The theatrical model isn't on life support yet, but some industry experts fear it's just a matter of time.
For every smash like "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Project Hail Mary" there are outright flops ("Animal Farm") and big-budget debacles ("Snow White," anyone?).
We have more ways to entertain ourselves than ever, from social media memes to an endless supply of YouTube content.
Would you rather watch The Critical Drinker or another DOA film reboot? For many, the theatrical experience is for their parent's generation, not theirs. Those short attention spans aren't getting any longer on the Gen Z front.
What can be done? Why not get creative?
It starts with leaning into the past. Classic film reissues have made movie going cool again, like the recent 35th anniversary "Silence of the Lambs" reissue. Can any modern horror movie match that film's scare quotient?
Hardly.
Plus, these film classics unite generations and pass the movie-going baton from parent to child. That's critical.
And some reissues make serious coin, like the recent "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Last Labor Day, the number two movie in U.S. theaters was ... "Jaws," circa 1975.
Next month, Fathom Entertainment brings back "The Birdcage" (30th anniversary) and "Ocean's Eleven" (25th anniversary).
Another strategy? Bring beloved TV shows to the big screen. We recently saw this with the final installments of Netflix's "Stranger Things" series and "The Chosen." The latter cleaned up in theaters, essentially repurposing content for the communal experience only movie theaters can offer.
The final episode of Prime Video's "The Boys" will follow in those footsteps, but via the newer 4DX theater technology.
The 4DX movie theater format utilizes motion-enabled chairs, which create vibrations and sensations during screenings, and tech that simulates weather conditions and other environmental aspects.
Given the show's wild plot twists and wacky sequences, who knows what that might entail? Either way, it's a smart way to expand the theatrical experience and broaden the reach of your local cineplex.
It's not just for movies anymore, and there's nothing wrong with that if it keeps the doors open.
One area that's just being tapped is bringing concert features to the movies. One reason "Michael" is Hoovering up all the money is the fans' eagerness to hear those pop smashes in a fully-loaded movie theater with the best sound possible.
The recent "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" earned a whopping $180 million in the U.S. alone, a perfect antidote for those who couldn't afford an actual concert ticket. Yes, movie theater tickets can be pricey, but the cheapest Swift seats will set you back exponentially more.
That may just be the beginning.
Variety reports that AMC is teaming with Arena One to bring live concerts to theaters nationwide. First up? Maren Morris, Kim Petras and Paris Hilton.
That's hot. And undoubtedly, more will follow.
All of the above will keep movie theaters busy and, by default, delay the death of the theatrical model.
At least for now.
