This is super interesting. I don't even know what this model would look like. Would a studio exclusively show their own movies in their theaters? Or would they simply own a percentage of current theater chains, the model stays the same, and they're not having to pay for distributing their own movies? Strangely enough, Netflix seems to be one of the big supporters of this. Would there be "Netflix theaters" in the same way there are Amazon book stores now? So many questions, so many possibilities...

Hmm. So, what did this look like when they once did? I don't recall that but maybe it was before my time.

Years ago, there were no huge theater complexes.

Growing up, the theaters in our area each had 2 screens. Then, a mall was built next to one of the theaters and the chain had 1&2 next to the mall and 3&4 in the mall.

Studios haven't been allowed to own theaters since 1949. No idea what it looked like prior, but the whole system was obviously way different back then.

Richland Mall?

EMY92 said:

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Years ago, there were no huge theater complexes.

Growing up, the theaters in our area each had 2 screens. Then, a mall was built next to one of the theaters and the chain had 1&2 next to the mall and 3&4 in the mall.

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Yeah, I'm not that young. Just didn't recall if studios owned any theaters when I grew up.

In 1949 there was no content other than what studios put out.

I don't think any studio today would want to own theaters.

Quote:

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"The Paramount Decrees have been on the books with no sunset provisions since 1949. Much has changed in the motion picture industry since that time," Delrahim said in a statement. "It is high time that these and other legacy judgments are examined to determine whether they still serve to protect competition."

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https://www.thewrap.com/justice-department-review-70-year-old-rules-barred-major-studios-owning-theaters/

I'm not sure what prompted this or if anything will come of it, but it is an interesting question. If the multiplexes are reducing the numbers of titles shown, and those titles are making most of their money outside domestic box offices, then are the old rules still relevant?

Like TC said on the Star Wars thread, we're probably not far away from seeing Disney do that with 2nd tier titles.

And we're already there with Netflix buying scripts that might have been B-movies or direct to video in the past. It's natural since the multiplexes aren't ordering many lower budgets but the audience is growing.

It would lower over all competition and reduce the quality of the goods and services the end consumer receives.

I'm all for laws that enforce free markets, but that's as long as the markets are allowed to stay competitive and efficient.

ConroeAg said:

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Richland Mall?

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The one on the hill? I remember seeing ROTJ and ET there.

Hopefully that doesn't happen otherwise it will be a pain in the ass to determine which company has which showings at any point in time.

Preach.

YouBet said:

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I recall several years ago now the coming death of movie theaters and how no one went to the movies anymore.

I haven't heard the message in a long time now.

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They definitely suffered from their misguided push of 3D movies. They should have stayed with the hi def Imax. I do love these new theaters with the much nicer chairs and sound systems to go with the screens.

I think James Cameron says they are developing a 3D screen, so it will still be bright like a normal movie, that could be interesting.

ConroeAg said:

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Richland Mall?

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It was Richland Fashion Mall at the time. The Fashion was dropped in the 90s.

Remember 4 days ago when I asked if studios would try to get into the theater business and everyone said "Ha! What a dumbass!" (Exaggerated for effect)

I went to a slightly older AMC Loews in an untrendy burb recently and the seat upgrades were fantastic. It meant fewer seats overall but everyone was a lot more comfortable. Even had an old guy doze off and start snoring loudly to the amusement of others around him.

I see the dwindling theater crowd is very testy and protective.

EMY92 said:

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ConroeAg said:

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Richland Mall?

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It was Richland Fashion Mall at the time. The Fashion was dropped in the 90s.

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Oh, that's right! I forgot about the "Fashion" part.

As for the theaters, I remember it was huge when Waco Square 6 and Schulman theaters opened. Who would watch movies on all of those screens?!

GiveEmHellBill said:

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YouBet said:

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I recall several years ago now the coming death of movie theaters and how no one went to the movies anymore.

I haven't heard the message in a long time now.

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At least in my experience, my local Cinemark has significantly upped their game in response.

Renovated theaters. Reclining lounge chairs in every theater. All digital projection and sound. Better concessions. Decent prices. And best of all: reserved seating that can be purchased weeks in advance in some cases.

The movie-going experience is so much better than even just a few years ago for me.

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Yep, we tend to go to the Studio Movie Grill here in Dallas that took over a huge AMC. It's pretty kickass and has the best sound that I've found.

I am not a big theater guy. The biggest deterrent for me are:

- The price of admission
- The other patrons

Biggest positives I have seen in recent years are improvements in seating and the concept of dinner theater (Alame Drafthouse, etc).

Up until recently I had only watched the Jurassic movies on the small screen. I took my son to see Jurassic World in the theater a few weeks ago. As far as the plot and action go, it was a good action movie with dinosaurs, but holy cow it was way better seeing it in the theater.

I believe the regulations on studios goes back to a different era of movie production. The studios owned everything from contracts with actors to the distribution network to the theaters. Regulators stepped in to give the actors more control over their careers, and part of the regulations included busting up the distribution network too.

RPM said:

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I see the dwindling theater crowd is very testy and protective.

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Dwindling? 11 of the top 20 highest grossing movies of all time have come out in the last five years, including 3 of the top 10 from 2018.

Bruce Almighty said:

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RPM said:

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I see the dwindling theater crowd is very testy and protective.

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Dwindling? 11 of the top 20 highest grossing movies of all time have come out in the last five years, including 3 of the top 10 from 2018.

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Black Panther just hit $700 million domestic in theaters.

It came out in February and has been out on Blu Ray for over two months.

But fewer people are going to the movies apparently.