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Movie theaters officially dead

Michael Knight

By Michael Knight
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rage-a-holic

rage-a-holic 4555

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On 6/9/2024 at 12:28 PM, mdleast said:

I am/was also an "only at the Alamo" customer since they opened here 13 years ago.  Beyond the no talking or get kicked out being a real thing, the biggest draw for me was always that they fostered an environment that going to see the movie you were at was a big thing (in addition to screening more indie-type movies you are probably not gonna find at most multiplexes).  Always made a point to get to the movie early to watch their curated preshow of clips related to the movie/cast.  Their food/drink menu definitely declined over the years imo but that was never the hook that got me loyal to them.

Did you ever see any of the Foleyvision shows? I saw their productions of Turkish Star Wars and Turkish Wizard of Oz, they were fucking great.

https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2004-02-20/197912/

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Deej
Deej

Good to know I can safely watch a movie at an Alamo theater without running into you. 

ztejas
ztejas

I fucked my girlfriend in high school plenty in the back of my car with the car turned off. Yes it gets hot as fuck. But you tend to not mind as much when you're... fucking.

mdleast
mdleast

EVERYONE'S fucking hyperbole ALL the god damned time?!?

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mchookem

mchookem 16598

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there are a couple of Alamos here in Denver but they're pretty far from us, and compared to the super swanky theaters near us they don't measure up.

we've probably seen more movies living here the past two years than we had the five years prior to moving. one is an AMC with a full bar, some not bad food and great popcorn which is my mate's jam. the seats are all recline, heated (who knew that would be nice here 😄) and very comfortable.

the other is a Harkins theater which is badass - they have a CineXL theater that is basically a more comfortable IMAX, it's huge but the seats are super spaced out (kinda like what Kevin Smith describes above), the sound system is just stupid crisp (we had no problem with Oppenheimer like so many people reported). it's one of those with a big curtain that opens, makes it really feel like an event. also full bar, comfy recline seats and good popcorn. we love catching big movies in this theater...and a matinee ticket is only about $11!

it's moderately busy at times, but certainly not anywhere near full (well Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Dune2 were pretty full)...i just really, really hope it sticks around, as we love movies in theater and really enjoy these!

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RPM

RPM 26434

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I've never been to Alamo or a dine-in theater. There's a Cinemark near work that I usually go to that has XL or whatever and it's damn good. Think there's a Harkins over in Alliance.

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CooterBrown

CooterBrown 18143

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16 hours ago, mchookem said:

the other is a Harkins theater which is badass - they have a CineXL theater that is basically a more comfortable IMAX, it's huge but the seats are super spaced out (kinda like what Kevin Smith describes above), the sound system is just stupid crisp (we had no problem with Oppenheimer like so many people reported). it's one of those with a big curtain that opens, makes it really feel like an event. also full bar, comfy recline seats and good popcorn. we love catching big movies in this theater...and a matinee ticket is only about $11!

I've been to that theater and it is great. 

I was in Fort Collins last week and saw Furiosa, for a second time, at The Lyric. Now that is cool venue. It's like Meow Wolf, Alamo, Mohawk, a food truck, and a dive bar had an orgy baby.  It was probably the worst and one of the best theaters I've ever seen a movie in.  On the floor were old couches and coffee tables and above were traditional seats.  Grabbed a nice IPA before the show.  When we got out of the movie, they were hosting Bike Prom which appeared to be an excuse to ride your bike there, smoke as much weed in public as you can and get drunk AF.  It was quite a fun scene.  They also had an outdoor screen and showed The Big Lebowski a few days later.  All three movie screens had stages in front of them since they're a live music venue also.

 

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mdleast

mdleast 8393

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Did you ever see any of the Foleyvision shows? I saw their productions of Turkish Star Wars and Turkish Wizard of Oz, they were fucking great.
https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2004-02-20/197912/

I remember seeing the promos for those but it never synced up when we were down in Austin. I remember some of the more experimental programming like that from back in the 4th and Colorado days like Owen screening sex ed films, the series where they had the audience bring in their own short films, the very limited series where they showed bad movies and actually encouraged the audience to heckle and in addition to the original iterations of Weird Wednesday and Terror Thursday
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Red Five

Red Five 41183

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On 6/14/2024 at 7:57 AM, RPM said:

I've never been to Alamo or a dine-in theater. 

