Eyes blinking to adjust from the stark fluorescent hallways of the Ithaca Mall, you stare into the sparsely lit lobby that somehow seems expansive and claustrophobia-inducing at the same time. The carpets, nauseatingly patterned and stained with unknown substances, mask the sound of your footsteps as you walk towards concessions. You’re craving some protein to energize you for the show, but will you order a hot dog today? Not if you value your life. You settle for stale popcorn, buying the large bucket even as your wallet cries out in protest. Nearly every Ithacan has experienced the sensory confusion that is Regal Cinemas. Some might say their fondest memories stem from giggling in the dark with their friends during an awful live-action Disney remake or bawling their eyes out after Avengers: Endgame. As the only commercial theater in town, we depend on it for mainstream movies that are unavailable for viewing at Cinemapolis. But, along with everything else involving public exposure, moviegoing habits changed once the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Cineworld, the parent owner of Regal Cinemas, has recently announced an indefinite closure of all United States locations.
In his article addressing the closure, Brian Crandall from the Ithaca Voice explains, “The multinational theater chain…[has] struggled to address issues raised by the COVID pandemic, since the virus spreads most readily in enclosed spaces with extended exposure, the exact sort of thing that happens when you’re watching a movie.” The pandemic, coupled with the growing prevalence of streaming services, has put all cinemas in jeopardy. With countless delayed releases and half-filmed movies, movie theaters are losing their sole purpose of existence. “Revenue for Cineworld has fallen 70 percent in the first half of the year when compared to the same period in 2019,” Crandall explains. Movies that have come out this year, such as WarnerMedia’s Wonder Woman 1984 and Pixar’s Soul, have been released on their respective streaming services for viewers to enjoy risk-free in the comfort of their own homes. With this cleaner, more comfortable alternative available, will people ever want to go back into movie theaters? Even without the threat of a pandemic, Regal was never the most sanitary place to spend two hours. If movies continue to be released on streaming services after the pandemic, it seems as if movie theaters might become obsolete.
Wondering whether the populace was truly ready to abandon movie theaters, I polled IHS students to gain insight. First I asked my peers what they missed most about going to the movies. Out of the 92 students that responded, 60% reportedly miss the experience of having a good time with their friends. Since lockdowns and regulations have deprived us of gathering with our friends, I expected this answer to be popular. Others responded that they miss the general vibe of the movie theater, the chance to see new releases, or the thrill of sneaking in outside food. This made me wonder if the actual theater affected how people felt about the movie viewing experience or if it was more about being surrounded by friends, family, and food. To answer this question, I asked what students would do if, after the pandemic, cinema companies continued to release their movies on streaming services as well as in theaters. While 40.7% agreed that they’d have all their friends over to watch the movie at home, 59.9% responded that they’d still go out to theaters. Even though the floor is sticky and the food is subpar, moviegoing is an integral part of American culture and the experience is not solely about the film being shown. It’s about spending pocket money on a ticket, giggling with your friends as you carry armfuls of snacks into the theater, tumbling over rows of people into your seats, and guessing how many previews will show before the lights dim and the film transports you into another world. For many people, going to the movies was a family bonding activity, and for others it was a way to escape their home life and claim independence for a night. Movie theaters hold nostalgia for a time when we could stay out late with our friends and reminisce over the experience the next day at school, or a rare moment where the whole family could get along and laugh with each other in the darkness of a theater. According to my poll, my peers and I agree that we cannot bear to lose these childhood memories. Let’s hope that the pandemic does not rob us of our movie theaters!