Direct to streaming - cinemas dying?
Discussion
With CV19 films are now being released via streaming. Will it kill cinema theatres?
When I was growing up there was no option but to go the cinema unless you wanted to wait years, sometimes decades for films to be released on terrestrial TV. Even when they made it TVs were hardly comparable to the big screen.
Nowadays home cinema systems can be pretty amazing.
I still like going to the cinema (usually with my daughter). It is an experience beyond the actual film - sharing popcorn - chatting on the way there and back etc. However the actual experience of watching the film can be ruined by other cinema goers - last time we went one parent let her very young children just run around the aisles, which was really annoying and spoilt the film (Frozen 2: yes we were both a bit embarrassed to go and see it but it was actually pretty good!)
Thoughts?
When I was growing up there was no option but to go the cinema unless you wanted to wait years, sometimes decades for films to be released on terrestrial TV. Even when they made it TVs were hardly comparable to the big screen.
Nowadays home cinema systems can be pretty amazing.
I still like going to the cinema (usually with my daughter). It is an experience beyond the actual film - sharing popcorn - chatting on the way there and back etc. However the actual experience of watching the film can be ruined by other cinema goers - last time we went one parent let her very young children just run around the aisles, which was really annoying and spoilt the film (Frozen 2: yes we were both a bit embarrassed to go and see it but it was actually pretty good!)
Thoughts?
Esceptico said:
With CV19 films are now being released via streaming. Will it kill cinema theatres?
NoThey said this when VHS took off. Cinema trades on a different experience. Might change the size and shape of the market, but they have a place until someone works out how to inject it straight into your mind.
They're holding back their big releases, it's the kid stuff and lower budget things that are streaming.
It'll be interesting to see if that continues if this drags out.
I don't really regard cinema as that 'special' an experience but still dig the sense of occasion. I'll bet a streaming premiere will cost more than my local cinema so would always favour that.
It'll be interesting to see if that continues if this drags out.
I don't really regard cinema as that 'special' an experience but still dig the sense of occasion. I'll bet a streaming premiere will cost more than my local cinema so would always favour that.
bloomen said:
I don't really regard cinema as that 'special' an experience but still dig the sense of occasion. I'll bet a streaming premiere will cost more than my local cinema so would always favour that.
Summed it up for me right there. I do like the cinema - though selfish f
kwits are ruining it, the problem is that I can see a home stream being substantially more than a standard cinema visit (and then their worries about piracy would be justified)
G_Morto said:
People are s and i agree it ruins the cinema experience. It is only really enjoyable at time’s where no one else goes.
On the other hand I’ve never felt the need to ever pay for a stream, happy to wait for a decent pirate copy.
It's strange how selfish and inconsiderate people can be. Unfortunately there are always people who think "fs and i agree it ruins the cinema experience. It is only really enjoyable at time’s where no one else goes. On the other hand I’ve never felt the need to ever pay for a stream, happy to wait for a decent pirate copy.
k everybody else, I can behave however I like". As soon as it becomes available to legally stream via HD, its available illegally so they'll lose a st load of money instantly as people will sort out this method or just download it.
Releasing it in the Cinema means they get first slice of the profits with a second from legal streaming and third via blu-ray.
t load of money instantly as people will sort out this method or just download it.Releasing it in the Cinema means they get first slice of the profits with a second from legal streaming and third via blu-ray.
Countdown said:
G_Morto said:
People are s and i agree it ruins the cinema experience. It is only really enjoyable at time’s where no one else goes.
On the other hand I’ve never felt the need to ever pay for a stream, happy to wait for a decent pirate copy.
It's strange how selfish and inconsiderate people can be. Unfortunately there are always people who think "fs and i agree it ruins the cinema experience. It is only really enjoyable at time’s where no one else goes. On the other hand I’ve never felt the need to ever pay for a stream, happy to wait for a decent pirate copy.
k everybody else, I can behave however I like". There's an argument between AMC and Universal at the moment. AMC, who own Odeon over here, have said they won't show any Universal films in the future because they released Trolls straight to pay per view. That could have a bit of an impact - AMC own loads of cinemas around the world. Universal make a lot of the big films.
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/odeon-own...
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/odeon-own...
I've visited the cinema approx 20 times in the last six months. Prior to that, I would estimate my frequency was at most 4-5 times a year.
The key thing that changed this was the cinema experience transformed massively. My 'local' Odeon became a 'Luxe'. Which meant seating capacity was reduced significantly and all seats replaced with massive, comfortable, leather recliners. 4 hours free parking. Costa Coffee counter within the cinema. The pricing remained the same. It has turned the cinema experience in to an pleasant, adult, evening activity. Not just teenagers and pop corns.
I will certainly return when it is safe to do so.
The key thing that changed this was the cinema experience transformed massively. My 'local' Odeon became a 'Luxe'. Which meant seating capacity was reduced significantly and all seats replaced with massive, comfortable, leather recliners. 4 hours free parking. Costa Coffee counter within the cinema. The pricing remained the same. It has turned the cinema experience in to an pleasant, adult, evening activity. Not just teenagers and pop corns.
I will certainly return when it is safe to do so.
TopGear7 said:
I've visited the cinema approx 20 times in the last six months. Prior to that, I would estimate my frequency was at most 4-5 times a year.
