COVID has changed so much about life – from how we go to school to how we shop and eat out to how we seek entertainment. With COVID restrictions closing down many indoor cinemas, going out to catch a movie – an American tradition spanning over a century – almost ceased to exist. We saw streaming movies (with new releases being streamed via premium movies channels such as HBO Msx and Redbox) becoming a trend, and more than a few of us thought that going out to the movies might be a thing of the past.
Enter the miracle of vaccinations and COVID rates dropping significantly.
Businesses are opening up.
We’re able to enjoy eating out with friends and family again.
We’re able to shop with or without the protection of a mask.
And this summer, we’re going to return to the cinemas to watch new blockbuster movies – and we couldn’t be more excited!
Why do people choose to go to the movies, especially when premium channels are releasing new movies via streaming channels? Well, that’s a good question. Here are just a few reasons why we’ve always loved going to the movie theater as opposed to sitting at home and watching.
1. Going to the movies is a collective experience.
Have you ever gone to a midnight premier of a movie? If so, what were your reasons? Was it because you wanted to see it first? Were you afraid it would be sold out if you waited? Perhaps, but there’s one reason we love going to movies whether it’s the premier of the final Star Wars movie or just something we found interesting. Going to the movies is a collective experience. There are forty, fifty, or maybe seventy-five other people who watched that movie debut just like you did. Did a beloved character do something shocking? Was your favorite character killed off? The collective experience of watching a movie in the theater means that you share the shock or sadness with every other patron watching at that moment. That’s something you just don’t get at home.
2. You just can’t beat the big screen and spectacular sound of a movie theater.
Many newly released televisions are offering surround sound or theater sound. Why? Because the way the screen and the speakers are situated in a theater makes you feel as if you are a part of the movie itself. Picture it – the focus of the theater is the huge screen. All lights are dimmed, and when the big fight scene between the superhero and his nemesis takes place, you can hear every lick passed. In fact, you feel as if you are just inches away watching every blow land! You can’t get this effect at home, and there’s one reason why – even with a big screen and surround sound, we have distractions at home. Our spouse might call from the kitchen; someone might knock at the door as we’re watching. You won’t be disturbed at the movie theater, and the giant screen and surround sound place you right inside the biggest scenes of the film.
3. You just can’t beat the snacks at the movie theater.
Sure, you can pick up “movie-style” microwave popcorn, and you can grab candies off the dollar aisle at your local grocery, but nothing compares to the real deal served up at the movie theater! That popcorn at the movies? It’s extra buttery and warm. Some theaters even offer extra flavors to top your popcorn. That candy behind the counter? For some reason, it just tastes better when it comes from the movie theater (and it’s usually a bigger quantity that what you’d pick up at the store).
Let’s not forget fountain drinks. It’s very hard to replicate this at home. Plus we tend to opt for the bigger sizes because we don’t want to miss our favorite scenes in the movie theater standing in the concession line. It’s a splurge that we don’t really chastise ourselves when indulging because, let’s face it, the movie theater experience offers the chance to do things we wouldn’t do at home.
4. Maybe we appreciate the experience a little more now that we have done without it for a year.
COVID changed our lives in so many ways. Many people now work from home when they never considered (or had) the option before. Many people are careful about where they go, and many are careful to take precautions when going out. We miss going out to eat at a full-capacity restaurant with plenty of wait staff. Going to the movies at the tail end of the pandemic – when we feel the virus is becoming somewhat under control – gives us a new appreciation for this American tradition. And we can’t wait to partake!
5. Going back to the movie theater provides us a distraction in such turbulent social times.
One thing about the pandemic, we became more attached to our phones and social media. Guess what? Going to the movies gives us a chance to pull the plug on our electronic devices. Why? The rules of the theater state you can’t have your phone when the theater lights go down. This forces us to unplug and focus on the movie in front of us, not the latest startling headline in the news. Going to the theater gives us a chance to escape reality for an hour and a half. And in today’s world, we need that break for our mental health!
So, get ready to get out there and enjoy the time-honored tradition of going to the movies this summer! It’ll be good to be back!
