Thursday, February 08, 2007

"13% said they don’t like the crowds in the theater"

Have you read Zogby's movie survey? It's presented as an indictment of the kind of movies Hollywood's been making, but there might be another problem: "The majority (63%) said they would rather have free unlimited DVD rentals with no late fees for a year than a year’s worth of free unlimited movie passes (30%)." Seems that we like movies. We just don't like each other.

So much for that "shared social experience."

6 comments:

Mr. Middlebrow said...

It could have something to do with the fact that we can't get each other to shut the hell up--the "shared social experience" having morphed into the "force-fed running commentary with ring-tone accompaniment."

In case you can't tell, nothing gets my curmudgeon on like a night at the movies. :^\

I go to about three movies a year, partly out of practical necessity (parent of a two-year-old), but equally because the experience of watching a movie is more enjoyable (technically and socially) in my living room than in the company of the huddled, inconsiderate masses.

Between the preponderance of affordable, high quality home-theatre systems and the usurious cost of movie-theatre popcorn, it's a wonder that anyone goes to the movies, period.

Should I think about changing my name to Mr. Misanthrope?

HighJive said...

...or Mr. Movie Channel

Reel Fanatic said...

I think you might have a point there, but another issue, if I may be more than a bit of a curmudgeon, I think the bigger problem is that Hollywood tailors most of its movies to teenagers who have, for the most part, stopped going o the movies already

Moda di Magno said...

It's a toss up for me:

-40% crappy movies

-50% annoying frigging people who don't shut up, in addition to the tallest person in the world that will always sit in front of me now matter where I am and

-10% lack of SnoCaps at the concession stand.

But mostly the annoying frigging people. And the tall guy. And the crappy movies.

Though I will venture out periodically for a first run film anytime George Clooney calls.

Anonymous said...

"but equally because the experience of watching a movie is more enjoyable (technically and socially) in my living room than in the company of the huddled,"

That's what it's become for me.

Well, that, and I just hate the general public.

Irene Done said...

It warms my cold, cranky heart that you all feel this way about theaters. I thought it was just me!

Funny how the only people who talk up that "shared social experience" are industry insiders who see most of their movies at press screenings and premiers. I imagine that's a different atmosphere.