The key thing that changed this was the cinema experience transformed massively. My 'local' Odeon became a 'Luxe'. Which meant seating capacity was reduced significantly and all seats replaced with massive, comfortable, leather recliners. 4 hours free parking. Costa Coffee counter within the cinema. The pricing remained the same. It has turned the cinema experience in to an pleasant, adult, evening activity. Not just teenagers and pop corns.
I will certainly return when it is safe to do so.
now this ^^^ could persuade me tooThe key thing that changed this was the cinema experience transformed massively. My 'local' Odeon became a 'Luxe'. Which meant seating capacity was reduced significantly and all seats replaced with massive, comfortable, leather recliners. 4 hours free parking. Costa Coffee counter within the cinema. The pricing remained the same. It has turned the cinema experience in to an pleasant, adult, evening activity. Not just teenagers and pop corns.
I will certainly return when it is safe to do so.
Pretty much avoided the cinema for years as prices were silly expensive compared to city centres (big chain the only one in town). Then they continue to sell noisy food and don't police the idiots spoiling it.
Streaming gets me 4k at a fraction the cost going to sit in the cinema with the ad ons.
Streaming gets me 4k at a fraction the cost going to sit in the cinema with the ad ons.
Esceptico said:
Nowadays home cinema systems can be pretty amazing.
Thoughts?
This was a game changer for me, my home cinema is only ever quite average in the grand scheme of things but you don't need to spend much to get an experience that's better than the Cinema, and in the comfort of your own home!Thoughts?
The only time we do the Cinema now is if there's an absolute need to avoid spoilers, or if it's some strained attempt at trying to have some sort of cheesy date night
Whilst home cinema "can" be pretty amazing, for most people it really isn't. And that's fine. I'm happy enough watching a film at home, I don't even have my decent speakers wired up at the moment and haven't done for years.
but I do like the cinema, and for some films it works much better than others. You can't pause the cinema, play with your phone (unless your a bit of a dick) and get distracted so easily. For a few years until my daughter was born my wife and I had Cineworld Unlimited which was good, got to see loads of stuff that we might not otherwise have seen, and I rather miss that.
But I do understand the online streaming thing for some of the films they've put out, but the big budget stuff being held back, well, I'll be seeing "No Time To Die" as soon as I possibly can when its on the big screen. The "streaming" cost, I've seen lots of people moaning that Trolls was £16 to download but how cheap did they expect taking all their kids to see it at the cinema would have been?
but I do like the cinema, and for some films it works much better than others. You can't pause the cinema, play with your phone (unless your a bit of a dick) and get distracted so easily. For a few years until my daughter was born my wife and I had Cineworld Unlimited which was good, got to see loads of stuff that we might not otherwise have seen, and I rather miss that.
But I do understand the online streaming thing for some of the films they've put out, but the big budget stuff being held back, well, I'll be seeing "No Time To Die" as soon as I possibly can when its on the big screen. The "streaming" cost, I've seen lots of people moaning that Trolls was £16 to download but how cheap did they expect taking all their kids to see it at the cinema would have been?
irocfan said:
TopGear7 said:
I've visited the cinema approx 20 times in the last six months. Prior to that, I would estimate my frequency was at most 4-5 times a year.
The key thing that changed this was the cinema experience transformed massively. My 'local' Odeon became a 'Luxe'. Which meant seating capacity was reduced significantly and all seats replaced with massive, comfortable, leather recliners. 4 hours free parking. Costa Coffee counter within the cinema. The pricing remained the same. It has turned the cinema experience in to an pleasant, adult, evening activity. Not just teenagers and pop corns.
I will certainly return when it is safe to do so.
now this ^^^ could persuade me tooThe key thing that changed this was the cinema experience transformed massively. My 'local' Odeon became a 'Luxe'. Which meant seating capacity was reduced significantly and all seats replaced with massive, comfortable, leather recliners. 4 hours free parking. Costa Coffee counter within the cinema. The pricing remained the same. It has turned the cinema experience in to an pleasant, adult, evening activity. Not just teenagers and pop corns.
I will certainly return when it is safe to do so.
Make it nicer and you'll fill at a lower overall capacity rather than playing to a massive room that's at best half-sold.
G_Morto said:
People are s and i agree it ruins the cinema experience. It is only really enjoyable at time’s where no one else goes.
My experience has been the opposite, cinema built near me a few years back and an annual pass has meant me hammering through 200+ films in the past few years, I can count on one hand the bad experiences I've had, and this is just a bog standard Odeon in a crappy town.s and i agree it ruins the cinema experience. It is only really enjoyable at time’s where no one else goes. The best experiences have actually been the busiest, Endgame on opening night, A Quiet Place with a silent, sold out screening, Parasite at a Screen Unseen screening etc etc.
That aside, I typically visit on Monday evenings when it's lovely and quiet (and usually a 'filmy' crowd if it is busier) and it's been faultless. Avoiding weekends and 2-4-1 nights is the way forward.
Limitless Pass + taking a bottle of water and a snack from home = averaging something like £2 a movie.
The UK is breaking the trend with cinema admissions, we've been at near record levels for the past few years compared to the last 50 years or so, hugely impressive given the uptake of streaming services and improved home cinema.
Edited by ukaskew on Monday 4th May 14:11
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