Movie theaters officially dead

[utee94 15832]

1 minute ago, Steamboat1874 said:

My other problem is the several times I have been to Alamo I get some guy right behind me with a large order of nachos and I have to listen to the fucking crunching for the first half of the movie.

I would rather they let people talk on their cell phone than serve them nachos.

That's fair.  I've never had that happen to me, but popcorn is certainly annoying, especially when served in a paper bag.  Thankfully Alamo uses bowls instead.

Again, choice is available and is a good thing.  if you prefer the sound of cell phone talking over food-eating, then it sounds like Cinemark should be your go-to.  

[mdmost 43004]

So theaters are dead for this year at least it seems. Disney+ will have the live action Mulan as a $30 add on. 

 

Edited August 4, 2020 by mdmost

[Michael Knight 12988]

$30 to watch as many times as you want or just once?

[Armybrat 40851]

On 7/30/2020 at 10:10 AM, utee94 said:

That's fair.  I've never had that happen to me, but popcorn is certainly annoying, especially when served in a paper bag.  Thankfully Alamo uses bowls instead.

Again, choice is available and is a good thing.  if you prefer the sound of cell phone talking over food-eating, then it sounds like Cinemark should be your go-to.  

On the rare occasions we went out to Cinemark theaters, we went on geezer discount Tuesdays.  Maybe a dozen of us oldfarts spread out in the screening room, and those eating anything were were just gumming it. 

Edited August 4, 2020 by Armybrat

[atomheartbevo 89727]

Interesting twist

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/08/why-movie-theaters-are-in-trouble-after-doj-nixes-70-year-old-case/

Quote

But now, the rule that prevented a studio from buying up a major theater chain is gone—opening up the possibility that your local cinema could go whole hog and become a true Disneyplex before you know it.

On Friday, a federal judge agreed to the Department of Justice's petition to vacate the Paramount Consent Decrees, a landmark 1948 ruling that forbade vertical integration in the film sector and ended the Hollywood studio system. In isolation, the decision could raise some concerns. In a world where theaters are decimated thanks to a pandemic and consolidation among media firms is already rampant, the future for independent theaters looks grim.

Quote

The Paramount case is about vertical integration—at its most basic, the term for when a business owns multiple links up and down the supply chain.

By the late 1930s, the majority of power in Hollywood was concentrated in the hands of eight film studios, with the so-called Big Five—Paramount, MGM, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, and RKO—holding the lion's share of the market. The studios not only locked actors into contracts and controlled film production and the distribution of those films, but also they bought up and founded movie theaters all over the country and thus controlled exhibition as well.

The DOJ filed suit in 1938 alleging the eight studios were violating antitrust law in two key ways. First, the DOJ said, the studios were part of an unlawful price-fixing conspiracy, and second, they were monopolizing the distribution and exhibition sectors.

Quote

In April 2018, the Justice Department announced it would undertake a review of "legacy" consent decrees put in place during the late 19th and 20th centuries as part of an agency-wide modernization initiative.

Long article, interesting read.  I'm not sure that a company like Disney would want that though, when they could just shuffle their movies straight to TV and reap almost 100% of the revenue (streaming infrastructure is cheap once it's up and running, versus having to pay property taxes on theaters, utility bills, wages of the employees, etc.).

[Guest Lobo]

Thanks for link.  
 

good point, the triple nets on theaters are especially brutal and eventually find their way back through the money chain to the distributors and eventually the production companies.  

[Tom 2959]

On 8/4/2020 at 3:49 PM, mdmost said:

So theaters are dead for this year at least it seems. Disney+ will have the live action Mulan as a $30 add on. 

 

 

Can I pay $30 each to watch "Tenet" and "No Time To Die" now?

I enjoy the theater experience, but am happy to pay more to watch at home if I don't have to wait another year.  

Edited August 11, 2020 by Tom

[atomheartbevo 89727]

Meanwhile, Alamo will let you rent a theater for $150, for up to 30 people (although they have to buy tickets or you do , or whatever, in addition to the $150).  You have to pick from around 40 or so movies.

https://drafthouse.com/personal-theater

Weird Science, the original Muppet Movie, Jurassic Park, and a bunch of others covering a wide range.

I would absolutely consider renting it next year for my son's 9th birthday.  Jurassic Park would be awesome.

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by atomheartbevo

[CooterBrown 18014]

Meanwhile, Alamo will let you rent a theater for $150, for up to 30 people (although they have to buy tickets or you do , or whatever, in addition to the $150).  You have to pick from around 40 or so movies.

https://drafthouse.com/personal-theater

Weird Science, the original Muppet Movie, Jurassic Park, and a bunch of others covering a wide range.

