BY RYAN MERARD
Going to a movie theater has been commonplace for years. The overpriced snacks, noisy moviegoers and boring previews all could be avoided simply by streaming movies at home. With all the different options to watch movies today, going to the movie theater is becoming rarer than ever. But this shouldn’t come as a surprise– going to theater just isn’t worth it anymore.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the number of movie theater tickets sold in the U.S. and Canada decreased 6 percent from 2016. That may not seem like a big change, but the number has been steadily decreasing since.
According to Hollywood Reporter, the average ticket price in the U.S. is $9.38. While indulging in a trip to the movie theater seems harmless, the cost of going to the movies adds up quickly. At the concession stand, popcorn is typically purchased, if not other snacks and drinks. Since isn’t common for someone to go to the movies by themselves, moviegoers often buy more than one ticket. Sometimes a trip to the movies isn’t even worth the money, as the experience can be easily ruined by technical difficulties, talkative watchers and a lackluster film.
If one has to use the restroom or wants to rewind to check misheard dialogue, there’s e no possible way to stop or go back.
Families with children have even more costs outside of the tickets and food when going to the movies. If parents want to watch a movie by themselves, they have to spend money on a babysitter to watch their children, in addition to the money that they will already be spending on tickets and concessions. This makes the simple trip to the movies more expensive than what it is actually worth.
At the comfort of your own house, all one needs is Wifi and a monthly subscription to a streaming service to watch movies at home. All the troubles that one might encounter at the cinema can be avoided just by streaming movies on a device.
At the movies, films continue playing with no breaks. If one has to use the restroom or wants to rewind to check misheard dialogue, there’s e no possible way to stop or go back. When streaming movies, people are able to pause and rewind the film at any time they choose, making watching movies even more accessible and convenient.
When going to the movies, people tend to dress more fashionably than as they usually would at home. Some people take how they look in public more seriously than others. While preparing to go to the movies, some people may waste valuable time by looking for an outfit.
Watching movies at home gives individuals the freedom to dress without the social pressure of impressing others. This can make the experience of the movie more comfortable.
While the theater offers a cinematic experience that may not be available anywhere else, the process and costs to go to the movies make streaming the much better option.
Also, there are no worries about having a phone too bright or being too loud, because there isn’t an audience of other moviegoers to worry about.
Normally when buying movie tickets, customers have to pick a certain time slot that fits their schedule and a certain seat location. For blockbuster films, preferred time slots and seating can run out, leaving one with options that might be inconvenient or undesirable. This may be a stressful process for some, but these problems can all be avoided by waiting for movies to be available to stream.
Everyone has different opinions on how to watch films. Some people may enjoy going to the movie theater. It definitely comes with some benefits, such as being the first to watch a new movie. While the theater offers a cinematic experience that may not be available anywhere else, the process and costs to go to the movies make streaming the much better option.
With the ability to stream, everything is in the watcher’s hands– the time the movie is watched, where you watch it, how you watch it and basically everything else, as long as you have a compatible device and an internet connection.
Photo Courtesy of Cincy Savers