I don't like eating during movies, and I definitely don't like watching/listening to other people eat during movies. I wasn't the "never again!" guy back on shaggy but I shared the sentiment. The few times I've been over the last 20 years, I've found everything about it distracting. 

However, my last few trips to the regular theaters have been equally awful. Talking, chewing, getting coughed on.... it's entirely possible I have gone to my last movie in the theater, which is bizarre to say. I just do not enjoy the experience any more, and I think the entire time "I should have just waited to watch this at home". 

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mdmost

mdmost 43344

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Alamos in DFW are all returning in August. Sucks that it's after Deadpool and Wolverine but great to have official dates.

https://drafthouse.com/dfw/content/closure

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE DFW OPENING DATES

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is thrilled to announce all of its Dallas-Fort Worth and Twin Cities theaters will be reopened by the end of August. The acclaimed cinema company plans to reopen all of the theaters it recently acquired after their closure as part of the franchisee's Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing (including DFW’s Cedars, Denton, Lake Highlands, Las Colinas, and Richardson locations and the Woodbury location in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota) in stages throughout the month. Tickets for upcoming shows will go on sale on a theater-by-theater basis shortly before each reopening date.

The opening date for each theater is as follows:
Alamo Drafthouse Richardson – August 9
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands – August 13
Alamo Drafthouse Cedars – August 16
Alamo Drafthouse Denton – August 20
Alamo Drafthouse Las Colinas – August 23
Alamo Drafthouse Woodbury – August 27

Beyond simply reopening the theaters, Alamo Drafthouse plans to implement a number of improvements and upgrades to several of the venues. Current plans include state-of-the-art 4K laser projectors and Dolby Atmos sound in a new The Big Show auditorium – Alamo Drafthouse’s premium large format experience – at the Richardson location by Labor Day. At Las Colinas, we will be adding premium recliner seats and 4K laser projectors in time for the Spring 2025 movies.

Before the theaters reopen, Alamo Drafthouse will host a hiring fair for past employees on July 23rd, at the Lake Highlands and Woodbury locations, both to make them whole for lost wages that they were owed before the closure and to give them first access to interviews for open positions. Those who are rehired will receive a more robust benefits plan with immediate eligibility, including access to daily pay, substantial 401k match, paid medical leave, accrued PTO, free mental health services.

“Our number one goal throughout this difficult period has been to do right by the former teammates and get back to providing the exceptional cinema experience our guests deserve,” said Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann. “We’re thrilled to say that that goal is in sight and that we’ll have teammates and guests back in those theaters very soon.”

Each location will host a soft opening celebration for the first two weeks after opening. Guests will enjoy $5 tickets for all shows and 25% off select food and beverage items. Programming for the soft opening includes some of the most anticipated films of the summer, including DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, IT ENDS WITH US, ALIEN: ROMULUS and BLINK TWICE.

Guests who purchased tickets before the shutdown will receive free ticket rainchecks via email once tickets go on sale. Additionally, previously purchased merchandise for INSIDE OUT 2 and DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE will be distributed to guests during the soft opening period. Season Pass members affected by the closure will also be given the opportunity to reactivate their account and receive two months free for doing so once tickets for their preferred theater go on sale.

This news comes amidst a surging box this summer, with titles like BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE, THE BIKERIDERS, LONGLEGS, and INSIDE OUT 2 all major successes for Alamo Drafthouse. With highly anticipated titles like ALIEN: ROMULUS, IT ENDS WITH US, and BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE all releasing during or immediately after the reopening period, movie fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Twin Cities areas have a lot to look forward to at Alamo Drafthouse.

