The current Mrs Masher and I went to the pictures at the weekend, to see Heretic, starring Hugh Grant.
I’m not a fan of the horror genre and this film sort of fell into that category, but… it was alright. I quite enjoyed it, actually.
But this post isn’t about the film itself. Rather, I wanted to comment on the lack of people in the cinema with us. It was a Friday night and the place was half empty.
Or half full.
It was the same last weekend, when Son and I went to see Venom – Marvel’s latest cinematic blockbuster – and so we saw it in the IMAX.
This particular screen, I reckon, was probably only about a quarter full.
Or, three-quarters empty.
Whichever way you want to look at it.
I know that cinema has never fully recovered from the Covid lockdown, but the numbers of people willing to go to the trouble of travelling to a picturehouse nowadays is dwindling and if it continues in this direction, then the industry will become unsustainable. Following the great plague, so many cinemas closed down that many people now have to travel out of town in order to see the latest popcorn-frenzy inducing blockbuster, and plenty just can’t be bothered: “I’ll wait till it comes out on Netflix” is becoming the norm now, I think.
My family have always enjoyed going to the ‘flicks’ and, for us, a trip to see the latest visual feast is quite commonplace. But, I can honestly say that I can’t think of anyone else within our extended family – or within our circle of friends – who still visit the cinema on a regular – or even semi-regular – basis.
Part of this is down to the hassle of – as I say – having to travel out of town, but I think a more likely reason is cost… it’s just so bloody expensive now.
As an example, in the cinema we go to (out of town) an adult ticket for a standard screening is now £14 … yes, fourteen quid! Going into the IMAX will set you back a whopping twenty-one pounds. And children’s tickets are only 50p cheaper, so, going as a family can work out stupidly expensive.
Now, I’m no economist (far from it) and I understand how with less attendance, they have been forced to put the prices up, but, surely, wouldn’t it be better to reduce ticket prices and attract more people into the cinema, than to continually put prices up and drive people away?
A full cinema with tickets sold at £9 has got to be more profitable than a half-full one with tickets at £14.
Hasn’t it?
We only ever going to the cinema to see the latest James Bond film and seeing as they can’t be arsed to find a replacement for Daniel Craig, it could be a while longer before we go back. That said, they’ve just announced that our nearest cinema, the Odeon at Kettering is closing in December so there’s even more incentive not to go. Apparently the owner of the land where it resides wanted to redevelop the site. I wonder what they’ll build; I doubt if it’s a new 15 screen cinema!
Some films (new Bonds included) need to be seen at the cinema, I feel… at least the first time round. We saw No Time To Die on the Superscreen at Hemel and, to be fair, it was packed in there. However, that was a few years back and I think (actually, I know) that prices have risen since then.
When/if the next Bond comes out, you’ll have to wait till it comes out on Prime and then sit really close to your telly to get that IMAX effect 🙂
Do you qualify for the Over 60s discount tickets? Anyway, moving on. I haven’t been to the flickerama for… since… well… pre-covid by a long way. I like our local (Nottingham Showcase Delux), it’s got all the modcons: the recliners you can fall asleep in, the enhanced legroom, the mahoosive screens, the popcorn you need to take out a mortgage for, all that stuff. But the thing is, it means going out, leaving the house, getting into the car, driving six miles, parking and mingling with… you know… people. The film-watching is usually great (if I can stay awake) but then I have to do all that stuff again in reverse. I guess I’m just a tad curmudgeonly but I don’t know when that happened to this cool young dude. Anyway, it’s difficult to see how cinemas can sustain half-empty showings. I know they got a lot of their money from the studios/film companies which must take the bite off half-empty theatres but advertising revenue must be down and that’s got to be unsustainable in the longer term. Anyway, I’ll shut up now. Glad it was a good film though, there aren’t enough good films being made… maybe that’s also the point?
I think some good films are being made, Bren, but like you say, it involves some effort to go and see them and many people just can’t be arsed nowadays.
These films will eventually end up on a streaming service, but with so many streaming services available today, there is no knowing which one it will end up on. As such, many of these films just aren’t getting the audience numbers that they deserve.
Which is a shame.