[Dilligas]

Cineworld Group PLC, the world's second biggest theater chain and the owner of Regal Cinemas, is preparing to file for bankruptcy after struggling to rebuild its audience. The British entertainment conglomerate, which reopened theaters last year, said attendance has lagged due to a lack of blockbuster films and will likely persist through November, potentially complicating efforts to cut its debt.

Cineworld operates 751 sites in 10 countries, including more than 500 Regal Cinemas theaters in the US. It saw about 95 million moviegoers in 2021, compared to the 275 million in 2019. Earlier this year, the company said it was looking for new sources of liquidity, as it faces payment obligations to former Regal shareholders and a multimillion-dollar dispute over its failed acquisition of Canada's Cineplex. Cineworld had net debt of $8.9B at the end of 2021 and revenues of $1.8B.

Total box office ticket sales in the US have been down roughly 30%, compared to prepandemic levels (see comparison), partly due to some production companies choosing to directly release to streaming platforms.

[Tvflguy]

It would have to be a fantastic blockbuster in order to get us away from our large flatscreen with surround sound. Able to pause, lounge, cheap popcorn and snacks etc.

Covid, $$$$, and a cozy home seriously impacted our desire to go to movie theaters. Looks as if a % of the TV and USA population agree.

[retiredguy123]

If they want more people to go to the theater:

Ban cell phones
Remove people who talk during the movie
Start the movie on time, and don't allow late comers
Provide a headline jack to connect to your personal headphones

[Stu from NYC]

The market for people watching films in theaters has peaked and will never get to where it was.

This is why only one theatre in the villages has reopened and hope that one will survive

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Tvflguy

It would have to be a fantastic blockbuster in order to get us away from our large flatscreen with surround sound. Able to pause, lounge, cheap popcorn and snacks etc.

Covid, $$$$, and a cozy home seriously impacted our desire to go to movie theaters. Looks as if a % of the TV and USA population agree.

Have all of the above. Set up is good but can not replicate good movie experience at home. Still enjoy seeing a good movie at the theatre. We only go to the AMC theatre in Leesburg which has the oversized reclining chairs and with very few distractions(like I have at home) Hope same thing does not happen to them.

[tophcfa]

Digital photography took down the likes of Polaroid, e-mail and electronic billing would have taken down the post office without tax payer funded bailouts, video streaming already took down Blockbuster, now it’s also taking down the Movie Theater Industry and replacing it with a whole new business model of content delivery. Like it or not, stuff changes and there’s nothing we can do about it. I just wish streaming wasn’t so complicated and constantly changing. When we want to watch sometime we just want to have one remote, click the on button, and scrolling through the channels. We spend so little time watching TV anyways, we don’t want to allocate half of that time figuring out how the hell to watch stuff. Gotta love the free over the air content picked up with a high def antenna, local news and good reruns of old comedies. We are fortunate in the Villages to be able to pull in lots of free over the air content broadcast from the Orlando market.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

The market for people watching films in theaters has peaked and will never get to where it was.

This is why only one theatre in the villages has reopened and hope that one will survive

It is very crowded when I have gone of late and the Villages' developers could easily afford keeping the other movie theaters open. They are part of the Villages' Squares and are, as far as I know, owned by the Villages. Theatres & Locations - The Villages Entertainment

[Caymus]

I find it hard to watch movies without pause and replay features.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

Have all of the above. Set up is good but can not replicate good movie experience at home. Still enjoy seeing a good movie at the theatre. We only go to the AMC theatre in Leesburg which has the oversized reclining chairs and with very few distractions(like I have at home) Hope same thing does not happen to them.

We also enjoy going to the AMC in Lessburg. The recliners are great and it's nice to be able to reserve your seats. We usually go to the matinees and there never seems to be more than 10-15 people in the theater. Hopefully their later showings are enough to carry them through.

[Chi-Town]

I have a large screen TV and a high end surround system. Great for Game of Thrones or Stranger Things. Not for Jungle Cruise or Top Gun. Plus I enjoy the movie going experience.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

It is very crowded when I have gone of late and the Villages' developers could easily afford keeping the other movie theaters open. They are part of the Villages' Squares and are, as far as I know, owned by the Villages. Theatres & Locations - The Villages Entertainment

Some things will die a much slower death in the Villages than in the rest of the real world given the demographic difference in a 55+ retirement community. Printed (versus digital) newspapers, people who still want to pay for things with cash, and watching movies in a Theater are some of the more obvious examples.

[asianthree]

Movie theaters are heading to a slippery slope, same way drive in theaters did.

[Chi-Town]

Amazed that the Barnstorm Theater is still closed with all the growth south and golf cart access. Maybe when the water tower and windmill are replaced.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

Amazed that the Barnstorm Theater is still closed with all the growth south and golf cart access. Maybe when the water tower and windmill are replaced.

That would be nice.

[Nucky]

I don't want to hurt anyone who has good memories of going to the movies but let's face it. It will probably never be as popular as it was a short time ago.

I survived not seeing Top Gun. I think I'll be fine until it comes to a big screen in my little home.