The Tamesis
How is the movie? That’s the question many people have been asking this year, ever since news broke earlier this month that Netflix would acquire legendary Hollywood studio Warner Bros., which has released a whopping eight films this year that topped the opening weekend box office charts. (Many of these also achieved critical success, including sinner, F1, armsand One battle after another.) Many predicted the move would herald the final blow to moviegoing as we know it.
That would be a real shame because – cue Nicole Kidman – all movies work best on the big screen with immersive sound. In an age of constant multitasking—dozens of tabs open, screens divided into ever-smaller panes, smartphones always nearby—movie theaters offer a rare space to focus. Laughing, gasping, and crying with other moviegoers amplifies the emotional impact. We come to this place for the magic—not just to be entertained, but to be reborn together. Home viewing cannot replicate these experiences.
However, as someone who watches movies as part of my job (I’ve logged 220 movies this year and counting, many of them in theaters), I’ve found that the moviegoing experience has become less than ideal. I firmly believe that many people no longer know how to perform in theaters (in fact most public and many private venues). I observed some truly shocking moviegoing behavior: eating a delicious sandwich loudly during a funeral scene. until; translate Gladiator 2 Communicate line by line to your partner in another language During movie screening (actually kind of sweet if you think about it, but still pretty distracting); before things take a major turn, he always leans in and tells his family to pay attention Selenium 7en Repost and film every iconic scene for social media.
It’s enough to turn one away from the theater entirely. Add to that record-high ticket prices, shrinking theatrical windows, increasingly longer movies, and a slew of stunning summer releases that simply fail to excite audiences, and it’s easy to see why box office revenue and attendance remain well below pre-pandemic levels.
Photo: Courtesy of Metro Private Cinema
Metro Private Cinema is a new venture that aims to keep audiences coming back with a more bespoke and refined experience. Founded by Tim League (who founded Alamo Drafthouse in 1997), the theater opened in Chelsea at the end of October and features 20 uniquely designed screening rooms that can accommodate four to 20 guests. Groups book an entire room, enjoy meals, drinks and snacks, and watch whatever they choose: Metro offers a selection of new and classic films, but with enough advance notice, they can play almost anything you want to watch. (Broadcast events like the Oscars and sporting events are on the table; at least one group watched the wedding video.) Each suite features a wall-to-wall movie screen, impeccable projection, state-of-the-art theater surround sound, power recliners, plush loveseats, a dining table set and personalized service.
