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Zhyl

I think if I were to pitch something like the small London theatres, there'd be a market. The differences:

* Smaller screens

* Comfier seats

* Higher quality snacks

* Plus beers, cocktails, small appertiser type meals (e.g. sliders or similar)

* Films known to have cinematic/spectacular appeal from any time rather than just the latest releases.

* 'The Room' playing once a month

I would absolutely pay current cinema prices, plus food + drink for an afternoon of comfort and films that I otherwise wouldn't see, in the atmosphere they were meant for. I guess it brings it closer to theatre in that sense as you tend to have a better idea of what you're seeing, whether people like it, whether you already like it and whether it's going to be worth your time/money.

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Not sure if it’s nationwide, but my local Vue halved their seat count a few years ago, replacing the crappy fold-down seats with ultra-spacious recliners. It really made a huge difference and pre-pandemic I’d try to go at least once a month, especially at quiet times when I was often one of only two or three people in the screen.

Obviously the fact that so few other people were there is not great for the theatre, but it was a really enjoyable experience.

Not to mention it set up something of a feedback loop—I’d see trailers for upcoming films that I would then go back to see. I don’t really see ads for films at home, so even though cinemas reopened some time ago I hadn’t thought to go until recently (well, that and the fact that it’s probably a hot-bed for infection).

Is that Cambridge? They did that at the Grafton Centre and I went much more often.

Newcastle-under-Lyme: I guess they’ve done it in a lot of them

Did they start charging more for the recliners?

The cinemas in Singapore have both fold-down seats and recliners, and the premium halls with recliners cost 3x more.

What that sounds like is a party room that comes with a wide screen entertainment system. What might make that work would be a system where you can group up with people you are more connected to, not complete strangers.

It already works. There are lots of local independent cinemas like this.

My understanding is that their economics have been tenuous, especially if they're trying to compete with commercial theater-like AV technology.

What I'd love to see would be group-buys at local theaters, with the entire catalog of film at pre-negotiated prices.

You’ve just described The Alamo Drafthouse. A chain of movie theaters based in Austin, TX and now making it’s way across the continental US. If you’re in an American metro area there’s a strong chance that there may be one in your city.

The culture of cinema appreciation and improved experience that they’re fostering is such a significant improvement over the sterile feel of Regal or AMC-type cinemas that I will always favor The Drafthouse over them whenever I can.

They have my strongest recommendation.

There is a strong appreciation for cinema that permeates the entire chain. From their programming of new AND old films, to their special events, to their creativity in presentation.

There’s a lot of little touches that really make a difference. As you wait in the theater for the show to start they play purpose-made 30 minute pre-rolls that relate to the film you’re about to watch. These can include videos that flesh-out or explain the lore of the story you’re about to watch, funny Youtube clips of home-made skits based around the film’s IP, or bizarre film-nerd deep cuts that you would never see unless you know the type of person who collects them (Turkish Spiderman comes to mind).

All of this replaces the teeth-grindingly irritating commercial reels that play in most theaters while you wait. The kind with shitty purpose-made “Hollywood Insider” trivia clips, or “unscramble the celebrity name” quizzes. The difference that it makes to not have to endure these while you wait for the movie is significantly more enjoyable.

>I would absolutely pay current cinema prices, plus food + drink for an afternoon of comfort and films that I otherwise wouldn't see, in the atmosphere they were meant for. I guess it brings it closer to theatre in that sense as you tend to have a better idea of what you're seeing, whether people like it, whether you already like it and whether it's going to be worth your time/money.

All of the theaters in CA/WA that I've been too in the last 5-10 years fit your description with the exception of the last two points (I avoid theaters without #4). There's nothing like a Pixar movie in theaters with a pitcher of Imperial Stout and surf-and-turf dinner.

I would also show TV shows.

For example Rerun the wire or the sopranos one episode a week

And I don't have a nationwide perspective, so it might be different elsewhere, but every theater I've been to over the past decade or so has been slowly converging on that model.

When does it converge into a home theater in someone’s house where you can just drink/stream what you want?

Probably never. People like to go out for the experience. You might as well ask when pubs will converge into people just drinking in their kitchens.

Well, I'm not gonna lie, I'm already doing that an order of magnitude more often than going to a movie theater. But then again, maybe that supports the point - now that huge TVs are so common, is there anyone who wanted to watch movies at home that wasn't already doing it in 2019?

So a high-end home-cinema setup (heh) that you can rent for those who don't have the space or can't afford the hardware?

Sadly charging people money to view stuff on your home cinema is pretty much impossible to do legally.

AirBnB for home cinemas would be awesome if it existed though!

What if it's 'bring your own entertainment', and you're just renting the room and equipment? They login to their own netflix account and play whatever???

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