I would absolutely consider renting it next year for my son's 9th birthday.  Jurassic Park would be awesome.

 

It’s $150 for the theater plus tickets for each person and a $150 minimum food/drink purchase. Still not a bad deal.

[Tom 2959]

6 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Meanwhile, Alamo will let you rent a theater for $150, for up to 30 people (although they have to buy tickets or you do , or whatever, in addition to the $150).  You have to pick from around 40 or so movies.

https://drafthouse.com/personal-theater

Weird Science, the original Muppet Movie, Jurassic Park, and a bunch of others covering a wide range.

I would absolutely consider renting it next year for my son's 9th birthday.  Jurassic Park would be awesome.

 

I wish they'd do this for new movies.  I saw Jurassic Park in theater in 5th grade and again a few years ago when it came out again on some 20-or-so year anniversary in 3D.  I don't care to see it again.  Again, give me "Tenet" or "No Time To Die" and we're talking.

[HenryJames 66120]

 

[aggie08 21505]

"Movies in 2020 at 1920 Prices"

Damn. That's creative.

[Guest Lobo]

At AMC, we know you’re concerned about touching public spaces these days.  That’s why, for the rest of the year...we are going to institute a promotion that literally ensures every employee and moviegoer alike will have to hand each other lots and lots of germ infested coins.   Because, 1920: a year the Spanish Flu was still raging.  

Edited August 13, 2020 by Lobo

[Pato del Muerto 52524]

Saw a trailer for new mutants, saying in theaters 8/28 or whatever date. Is this the first movie to be released?  And it’s a Disney marvel movie?

[atomheartbevo 89727]

4 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Saw a trailer for new mutants, saying in theaters 8/28 or whatever date. Is this the first movie to be released?  And it’s a Disney marvel movie?

Disney has contract obligations with the studios to fill.  Sooner they get it in theaters for a few weeks, sooner it hits Disney+

[CooterBrown 18014]

Saw a trailer for new mutants, saying in theaters 8/28 or whatever date. Is this the first movie to be released?  And it’s a Disney marvel movie?

I think it was shelved by whoever owned the XMen prior to Disney getting the rights recently and Disney decided to go ahead and release it.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

On 8/11/2020 at 10:20 PM, atomheartbevo said:

Meanwhile, Alamo will let you rent a theater for $150, for up to 30 people (although they have to buy tickets or you do , or whatever, in addition to the $150).  You have to pick from around 40 or so movies.

https://drafthouse.com/personal-theater

Weird Science, the original Muppet Movie, Jurassic Park, and a bunch of others covering a wide range.

I would absolutely consider renting it next year for my son's 9th birthday.  Jurassic Park would be awesome.

 

Saw Free Willy for my 8th birthday party. Nobody else in the theater, and we didn't even pay anything more than regular ticket prices. Of course it was in October, and the movie came out in July and we didn't get any booze. But still pretty cool at the time.

[chikin23 384]

Very ballsy considering we are in the midst of a economy crippling national coin shortage.

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2732]

It’s $150 for the theater plus tickets for each person and a $150 minimum food/drink purchase. Still not a bad deal.

Eh. We typically go rent some place for our kids parties and that includes admission for guests. 30 people at $10 per and now you’re at $450 with no food. I’d think $300 including guests up to 30 would be a good price point.

[PilotsError 2294]

Very ballsy considering we are in the midst of a economy crippling national coin shortage.

Oh good grief.

[Michael Knight 12988]

According to a new report from IndieWire, Tenet’s opening weekend in North America has resulted in a stunningly meager $10 million take. This contradicts initial reports from Warner Bros. who had stated that the film brought in $20 million over the weekend. However, because Warner did not break the total down by days, that total actually included a Thursday opening, three days of sneak previews and nine days in Canada, as well as the Labor Day holiday in both the United States and Canada. While those initial estimates weren’t clear about this, neither a $10 million nor a $20 million opening weekend is on par for a film of Tenet’s expected calibre.

 

https://screenrant.com/tenet-10-million-box-office-opening-weekend/

[Pato del Muerto 52524]

Ouch. Are we going to kill any production companies that have hundreds of millions in production costs that they either don’t get back with release or have to sit on indefinitely?  What is the financial position of such companies?

disney should be fine, though I’d love to see their overall 2020 finances to see how big a hit they are absorbing from all their revenue streams. 
are the other big guys like universal and warner ok?

what about smaller companies?

