Why Can't We Watch New Movies at Home?

[Ben]

I want to see the new Planet of the Apes Movie, but of course, being a misanthrope, hate going to the theater. It got me to thinking about what it is that keeps all new movies from being offered to people at home. Is it the movie theater "lobby" (if there is such a thing)? Is it that people really like going to movie theaters so much that it really is a profit decision to keep new releases in theaters only?

The infrastructure is by now pretty ubiquitous for people to enjoy (IMO) as good or better of an experience at home vs the theater. A majority of the country has good enough Internet to stream, especially if the streaming vehicle allows large buffers. Ginoromous TVs are now ridiculously inexpensive, as are decent sound systems (or just use headphones). Home is certainly more comfortable for people, and that must be a draw because I'm seeing one of the big theater chains is now installing "Lazy Boy" style seats in their theaters (how much more will tickets run then?).

It seems like the movie production companies could make a lot more money direct charging users and bypassing theaters, and they would likely get a lot more people to watch new releases if crowd haters like me could pay to watch them on release along with whatever the current theater-going demographic numbers are. If they charged $10 per viewing, even with whatever cut the streaming side (Netflix or Amazon or New Company "X") takes, it seems like it would still be more profitable to them than whatever their cut is from people going to brick and mortar theaters, with all the overhead there.

I've seen, I think on Amazon, that some movies are being offered as "watch it while it's in theaters", but all the offerings seem to be Indie or other non-mainstream movies. So why aren't more new movies being offered via streaming yet? What am I missing? When (or if) do you see it happening?

[zahc]

The powers that be are simply incapable of seeing the writing on the wall, or perhaps incapable of acting on it, even when it would make sense. That's all there is to it.

[onions!]

I'd bet that the problem has three parts.

First,the theater owners spend BIG bucks to stay in business.Contracts with the movie companies are probably ironclad and long duration.

Second,copyright infringement.If they streamed a movie to you it'd be on it's way to China and South Korea almost instantaneously.Never mind the hackers that'd have it online just as quick.Last summer I watched World War Z in the theater(I was the only one in the room.Awesome!)I watched the same movie on yootoob three more times that week,different accounts,all high quality.Not cell phone wanker copies.

Third,in the theater it's one butt,one ticket.How much would they charge a home viewer?$10?$50?They won't know how many people are in the room.

After just watching Jaws 2 again yesterday I was reminded of my last drive in experience.Jaws 2 and Buck Rogers.Mmmm,Erin Gray.
I miss drive-ins.Crackly single speaker and nasty cheeseburgers included.

[Ben]

Third,in the theater it's one butt,one ticket.How much would they charge a home viewer?$10?$50?They won't know how many people are in the room.

That's a really good point that I missed. I wonder how the numbers would run with brick and mortar overhead vs potentially having say, a family of four paying for a single viewing. There might be some cost averaging with infrastructure elimination that would still make home viewing profitable. An analog would be self checkouts at the grocery store. The stores know that people screw up and/or cheat, but potential losses on people keying in the wrong item, etc. are way overshadowed by not having to pay full time staff.

[makattak]

It's price discrimination. The same reason hardback books cost more than paperback.  (It's not cost to produce.)

Those who really want to see the movie will pay extra to watch it in the theater while those who don't want to see it so bad will wait for it to come out on video. Market segmentation.

[French G.]

Third,in the theater it's one butt,one ticket.How much would they charge a home viewer?$10?$50?They won't know how many people are in the room.

After just watching Jaws 2 again yesterday I was reminded of my last drive in experience.Jaws 2 and Buck Rogers.Mmmm,Erin Gray.
I miss drive-ins.Crackly single speaker and nasty cheeseburgers included.

We  still have some drive-ins, good fun with the kid.

On the home viewing that's easy, your Kinect will just tell them how many people are there and bill you accordingly. 

[Ben]

Those who really want to see the movie will pay extra to watch it in the theater while those who don't want to see it so bad will wait for it to come out on video. Market segmentation.

But I guess I'm trying to figure out why so many people would still want to go to the theater vs having what I would consider a much better viewing experience in the comfort of their home. Again, I realize my own psychology and preferences play into this, but it would be interesting to see a well made survey done of "If you could, which would you prefer?" just to see the numbers.

[vaskidmark]

But I guess I'm trying to figure out why so many people would still want to go to the theater ....

The day you figure out how to make crappy popcorn tat gets grease all over you, and watered down sodas that lose their fizz between the fridge and the couch, and you will have created an almost-perfect movie theater experience.  I'll let pass the sticky stuff on the floor, seats and armrests.

stay safe.

[dogmush]

I have a pretty expensive sound system and big TV. It's no where near the quality and impact of the one in my local theatre.

I dislike the crowds and expense so I don't go that often, but my home theatre is not a better show. 

[freakazoid]

I remember seeing something on TV, maybe the news, about being able to actually watch it at home. I remember it being pretty expensive though.

edit - Found it, http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/03/28/watch-new-movie-releases-at-home-for-about-40000/ $35,000 for initial setup, $5,000 per movie.

[KD5NRH]

It's price discrimination. The same reason hardback books cost more than paperback.  (It's not cost to produce.)

Or $9.99 eBooks of a $6.99 paperback.

