Following remarks by MPA chairman-CEO Charles Rivkin on Tuesday at CinemaCon, National Association of Theatre Owners chief John Fithian and No. 1 global circuit AMC boss Adam Aron took the stage to continue the patriotic messages for theatrical exhibition about how they are an essential to a multibillion-dollar industry.
Fithian exclaimed “we will rise again” after a pandemic that has crippled the business, not to mention an entertainment industry intoxicated on crushing the theatrical window.
“Exclusive release periods remain vital to the success of the theatrical business,” Fithian said while applauding filmmakers who embrace the big screen, and don’t believe that “movie theaters are of the past.” Images of Tenet director Christopher Nolan and Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins were splashed on the screen.
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“To make one thing crystal clear that the best work that they make is made for the big screen,” said Fithian. “Leading creatives know better, and they are on the right side of history.”
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“Simultaneous release does not work,” added Fithian, underscoring how the windows model is the most vibrant financially for a film’s lifecycle. “It doesn’t work for anyone. A steady flow of strong movies released with windows is essential to the recovery of the industry and to the profitability for the entire ecosystem.”
He added “Exclusive release periods remain vital to the survival and success of the industry. They won’t be what they were before, but they can’t be what they were during the pandemic.”
NATO slammed Disney during the second weekend of Black Widow after it dropped 68%, the worst for a Disney-released MCU title, attributing the loss to the pic’s availability in homes on the studio’s streaming service.
In closing, Fithian said, “We are entering a great era of experimentations. Movies that were starting to shy away from theatrical release will grace our screens again. Customers want more options. Our members will redefine what the theatrical experience means. Cinema is much more than a passive form of entertainment, it’s immersive and life-changing. People around the world had movies taken away from them and the longing to return to the theatrical experience was palpable. The sense of community that cinema creates is more important than ever.”
Aron, meanwhile, told those in the room that only way for the film industry to generate billions is to “Show movies in movie theaters first.”
“The only way to prevent massive piracy, show movies in movie theaters first!” he said.
“There is a happy Hollywood ending that will be unfolding before all of us. Look at the history books,” said Aron, recounting the Spanish flu of the early 20th century. “It was the roaring ’20s!”
“Our industry is that of the sequel,” said Aron. “Roaring ’20s is a movie that will be coming soon to a theater near you.”
Speaking for myself, a former movie theater designer, builder and operator, the exhibition at cineplexes is not good. The mystique in presentation is missing. Too many screens, too much pre show garbage that wears the viewer down before the main attraction.
Trim the amount of screens. Make each one special with draperies and refinements of ages past. Show a few trailers, a cartoon and the feature. Stop beating the viewer to death. Look at operators such at Oakland’s Grand Lake and other single screen operations. Time to get back to the meaning of what theater is.
With the prices of theaters tickets, food, and drinks I hope they all go out of business. Why would anyone want it?
Your house has a better tv and better sound for a bit more invested. You can eat all the popcorn and snacks you want, even order a pizza for way cheaper. Not to mention pause it and go to the bathroom
That is some of the things even before you bring up covid, sticky floors, nasty seats, and rude people in their at times. Just isn’t worth it.
The movie industry has been dying a long time now. I feel very sorry for theater owners in the sense it crashed, but at the same time jacking up prices and making it hard for families to go is there own doing.
I love seeing movies on a big screen. No matter how good someone’s home theatre setup is (and I’ve been in some pretty impressive ones!) it’s simply not the same experience, which is why I’m confident that theatrical exhibition still has a robust future ahead of it.
When “Black Widow” debuted simultaneously theatrically and via streaming, its opening weekend for both delivery systems was strong, especially since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. This tells me that, even though fans had the option of seeing the movie in their homes, they wanted to experience it on the big screen with an audience.
So why the massive drop off in the 2nd weekend? Simple. It wasn’t up to the standards of most MCU movies and word of mouth killed it much more than the option of seeing it at home. Movies sell when audiences can strongly relate to the characters, stories and emotions generated by those movies. Release great movies that are enhanced by the big screen experience and audiences will turn out in droves and repeatedly. Release mediocre movies and, as was the case with “Black Widow,” box office will plummet more because of word of mouth than anything else.
Why give theaters 45 day window when big films normally drop 50% the 2nd weekend – 15 day window is plenty
Sometimes in life you just don’t know what you have until it is gone.
Is it convenient to sit at home and watch a movie? Sure, but is it the same as taking your family to the new blockbuster in a theater? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! You cannot replicate the experience, the quality, the memories that come from a well run theater. I for one am excited about this “sequel”.
There is a reason MILLION of investors have poured into stocks like AMC and held their shares for almost a year. Yes, they want to make money like every investor but it it was only about money they would have cashed out months ago. It is about saving this industry that is part of our history.
For those naysayers out there, I believe investing in AMC and the movie industry is an intelligent decision “not financial advice”, because as Adom Aron stated “Our industry is that of the sequel,” and that is one sequel I cannot wait to see.
People bought AMC to try and extract pain from hedgefunders – David v. Goliath. Nearly 0 investors feel the company isn’t overpriced. Theaters are not dead, but they need to substantially reduce the number of screens to drive the remaining revenues to a fewer number of locations.
That’s complete rubbish. You clearly know nothing about the film industry. Most films make their box office total in 40 to 42 days. 15 days is a complete joke and will kill the theatrical industry for good. 45 days is a good compromise considering the previous window before Covid was 90 days.
Crybabies. AMC is lucky Robinhood and Reddit exist. Otherwise this Aron guy would be goveling for China money.