The Current Cinema Debate

[IanM]

Same old people trotting out lines.

Because many agree with them, last film I saw at a Cinema was “Skyfall" which I think was 2012. Can't see me going anytime soon, and that's nothing to do with Covid.

 

[robinthehood]

Same old people trotting out lines. I refer you to post #18 where I said cinema going isn't something I do and it isn't for me and that I hope cinemas can find a way to get through the problems. Personally I'd rather wait for it to come to TV or watch the DVD. Nothing more than personal choice but you crack on and keep posting the jibes. Petty and sad and adding nothing......not for the first time

?? Calm down, no ones making jibes, its just the logical extrapolation... If people dont like cinemas becasue they can hear others eat and talk then why would you eat out when you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

 

[hovis]

Or just buy the food and cook yourself, get rid of deliveroo as well.

It’s not about being desperate to see a movie though is it! Part of it is the night out or meeting friends etc, using your logic you could close every pub and just buy alcohol from a shop and drink at home.

Prior to Covid cinemas were doing well and Companies were opening in new areas, it’s ok not to be interested in going to the movies, but there’s lots of reasons people do go and enjoy going.

I get your point but it's not quite the same imo. My reason to go to the pub or restaurant is to see my friends and socialise. What Jo blogs does on the table next to me doesn't really impact on my enjoyment. However, in a cinema the sole purpose (for me) is to watch a movie. I can't really say a cinema is social when you sit it silence. But having annoying people around me does affect my enjoyment. So what I'm trying to say is I can't get the same experience having my mates round my house (without the wife killing me). However, for me I can get the same experience watching a movie at home. I do except that some people like the cinema for whatever reason though

 

[Pathetic Shark]

The only time I have been to the cinema in recent years was to see a new release, Marvel, Bond etc but I have waited a couple of weeks until the rush died down and then gone at a less popular time. No annoying idiots with popcorn and sweets, space to spread out and a chance to enjoy the film on the big screen but with a more personal experience.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I get your point but it's not quite the same imo. My reason to go to the pub or restaurant is to see my friends and socialise. What Jo blogs does on the table next to me doesn't really impact on that purpose. However, in a cinema the sole purpose (for me) is to watch a movie. I can't really say a cinema is social when you sit it silence. So what I'm trying to say is I can't get the same experience having my mates round my house (without the wife killing me). However, for me I can get the same experience watching a movie at home. I do except that other people can't and like the cinema for whatever reason though

I agree the cinema isn’t for everyone and have no issue with anything you posted, there are lots of reasons people go the cinema, whether that be social, fans of particular genres, etc etc, but homer used the word “desperate”

Our local Cineworld has event nights were they show (pre covid) special screenings of old movies (The Dambusters was one) or live sports or old disney movies at weekends were the kids get dressed up etc, these are always sold out, I’ve not attended any and they don’t float my boat, but to pontificate as some did in the manner they did is wrong imo, each to their own.

 

[hovis]

One thing to notethread along

I agree the cinema isn’t for everyone and have no issue with anything you posted, there are lots of reasons people go the cinema, whether that be social, fans of particular genres, etc etc, but homer used the word “desperate”

Our local Cineworld has event nights were they show (pre covid) special screenings of old movies (The Dambusters was one) or live sports or old disney movies at weekends were the kids get dressed up etc, these are always sold out, I’ve not attended any and they don’t float my boat, but to pontificate as some did in the manner they did is wrong imo, each to their own.

I hate the cinema but I'm desperate to the the new bond film. Awkward ????

 

[Deleted member 16999]

One thing to notethread along
I hate the cinema but I'm desperate to the the new bond film. Awkward ????

Do as Pathetic Shark suggested.

 

[TheDiablo]

It’s not about being desperate to see a movie though is it! Part of it is the night out or meeting friends etc, using your logic you could close every pub and just buy alcohol from a shop and drink at home.

Prior to Covid cinemas were doing well and Companies were opening in new areas, it’s ok not to be interested in going to the movies, but there’s lots of reasons people do go and enjoy going.