Edited by mdmost
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T’Boo Ted Marshall

T’Boo Ted Marshall 2759

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I've been to that theater and it is great. 
I was in Fort Collins last week and saw Furiosa, for a second time, at The Lyric. Now that is cool venue. It's like Meow Wolf, Alamo, Mohawk, a food truck, and a dive bar had an orgy baby.  It was probably the worst and one of the best theaters I've ever seen a movie in.  On the floor were old couches and coffee tables and above were traditional seats.  Grabbed a nice IPA before the show.  When we got out of the movie, they were hosting Bike Prom which appeared to be an excuse to ride your bike there, smoke as much weed in public as you can and get drunk AF.  It was quite a fun scene.  They also had an outdoor screen and showed The Big Lebowski a few days later.  All three movie screens had stages in front of them since they're a live music venue also.
 

Missed opportunity if they weren’t playing Rad on the screens.
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UpperWestside

UpperWestside 6225

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On 6/27/2024 at 7:54 PM, Red Five said:

I don't like eating during movies, and I definitely don't like watching/listening to other people eat during movies. I wasn't the "never again!" guy back on shaggy but I shared the sentiment. The few times I've been over the last 20 years, I've found everything about it distracting. 

However, my last few trips to the regular theaters have been equally awful. Talking, chewing, getting coughed on.... it's entirely possible I have gone to my last movie in the theater, which is bizarre to say. I just do not enjoy the experience any more, and I think the entire time "I should have just waited to watch this at home". 

Sitting in a theatre is definitely not for everyone. There are things that bug me like people who won’t stop talking. Unless it’s a big movie that I know will be packed I usually avoid going to those showings and opt for ones later at night at an AMC away from the tourist area. That usually works well.

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Helobious

Helobious 9516

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I’ll never turn down a chance to shit on Alamo. Most normal theaters have reclining seats, improved food options, and alcohol now. What they don’t have is the distraction of incompetent servers walking in front of you, or an 18% service fee automatically added on to your bill (yes that’s a real thing Alamo does).

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Deej

Deej 77304

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On 7/19/2024 at 8:59 PM, Helobious said:

I’ll never turn down a chance to shit on Alamo. Most normal theaters have reclining seats, improved food options, and alcohol now. What they don’t have is the distraction of incompetent servers walking in front of you, or an 18% service fee automatically added on to your bill (yes that’s a real thing Alamo does).

Good to know I can safely watch a movie at an Alamo theater without running into you. 

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YChang

YChang 3475

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Watched Wicket this weekend in Houston while visiting family. Made me wish there was an Alamo Drafthouse in the city. I get what Helo is saying in terms of other theaters catching up in terms of food and comfort. But there’s a cultural difference in the clientele… you just really don’t have annoying talking @#$@ at the Drafthouse. 

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Deej

Deej 77304

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9 hours ago, YChang said:

Watched Wicket this weekend in Houston while visiting family. Made me wish there was an Alamo Drafthouse in the city. I get what Helo is saying in terms of other theaters catching up in terms of food and comfort. But there’s a cultural difference in the clientele… you just really don’t have annoying talking @#$@ at the Drafthouse. 

 

Wicket.jpg

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Hermanator

Hermanator 7330

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22 hours ago, YChang said:

Watched Wicket this weekend in Houston while visiting family. Made me wish there was an Alamo Drafthouse in the city. I get what Helo is saying in terms of other theaters catching up in terms of food and comfort. But there’s a cultural difference in the clientele… you just really don’t have annoying talking @#$@ at the Drafthouse. 

We've gone to the Cinemark XD near our house probably 8 times this year and not a single time has there been anyone talking or being annoying. I can't remember the last time I encountered that. Is that a thing? 

And holy shit at that Moana 2 number. I didn't know it was such a highly anticipated sequel. 

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YChang

YChang 3475

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18 hours ago, Hermanator said:

We've gone to the Cinemark XD near our house probably 8 times this year and not a single time has there been anyone talking or being annoying. I can't remember the last time I encountered that. Is that a thing? 

You should be very happy with your theater/movie experience. Is that a thing? It can be/has been when I visit non Drafthouse theaters. Does it happen every time, definitely not. It's just that the chances of it happening at a Drafthouse are near 0 because they don't tolerate it. 

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LCHorn

LCHorn 2686

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15 hours ago, ChickenSandwich said:

From a buddy

54180162515_50c7f0451e_z.jpg

 

This is probably upthread but an Alamo hack is to buy the $100 gift card packages at Costco (cost $75).  It’s like going back in time to 2014 ticket/food prices with the 25% reduction.  

