I blame:
1) Woke
2) Super Hero Fatigue
3) Unnecessary Re-boot Fatigue
4) Social Media Driven Celebrity Fatigue in General
5) Prices
6) Better Home Theatre

"Multiplexes in the United States and Canada had their worst summer since 1981 [ ... when the U.S. had 100 million fewer people] after adjusting for inflation and excluding the Covid pandemic years." pic.twitter.com/yevkLPqdJj

— Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) September 3, 2025

My bet:
Prices.
Entertainment competition.
So much more content to watch. No longer are the major TV shows on a break during the summer.

I saw a couple of movies this summer, but I can't remember the last time I went to movie with a jam-packed theater like 10-15 years ago.

Wife reminded me, while driving past our local cinema, that we hadn't been to a movie since at least last summer. It wasn't a complaint.

They just aren't producing sh** we want to see. Our kids feel the same way.

I do feel bad for the kids. Movies in 70's-90's were amazing. We loved going to the movies as kids, teens, college age. Very American thing to do. But even my kids tell me 80's movies were better.

Granted, I don't watch a ton of "traditional" TV, though it is on the rise now that football is back in season... But I don't know when the last time I even saw a commercial for an upcoming film.

I honestly don't know if I could name a single film at the theater right now.

My wife still likes to go very occasionally. I go with her, but honestly would be fine NEVER STEPPING INTO A MOVIE THEATER AGAIN. EVER.

BTW - Grew up in this industry - via my dad.

I'm surprised its still as high as it is. The theater experience provides approximately 0 additional value to watching it at home and costs $100+ for a family of 4

Wildmen06 said:

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I saw a couple of movies this summer, but I can't remember the last time I went to movie with a jam-packed theater like 10-15 years ago.

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Opening Friday of Top Gun Maverick.
Geez, that was over 4 years 3 years ago!

Saw Reagan last year in theater (along with Sound of Freedom). I recall one of the trailers during Reagan was for a Superman/Christopher Reeve documentary. Forgot about it, and instead saw it on a flight over to the UK this past May.

In addition....I don't think I have watched a network TV show/series in 3 or 4 years.

When Leroy Jethro Gibbs left...so did I.

Did the economy still suck that bad in 81? I can't believe it was a down year for movies.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Stripes
Body Heat
Clash of the Titans
The Road Warrior
Escape for New York
American Werewolf in London
Fox and the Hound
Excalibur


Hollywood couldn't dream of a lineup like that in the last two decades

1. 99% of movies are complete garbage
2. 99% of actors are garbage human beings that talk down to average people. Average people are tired of supporting them.
3. Prices are about 2x higher than what would be needed to just get "some" people back to the theaters
4. Of the small % of movies that are good, over half of them still have gaslighting garbage and preachy wokeness in them.

Movies are expensive.
Sequel fatigue.
Wait a month and stream it at home.

I will give it to Hollywood for Top Gun Maverick.

I absolutely f'ing love that movie. Love it. I got emotional. Total dad movie.

Love it.

Urban Ag said:

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Did the economy still suck that bad in 81? I can't believe it was a down year for movies.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Stripes
Body Heat
Clash of the Titans
The Road Warrior
Escape for New York
American Werewolf in London
Fox and the Hound
Excalibur


Hollywood couldn't dream of a lineup like that in the last two decades

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Gee....it is almost as though there is some sort of downward pressure on hiring creatives based on talent alone.

We would go to movies once a month prior to Covid. The mandatory lockdowns caused our local 3 screen theater to close down, so now we only go to movies when the kids really want to see something specific. I miss it. They would show old movies as well randomly during the week.

But now we have a 45 minute drive so it's just not worth it. Bring back smaller theater experiences and some decent movies.

Went to see F1 in imax and Superman this summer. I'm good for the year.

Urban Ag said:

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Did the economy still suck that bad in 81? I can't believe it was a down year for movies.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Stripes
Body Heat
Clash of the Titans
The Road Warrior
Escape for New York
American Werewolf in London
Fox and the Hound
Excalibur


Hollywood couldn't dream of a lineup like that in the last two decades

---

Down economy in early 80s?

Also, all those movies are good, a few of those have become much more popular after initial theatrical release.

Quote:

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2. 99% of actors are garbage human beings that talk down to average people. Average people are tired of supporting them.

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The old studio system kept these people inaccesible for a reason. More times than not, celebrities are even more irritating than the general public. COVID and Social Media has pulled back the curtain on these poseurs.

Squadron7 said:

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I blame:
1) Woke
2) Super Hero Fatigue
3) Unnecessary Re-boot Fatigue
4) Social Media Driven Celebrity Fatigue in General
5) Prices
6) Better Home Theatre

"Multiplexes in the United States and Canada had their worst summer since 1981 [ ... when the U.S. had 100 million fewer people] after adjusting for inflation and excluding the Covid pandemic years." pic.twitter.com/yevkLPqdJj

— Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) September 3, 2025

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You should kick the ant pile and post this on the entertainment board

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Wildmen06 said:

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I saw a couple of movies this summer, but I can't remember the last time I went to movie with a jam-packed theater like 10-15 years ago.

---

Opening Friday of Top Gun Maverick.
Geez, that was over 4 years ago!