[HankB]

The day you figure out how to make crappy popcorn tat gets grease all over you, and watered down sodas that lose their fizz between the fridge and the couch, and you will have created an almost-perfect movie theater experience.  I'll let pass the sticky stuff on the floor, seats and armrests.

You inadvertently touched on one reason for movie theaters - concession revenue. There's a BIG markup on the "food" and drinks sold there, which adds a very significant percentage to the movie theater's bottom line. Even if the studio doesn't get a cut of the concessions, the fact that the theater does is what makes them carry movies in the first place.

Third,in the theater it's one butt,one ticket.How much would they charge a home viewer?$10?$50?They won't know how many people are in the room.

That was my thought, too . . . I've been through a number of high-end open houses with home theaters designed to seat six, eight, or in one case, twelve people comfortably; I don't think any movie studio wants a new release to play to that kind of home audience without getting paid for each seat.

[KD5NRH]

The day you figure out how to make crappy popcorn tat gets grease all over you, and watered down sodas that lose their fizz between the fridge and the couch, and you will have created an almost-perfect movie theater experience.  I'll let pass the sticky stuff on the floor, seats and armrests.

Don't forget all the random cellphones and people who just won't STFU...and you have to watch all your movies at ridiculous times, with more previews than a BluRay has room for.

[RevDisk]

But I guess I'm trying to figure out why so many people would still want to go to the theater vs having what I would consider a much better viewing experience in the comfort of their home. Again, I realize my own psychology and preferences play into this, but it would be interesting to see a well made survey done of "If you could, which would you prefer?" just to see the numbers.

I live 5 minutes from a small theater that has 1920's red velvet and chrome decor. They also serve good beer and several alright wines. Screen is a bit smaller than say IMAX or whatnot, but it's alright. It gets you out of the house, and the ticket prices aren't insane. There's another theater that's more traditional huge screens and more comfy seats at higher ticket prices. Which is acceptable for certain movies that should be seen on the ultra huge screen, such as Pacific Rim or Godzilla.

Not everyone wants to live 24/7 at home. 

If you go to earlier shows or out of the way venues, it's not that bad.

[Ben]

Not everyone wants to live 24/7 at home. 

Hey, I'd be happy to go to the theater if every seat included a cone of silence so I wouldn't have to listen to everyone else talk through the movie. 

[vaskidmark]

Hey, I'd be happy to go to the theater if every seat included a cone of silence so I wouldn't have to listen to everyone else talk through the movie. 

I got yer cone of silence right here



stay safe.

[makattak]

Hey, I'd be happy to go to the theater if every seat included a cone of silence so I wouldn't have to listen to everyone else talk through the movie.  

I know this is a joke, but I'm curious: How many people have experienced a rude patron who ruined (or negatively affected) their movie?

And, as a second part: how many times has that happened?

I'm certain I've never had a movie ruined by rude patrons. I'm fairly certain I've never even been affected by others. Is my experience uncommon?

[freakazoid]

[MillCreek]

You inadvertently touched on one reason for movie theaters - concession revenue. There's a BIG markup on the "food" and drinks sold there, which adds a very significant percentage to the movie theater's bottom line. Even if the studio doesn't get a cut of the concessions, the fact that the theater does is what makes them carry movies in the first place.

A friend of mine spent about five years running a single-screen movie theater in a small town, and that theater recently closed for good because of the cost of converting the film projectors to a digital projection system.  He always said that concessions kept the place open.  The profit margin on things like popcorn and soda were tremendous; the boxed candy less so.  He said that the theaters receive a pretty small percentage of the ticket price, and without concessions, they probably could not make it.

[KD5NRH]

I know this is a joke, but I'm curious: How many people have experienced a rude patron who ruined (or negatively affected) their movie?

The last two movies I went to had people on phones, texting with loud notifications or otherwise disrupting to the point of being escorted out.  The fact that it took the theater 15+ minutes of everybody's experience being disrupted before they did anything is why "the last two movies I went to" covers a time span of about a year.

Since I tend to treat my new place as an efficiency, (more or less ignoring the existence of the still-empty living room since the A/C is in the bedroom anyway) I may end up with the smallest apartment in town to have a personal theater if I can land a good deal on a surplus projector.

[Marnoot]

I'm certain I've never had a movie ruined by rude patrons. I'm fairly certain I've never even been affected by others. Is my experience uncommon?

It's happened to me several times in several theaters from new, expensive ticket-price ones to sticky dollar theaters. From people just outright answering their phone and talking loudly in the middle of the movie ("What?! What?! I can't hear you, I'm in a movie!!! What?!?! No!!! What?!?!"), to someone in front of me texting, their bright screen nearly blinding in the darkened theater, to nearby patrons providing a loud running commentary on the movie.

[freakazoid]

I don't think I've really ever had any experiences like that. Only once was I getting pretty annoyed by someone talking on the phone, and I go to the movies farely frequently.

[Strings]

I don't recall what movie we were seeing at the cheap theater here in Manty, but there was a group of teen boys being loud an obnoxious. I had a small discussion with them during the previews about how I had paid to see and hear the movie: they quieted down fairly quickly

[TommyGunn]

Why Can't We Watch New Movies at Home?

You can.
Just as soon as it comes out on DVD!

"Patience is a virtue."


 

[K Frame]

Why?

Because with no one to pay $92 for a medium bucket, the popcorn and artificial butter-flavored grease industries would collapse.