As you asked
I think mainstream cinema is in a few years, sadly on its way out. That's my perception and I'm sure I'm not alone. With many people now having large screen televisions and sound systems at home, the cost of the cinema and then Covid-19 people just prefer to stay at home. Cinema rests largely on blockbusters, which these days are generally super-hero (Marvel) and Tom Cruise films. There just doesn't seem to be the diversity of films that there once was at the cinema (or that I'm aware with), due to the environment largely now being competing streaming services that want content there first and foremost. I would have seen Prey in the cinema and loved it. Your film stars (and particularly of old) are now mainly on streaming content unless they're in a super-hero film. I think there's also an issue with how these films
get publicised (or a lack of), because as I say it's mainly those that
get driven. Cinema chains, like Cineworld, can't cope.
So, how can this be challenged? It's tough but I think cinema is about the experience and giving consumers one they can't
get at home.
Rose tinted glasses perhaps, but there was a lovely Odeon cinema in my town years ago. Outside you saw the movie posters on the wall, you walked in and straight away you saw the confectionary and drinks stand and the smell of popcorn with people that weren't all college age and some looking like they don't want to be there (probably with good reason due to pay and conditions). I still remember the cartoon before the main feature and the 'ice cream' lady walking up and down the aisles.
Now with 'modern' cinema and Vue cinema that replaced it, it lacks that personal touch. It was OK when it opened but let me explain my experience...
Outside the cinema, you'd hardly know it was. Darkened glass, no film posters and not much activity. I go in and downstairs, the front desk kiosk has long since been abandoned and there's nothing there except an escalator (albeit next to a large poster of Jurassic World Dominion lit up). You go up the escalator and upstairs they've put three or four touch screens for buying tickets and confectionary - due to Covid-19 probably but I've always thought touch screens were counter-intuitive with everyone pressing them. I much prefer dealing with a person and not trying to figure out yet another machine, but I input the necessary details and then nothing happens, no ticket although it says I've paid. I wait a couple of minutes then decide to try and find someone behind a kiosk then as I walk away it spits out the ticket. Relieved, I go to
get some confectionary - no one seems to be about customer wise and they've laid out this maze of ropes for me to
get to the kiosk. No confectionary as such on display as it used to have. I ask for an ice cream they used to have, but they don't have it. I ask where the confectionary is and they say it's behind the desk and you have to buy it on the touch screen first. I give up. I go to the entrance to
get to the screens and two teenagers who don't really greet you or anything, just stare at me. I offered my ticket and they just sort of looked at me, then at least one said enjoy the movie. I walk down the corridor, empty, dark, few film posters or excitement. I go into the cinema screen room and then sit through 25 minutes of adverts that I see on television EVERY SINGLE DAY. Then I
get only two movie trailers, Mission Impossible (thank goodness) and some awful film starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts that makes me wonder why they picked it. 30 minutes in, the film starts.
We deserve better.
The film Top Gun Maverick though, was one of the best films I've seen in a cinema. So I left happy in that respect
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