Edited September 11, 2020 by Pato del Muerto

[NeverMarryAStripper 21907]

On 8/14/2020 at 6:38 AM, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Saw Free Willy for my 8th birthday party. Nobody else in the theater, and we didn't even pay anything more than regular ticket prices. Of course it was in October, and the movie came out in July and we didn't get any booze. But still pretty cool at the time.

So for your 8th birthday somebody freed their willy for you

[CooterBrown 18014]

If Alamo would’ve allowed Tenet to be screened as part of their rent-a-screen deal, our bubble would’ve done so. Really think they’re missing an opportunity not allowing new releases to be screened like this.

 

 

It’ll be interesting to compare how Mulan did.

[Wanker Bob 379]

Nobody but dipshits want to be sitting in a theater with strangers right now. Just release these movies for home streaming at $25 a pop or something. I do miss me some theater popcorn though. Might run by the AMC and buy some to take home for a movie

[mdmost 43004]

2 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Ouch. Are we going to kill any production companies that have hundreds of millions in production costs that they either don’t get back with release or have to sit on indefinitely?  What is the financial position of such companies?

disney should be fine, though I’d love to see their overall 2020 finances to see how big a hit they are absorbing from all their revenue streams. 
are the other big guys like universal and warner ok?

what about smaller companies?

I wonder when we're going to start seeing very little content since there's been 6 months of downtime with production. Reminds me of the writer's strike when the content was really subpar. 

[Pato del Muerto 52524]

5 minutes ago, mdmost said:

I wonder when we're going to start seeing very little content since there's been 6 months of downtime with production. Reminds me of the writer's strike when the content was really subpar. 

Writers strike is what birthed “reality tv” like big brother, the apprentice, amazing race, and survivor. 
So a pox on all of their houses, both sides, for their actions there. 
maybe the answer for theaters is documentary films?

[Chet Steadman 940]

1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Writers strike is what birthed “reality tv” like big brother, the apprentice, amazing race, and survivor. 
So a pox on all of their houses, both sides, for their actions there. 
maybe the answer for theaters is documentary films?

lol, what?   Every single example you just gave was of a show which was on LONG before the writer’s strike.  Like, several years before.  

The writers strike is what brought us Landry and Tyra murdering someone with their car on Friday Night Lights.  

[Ignatius 4017]

1 hour ago, Chet Steadman said:

lol, what?   Every single example you just gave was of a show which was on LONG before the writer’s strike.  Like, several years before.  

The writers strike is what brought us Landry and Tyra murdering someone with their car on Friday Night Lights.  

Can’t remember the exact details and it may have been internet bullshit,  but allegedly the strike kept Jesse from getting killed off in season 1 of Breaking Bad. No way it’s as good a series without him, bitch....

[Deej 76830]

It would be a shame if the industry started making lower budget movies with great scripts and good acting. 

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2732]

So 80’s movies?

[Pato del Muerto 52524]

3 hours ago, Chet Steadman said:

lol, what?   Every single example you just gave was of a show which was on LONG before the writer’s strike.  Like, several years before.  

The writers strike is what brought us Landry and Tyra murdering someone with their car on Friday Night Lights.  

Sorry I got confused. 2000 was the actors strike. 

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

7 hours ago, Wanker Bob said:

Nobody but dipshits want to be sitting in a theater with strangers right now. Just release these movies for home streaming at $25 a pop or something. I do miss me some theater popcorn though. Might run by the AMC and buy some to take home for a movie

Our local target has popcorn at their food bar thing that is pretty much just like movie theater popcorn. Something like two or three bucks for a large family sized bag. Only real catch is no butter, but I'm sure you can find a solution for that.

[Michael Knight 12988]

3 hours ago, T’Boo Ted Marshall said:

So 80’s movies?

he said good acting and great scripts

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2732]

he said good acting and great scripts

With a username like yours you shouldn’t disrespect 80’s movies sir.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

Bad acting and awesome scripts. But they played it straight. Part of what made the 80's movies awesome.

[RPM 26322]

11 hours ago, CooterBrown said:

If Alamo would’ve allowed Tenet to be screened as part of their rent-a-screen deal, our bubble would’ve done so. Really think they’re missing an opportunity not allowing new releases to be screened like this.

 

 

It’ll be interesting to compare how Mulan did.

Isn't Tenet scheduled to be home premium rental released in 2 weeks? Maybe Alamo can do it then.

[Guest]

On 8/11/2020 at 10:52 PM, CooterBrown said:

It’s $150 for the theater plus tickets for each person and a $150 minimum food/drink purchase. Still not a bad deal.

$35 a person is a good deal for you?

Not for that experience...