Edited by LCHorn
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ChickenSandwich

ChickenSandwich 9861

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5 minutes ago, Js1 said:

2015-19 was probably very skewed bc of new Marvel and Star Wars movies. The golden era of Marvel too 

2009-2014 was +$10,000,000,000

you have to go back to 2005 to match last year’s numbers, and that $9,000,000,000 is more like $16,000,000,000 adjusted for inflation 

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MonkeyDoughnut

MonkeyDoughnut 10487

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14 hours ago, Gene Parmesan said:

The online ticket purchase service charge pisses me off. I’ll be there giving theaters the double bird as they circle the drain just for that. 

I gladly pay this fee to be able to book online and reserve my seat without having to go to the theatre to do so.

Edited by MonkeyDoughnut
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Hermanator

Hermanator 7330

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1 hour ago, ChickenSandwich said:

What is the service provided?

 

Nothing. It's ability to buy online, but that is in the theater's best interest as it saves them money from not having to staff multiple ticketing people as well as paper waste from physical tickets. It's just a made up fee to charge you more. 

15 hours ago, Gene Parmesan said:

The online ticket purchase service charge pisses me off. I’ll be there giving theaters the double bird as they circle the drain just for that. 

It's why I only go to the Cinemark near the house. $11 a month membership in their club gets 1 ticket a month "free", waives those rip off fees, and you get 25 percent off concessions. 

The free tickets roll over as well. There hasn't been any movies since Twisters in the summer the family wanted to see so those tickets were rolling over for a few months for me. Wife and daughters wanted to go see "Wicked" so I used my credits to take them to the movies for $13. I think our concessions came out to about $24 after the discount, so $37 total on what would have cost $100. Highly recommend it for people with kids who go to the movies several times a year. 

Screenshot_20241203-105933_CinemarkTheatres3.thumb.png.4dd4b7373ac5094ce75248b8a2b457ab.png

 

 

 

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mdmost

mdmost 43344

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Alamo does the season pass which we bought for our family. I think it's $83 a month for the 4 of us. You can get tickets once a day for a screening. I'm sure they get us with food and drinks but I believe if we see 1.5 movies a month, it pays for itself. We've already seen 2 this month and 3 last month. I think the average price to go to the Alamo is around $55 for tickets for one movie. I'm sure some months we don't go to the movies but we've been going pretty regularly since the Alamos reopened in Dallas.

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Michael Knight

Michael Knight 13097

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4 hours ago, mdmost said:

Alamo does the season pass which we bought for our family. I think it's $83 a month for the 4 of us. You can get tickets once a day for a screening. I'm sure they get us with food and drinks but I believe if we see 1.5 movies a month, it pays for itself. We've already seen 2 this month and 3 last month. I think the average price to go to the Alamo is around $55 for tickets for one movie. I'm sure some months we don't go to the movies but we've been going pretty regularly since the Alamos reopened in Dallas.

Same thing we do, I used to go to like 20 movies a year pre-pandemic now its closer to 12

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Michael Knight

Michael Knight 13097

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It was on a spontaneous trip to the movie theater that James Young took a chance on “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” Same with 2004’s “Garden State.” And the quirky “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

They weren’t movies he had on his radar, but he enjoyed them — and “Eternal Sunshine” is now one of his favorite films . These days, however, the 47-year-old computer engineer hasn’t felt the same drive to go to the theaters and discover something new. Films are now in theaters for shorter amounts of time, meaning Young doesn’t happen upon as many movies as he used to.

 

 

Quote

He isn’t alone. Casual moviegoing — when people show up to the theater on a whim and watch whatever is available — has been decreasing, particularly since the pandemic. Not only are there not enough movies bringing people in, but they’re often not in theaters long enough for people to discover them. That all cuts into the potential profit margins for theaters, which are still struggling to bring in crowds.

 

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-12-02/the-casual-moviegoer-is-a-thing-of-the-past-thats-a-big-problem-for-hollywood?utm_source=reddit.com

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