By what metric were cinemas doing well? The industry has seen a sharp decline in the last 5 years as consumer behaviours have shifted - Covid has accelerated pace of change but they have been financially struggling for a long time now, we weren't far away from a major global chain going bust even without the pandemic

 

[Deleted member 16999]

By what metric were cinemas doing well? The industry has seen a sharp decline in the last 5 years as consumer behaviours have shifted - Covid has accelerated pace of change but they have been financially struggling for a long time now, we weren't far away from a major global chain going bust even without the pandemic

More have opened up and a few chains expanded, we’ve had 4 Cineworlds and 1 Vue cinema open up around here in the last 3 years, smaller venues with 5-8 screens.

Figures published last Dec.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/297391/number-of-cinemas-in-the-uk/

 

[GB72]

This is the thing for me, cinema is an event for me. A chance to see a big, blockbuster film with all the bells and whistles on a big screen and a full on sound system and that is also why the producers of Bond are taking the flack. Bond is what the cinema needs to get people in, a massive, general appeal blockbuster with a big fan base. Seen many people quoting the failure of Tenet as a reason not to release Bond but Tenet was never going to have that same mainstream appeal. Bond could fill cinemas with limited capacity for weeks and then the cinemas could get through Xmas with a mix of newer films and festive re-runs. Trouble is, this was lined up as being the chance for the first billion dollar bond film and that wont happen with covid around.

 

[Beezerk]

Because many agree with them, last film I saw at a Cinema was “Skyfall" which I think was 2012. Can't see me going anytime soon, and that's nothing to do with Covid.

Ditto, last time I went was the last of the crap Star Wars films iirc. I always seemed to be in front of some twit who was constantly kicking the back of my seat, or next to the incessant sweet wrapper rustler ??
I have a reasonable sized tv and decent sound system at home, I'd rather spend my money on a bottle of wine and watch a film in peace on my sofa.

 

[robinthehood]

Cineworld to close from Friday.

 

[TheDiablo]

More have opened up and a few chains expanded, we’ve had 4 Cineworlds and 1 Vue cinema open up around here in the last 3 years, smaller venues with 5-8 screens.

Figures published last Dec.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/297391/number-of-cinemas-in-the-uk/

There is a big time lag in this though as cinemas dont open instantly, so for the latest 2018 data those openings will have been planned for a few years and financial commitments made when cinemas were doing well. There were also significant incentives in place by property developers and planners as cinema was seen as a way of attracting visitors who will spend money on nearby shops, bars, restaurants etc meaning it wasnt seen as much of a risk at the time. Since then, all the major chains have struggled financially. Cineworld is in more of a mess than others right now as it took on more and more debt as it targeted international expansion - that debt was struggling to be serviced pre-C19 so of course they're truly screwed now.

If you look at the 3 largest publicly traded cinema operators, Cineworld, Cinemark and AMC - all have delivered shockingly bad numbers in the last few years. Pre-Pandemic, AMC was down 80%(!!!!) and the other two down 30% in one of the strongest bull markets of all time which shouldve seen +20% growth minimum in healthy industries. Streaming rivals have shot up 1000's%

 

[Deleted member 16999]

There is a big time lag in this though as cinemas dont open instantly, so for the latest 2018 data those openings will have been planned for a few years and financial commitments made when cinemas were doing well. There were also significant incentives in place by property developers and planners as cinema was seen as a way of attracting visitors who will spend money on nearby shops, bars, restaurants etc meaning it wasnt seen as much of a risk at the time. Since then, all the major chains have struggled financially. Cineworld is in more of a mess than others right now as it took on more and more debt as it targeted international expansion - that debt was struggling to be serviced pre-C19 so of course they're truly screwed now.

If you look at the 3 largest publicly traded cinema operators, Cineworld, Cinemark and AMC - all have delivered shockingly bad numbers in the last few years. Pre-Pandemic, AMC was down 80%(!!!!) and the other two down 30% in one of the strongest bull markets of all time which shouldve seen +20% growth minimum in healthy industries. Streaming rivals have shot up 1000's%

The metric, as you asked for it, I was using was the fact we see more Cinemas now than we have in recent years.