Saw Reagan last year in theater (along with Sound of Freedom). I recall one of the trailers during Reagan was for a Superman/Christopher Reeve documentary. Forgot about it, and instead saw it on a flight over to the UK this past May.

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That was 4 years ago?????

Squadron7 said:

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Quote:

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2. 99% of actors are garbage human beings that talk down to average people. Average people are tired of supporting them.

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The old studio system kept these people inaccesible for a reason. More times than not, celebrities are even more irritating than the general public. COVID and Social Media has pulled back the curtain on these poseurs.

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Good point. I can't recall the PodCast I was listening to a year or so ago, but I didn't realize until then how it worked back in the day. Actors/actresses signed with a studio and that studio controlled their every appearance. This would obviously be impossible now cell phone cameras and social media. EVERYTHING an actor or actress did was managed and controlled by the studio. If you were on the show tour promoting the studio gave you the lines, they did your makeup, they provided your clothing.

It truly was a "gilded age" for Hollywood as everything, every public perception, was all a show.

I watch YouTube channels more than anything else. Cars, hunting, Sean Ryan, Joe Rogan, firearms or anything you want. Theres a ton of really creative and interesting people that don't have to make it in Hollywood anymore.

Squadron7 said:

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I blame:
1) Woke
2) Super Hero Fatigue
3) Unnecessary Re-boot Fatigue
4) Social Media Driven Celebrity Fatigue in General
5) Prices
6) Better Home Theatre

---

This, plus I would add sequel fatigue.

Woohoo, let's see Avengers 8, Iron Man 9, Incredible hulk reboot 6, and have them all team up in a multiverse where we can thwart an existential crisis, and have a gigantic sky beam

Since 81 no more smoking. No smuggling in alcohol.
And whatever happened to the newsreel and some cartoons before the feature.
And prices are insane. Used to you could get the bucket O' Coke and barrel of imitation butter with popcorn for under a $20. Add Milk Duds and Hot Tamales for another $10 spot.
I've not been to a theater in probably 20 years. Don't miss it.

but we need the 1,287th edition of a CGI comic book!!

Urban Ag said:

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Did the economy still suck that bad in 81? I can't believe it was a down year for movies.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Stripes
Body Heat
Clash of the Titans
The Road Warrior
Escape for New York
American Werewolf in London
Fox and the Hound
Excalibur


Hollywood couldn't dream of a lineup like that in the last two decades

---

Are the comparisons real prices (inflation adjusted)? Lots of inflation in 1980 and 1981.

Also, do your numbers include concessions / food / alcohol? The price of popcorn and sodas at the movie theatre has way, way outpaced inflation, and food and booze are relatively new to the industry.

I would be interested in a count of the number of tickets purchased over time as a comparison to revenue. Would be pretty interesting, but pretty sure the movie industry doesn't want you to see it.

I don't think people realize how many Americans are struggling financially, living paycheck to paycheck, driving SUV's they have no business owning, crushed by mountains of debt and insane costs of everything and just now realizing they have to make substantial changes in lifestyle.

I get that that is certainly not the only reason for this slump, or even the primary one...but when it costs $80-100 to take your wife and children to the movies (w/ snacks and drinks)...it's kind of easy to bump that activity down the totem pole.

I can't think of a movie this summer that I thought "I want watch that in the theater"

I have an 85 inch TV at home with surround sound. Movies that come out in theaters go to streaming no more than a couple of months after coming out. Why would my wife and I ever go to a loud, stinky, uncomfortable theater?

I just went to the movie theater a couple of days ago.

Saw the 50th anniversary reissue of Jaws....


Maybe that kind of makes your point about the state of current movies though.

Emotional Support Cobra said:

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Kenneth_2003 said:

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Wildmen06 said:

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I saw a couple of movies this summer, but I can't remember the last time I went to movie with a jam-packed theater like 10-15 years ago.

---

Opening Friday of Top Gun Maverick.
Geez, that was over 4 years ago!

Saw Reagan last year in theater (along with Sound of Freedom). I recall one of the trailers during Reagan was for a Superman/Christopher Reeve documentary. Forgot about it, and instead saw it on a flight over to the UK this past May.

---

That was 4 years ago?????

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Edit... 3 years ago. Release was delayed till 2022
I recalled it being delayed for Covid and my brain automatically went to 21, but it was 2022

Only seen one movie in the theater since 2019 and that was Oppenheimer.

Would have gone to seen Top Gun: Maverick, but stuff kept getting in the way and never got around to it.

Don't care to see Marvel movies anymore. As others have said, superhero fatigue is very real. Add in all of the woke crap and sub-par storylines, it just isn't worth my time or money. End Game was the last one for me.

Looking at IMDB's list of upcoming movies, there is one movie I might go see, Nuremberg. Will wait to see about The Odyssey and Zero AD since both have potential for being really good.

Squadron7 said:

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In addition....I don't think I have watched a network TV show/series in 3 or 4 years.

When Leroy Jethro Gibbs left...so did I.

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Some of the best entertainment being produced period was TV serials, but that seemed to die with COVID.

Sopranos; Breaking Bad; Better Call Saul; Game of Thrones; Mad Men; Stranger Things (speaking of 1980's!). All excellent.

Since COVID, a whole lot of mediocre TV content.

Girl Boss!

I went to see a couple of Studio Ghibli movies in the theatre last year. Was fun. Half-filled theatres, but still fun.