. TURNER had been shot on film and shown on film. The subject matter--something that's strictly analog--painting, is diminished by going digital.

Solid Snake

We have a Cinemark here that balances out the arsty and mainstream stuff. I really love ours here. If I wanted to... I'd go to an Imax 20-30 miles from me. The theater rocks for me. Not much, if any, of dumbasses being dumbasses. Been almost a year since I had to confront someone in a theater.

DthRdrX

We always go to the local Cinemark as well. It's the best theater in the area by far but man people are just rude and NO ONE working for this company ever keeps an eye on what is going on in the theaters. Why the hell do people insist on paying to talk and play with their cell phones? The sad thing I notice is that the younger teens are not as bad as people in their 20s and 30s.

superdeluxe

How difficult is it that it's laborious? I mean it takes a little juggle work if you have kids and want to see an adult movie. I guess it's never been laborious for me. Now we do go less than before kid came along, movies were our hobby. Now that the kid is four we are starting to get back into movies (he saw guardians in the theater.)

To answer your question though, we all love going to the theater, especially since it's now reserved and we all still enjoy the giant screen.

TGM

definitely.

I just built this space, so my movie theater going days are likely over anyway.

Patman

I prefer not to go with people I know anymore (doing all that laborious coordinating with people and their own schedules) for most movies I see in theaters nowadays. It's solved a lot of issues with uncertainty and people dropping out at the last minute, and all that life stuff that seems to besiege others, but not usually me.

I only see films with friends when it's a super-popular movie, and they all want to see it on the big screen, and it's a priority for them. Otherwise, it's a fruitless exercise to do all that laborious coordinating.

I'm much happier not worrying about whether or not I have a friend to attend the movies at theaters. I can handle not having a friend to go see movies with me (believe me, there are people who absolutely refuse to see films all by their lonesome, that self-imposed social stigma is too great for them to overcome, so they miss out on seeing films on the big screen and end up seeing them at home later). Whatever.

Count Dooku

I voted "What are you high?" because even though I sympathize with every complaint anybody has about going to the movie theater, the idea that I would never go again is insane.

Some films demand the immersive, big screen experience.

And some times, you are just going to want to get out in the world with other people.

astrochimp

I don't like watching movies with strangers.

Count Dooku

Regarding the "labor" of going to the movies.

How many nights do people sit home watching prime-time TV?

Go to a fucking movie!

If you live in a metropolitan area, you are a 15 minute drive away from a theater.

You can look up a movie start time, leave your home at that time, and still be in a theater seat before the previews are over. Home-to-theater and back at home will usually be a 2-2.5 hour turnaround. How many M-Th nights do you spend 2 hours just vegging out channel surfing?

Troy Stiffler

Watching Inherent Vice, there is a 5-7 minute scene with boobs and bush. And it occurred to me: you sit there and watch "art porn" with a bunch of total strangers, and it's totally okay. There's also a 5 minute scene with a real (and real nasty) pornstar.

There's a lot of things you can do at home. But you don't. Movies is one of those things.

Norm de Plume

I hardly ever go to the thee-ay-ter, but I would go again given the right circumstances.