I’ve no doubt streaming services have had an impact, but as a normal lay person, seeing more and more cinemas opening I saw it as a positive.

 

[PJ87]

Cinema made a rod for their own back with stupid pricing. Pricing people out of going

The snacks are a rip off ... However least now you can take your own in they can't stop you

Local cinema does £4 tickets now their doing fantastic .. well were before lockdown

Vue started to do £6 all time to compete

Much better

 

[hovis]

[l

Cinema made a rod for their own back with stupid pricing. Pricing people out of going

The snacks are a rip off ... However least now you can take your own in they can't stop you

Local cinema does £4 tickets now their doing fantastic .. well were before lockdown

Vue started to do £6 all time to compete

Much better

I know the manager of the Local odeon. She told me that the cinema made a loss on the last star wars film. They pay a one off fee for the movie and then sell tickets for what they like. The snacks are where they make the majority of their money when showing a movie like this.
They also account for paying a mediocre amount for a movie and it end up being a box office hit. Then they make a fortune

 

[Papas1982]

[l

I know the manager of the Local odeon. She told me that the cinema made a loss on the last star wars film. They pay a one off fee for the movie and then sell tickets for what they like. The snacks are where they make the majority of their money when showing a movie like this.
They also account for paying a mediocre amount for a movie and it end up being a box office hit. Then they make a fortune

I’m not sure if that’s a very recent change since they were bought out, but up until 2019 they always handed over a percentage of box office receipts. It’s why they didn’t show the last 2 rambos, as Stallone wanted to big a cut.

Disney also get to name 2 movies in advance where they get all ticket proceeds.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Cinema made a rod for their own back with stupid pricing. Pricing people out of going

The snacks are a rip off ... However least now you can take your own in they can't stop you

Local cinema does £4 tickets now their doing fantastic .. well were before lockdown

Vue started to do £6 all time to compete

Much better

If you think cinema has priced itself out of the entertainment market then you probably need to get out more; 2 hours at the cinema with a reasonable guarantee of being entertained, £15; 90 minutes Premier League football with no guarantee of entertainment, starting at £50 for a decent seat; 2 hours at a West End show, starting at £75 for a decent seat. And if you are a regular cinema goer most chains have a season ticket type scheme that will reduce that £15 considerably. Hardly pricing themselves out of the market.

And you’ve always been able to take your own snacks in.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

If you think cinema has priced itself out of the entertainment market then you probably need to get out more; 2 hours at the cinema with a reasonable guarantee of being entertained, £15; 90 minutes Premier League football with no guarantee of entertainment, starting at £50 for a decent seat; 2 hours at a West End show, starting at £75 for a decent seat. And if you are a regular cinema goer most chains have a season ticket type scheme that will reduce that £15 considerably. Hardly pricing themselves out of the market.

And you’ve always been able to take your own snacks in.

Unfortunately most (not all) who are slightly anti-cinema probably haven’t been to one in 5-10 years.

 

[PJ87]

If you think cinema has priced itself out of the entertainment market then you probably need to get out more; 2 hours at the cinema with a reasonable guarantee of being entertained, £15; 90 minutes Premier League football with no guarantee of entertainment, starting at £50 for a decent seat; 2 hours at a West End show, starting at £75 for a decent seat. And if you are a regular cinema goer most chains have a season ticket type scheme that will reduce that £15 considerably. Hardly pricing themselves out of the market.

And you’ve always been able to take your own snacks in.

Cinemas used to search your bags for snacks. They had to stop few years ago when it was pointed out it wasn't against the rules.

£15? Ok then make that a family of 4

So that's £15 for adults .. say £7 per kid for sake of argument

£44 to see a movie plus snacks .. as some will always get them..

How often do you take the kids to football or go a west end show? Unless it's a season ticket it's a now and again thing

Movies are completely different.

As a kid when my father did nights on a Friday my mum would take us to the £1 Saturday morning showings to get us out the house so he could sleep.

£50 to go see the latest movie.. .

Like I said the £4 cinema cleans up . £16 for a family of 4 and even does meerkat movies so £2 a ticket