[DanRydell 799]

$35 a person is a good deal for you?
Not for that experience...

For dinner, drinks, and a movie? I would ordinarily spend quite a bit more than that.

[Guest]

My math sucks, too.  It would be around $20 a head.

Not too bad, especially to have the theater just for your group.

 

i don't consider a popcorn and a coke as "dinner" though, but I still concede the point.

Edited September 12, 2020 by slorch

[Wanker Bob 379]

13 hours ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Our local target has popcorn at their food bar thing that is pretty much just like movie theater popcorn. Something like two or three bucks for a large family sized bag. Only real catch is no butter, but I'm sure you can find a solution for that.

It's not as good as the movie theater but all the targets around me shut that down for the pandemic anyway

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

Our's is back open. Just bought some to watch Mulan with the family yesterday.

Edited September 12, 2020 by NotActuallyALonghorn

[mdmost 43004]

You may or may not have this nor wish to go there but we found out by accident that the bagged popcorn at Dollar Tree is about as close to theater popcorn as there is. Toss it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and it's very close to theater quality. 

https://www.dollartree.com/brims-butter-flavored-popcorn-8oz-bags/138197

Edited September 12, 2020 by mdmost

[elfenix 34308]

Ded:


Hollywood’s Tenet Experiment Failed

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster was supposed to save U.S. theaters. Now the future looks bleaker than ever.



https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/09/hollywoods-tenet-experiment-didnt-work/616345/

[mdmost 43004]

Mulan didn't exactly set the streaming world on fire. It may have made more domestically than Tenet did but that's not going to help with any push to having more straight to streaming blockbusters. They'll just keep getting pushed back. 

[Michael Knight 12988]

If things were already looking bleak for American cinemas, the immediate future now looks catastrophic. This past weekend, the total domestic box office was less than $15 million—Indiewire estimates that sum amounts to $5,000 per theater, which isn’t enough to pay for basic operating costs.

 

 

https://www.indiewire.com/2020/09/tenet-6-7-million-total-box-office-is-under-15-million-theaters-hurt-1234586104/

[Guest Lobo]

So of the average full-priced ticket on a first-run movie in the first month of screening, the studio gets apparently about 60% according to the old model?  And who gets most of the rest of that ticket price?  The Theaters?  Nope.  Not even fucking close.  It's the owners of their real estate and their NNN expenses.  10,000 square feet, 300 impervious parking spaces, plus lobby and hallways.  All based on a less than 5% margin.  Fuck 'em.  Let 'em rot.  They overbuilt and my kids gotta deal with these fucking eyesores for a whole generation.  How many of these things can we turn into Gymborees or homeless shelters?  

[Continental Op 3934]

If theaters go out of business there might be fewer movies for you to make extremely labored references to in 95% of your posts. 

[utee94 15832]

^^^^^^^^

He'sRightYouKnow.jpg

 

 

[Guest Lobo]

9 minutes ago, Continental Op said:

If theaters go out of business there might be fewer movies for you to make extremely labored references to in 95% of your posts. 

Yeah, I know it's annoying when somebody, literally every other day on this board, posts a movie quote and then several more people chime in with a quote from that same movie (including me).  Or how about when I make Seinfeld references on the Seinfeld thread?  Whoah...that's gotta hurt!  Oh, or how about when I post quotes on the TV & Movies thread.  I honestly don't remember anything about your posting history, but for some reason you make one wise-crack about mine despite mine being almost exclusively relegated to the threads that are not only relevant, but frequently welcomed and quoted/repped.  We're literally on the "Movies & TV thread" right now and you're still whining about poeple making too many movie references.  Do you get upset at topless women at strip clubs too?    

Did I post something that upset you awhile back because your categorical knowledge of my posting history is almost as annoying as my movie quote history.  

And to be thorough, which your wife said I am and you are not, the vast vast majority of anything I've ever quoted or referenced has NOT come from anything released in a movie theater in the last 25 years.  

That it bothers you on this non-serious site that people pull out show quotes from their ass to lighten things up on threads where there's already quotes abound, is kinda strange.  For instance, we were having a future of theater discussion and some of us peppered in a real estate discussion which is a HUGE part of the theater business model.  And you have to still attempt sly digs.  It'd be one thing if you were remotely funny or interesting.  I dunno, shit...for all I know you're a hoot in real life.  But as it stands, the only people who complain as much as you do each week about people quoting movies are women.  Congrats on being one of the more rugged looking ones.  Have some pos rep to go with your period.  You're still beautiful when you're emotional.    

Edited September 15, 2020 by Lobo