By Caitlin Acker
Staff Writer
It’s no secret that the theater industry has lost its spark. When did people stop visiting the theaters? Could the hype be coming back? Theaters used to be the go-to spot to be on the weekends, but following the COVID-19 pandemic, ticket sales never returned to their previous levels. While sales are still lower than before, they are gradually rising.
AMC movie theater employee Emrie Pegram feels that the movie theaters have been far from empty. With new blockbusters coming out, many people are splurging on movie tickets to bring back that nostalgic feeling of the theaters.
“A lot of people come down to spend time with their families for the Holidays,” Pegram said. “So they, many times, go to see a movie together. Also, during the holidays, we got a lot of movies that came out, such as Avatar, SpongeBob, and Zootopia.”
The theaters can be more than just a one-time event. People limit themselves to only going a few times a year. However, Pegram believes that certain deals at the theaters may reel people in to watch more movies.
“We have memberships where you can see three free movies during the week, and with streaming services like Netflix raising their prices, this membership could change the game,” Pegram said.
Theaters are not only a place to watch a good movie; they are a spot to enjoy time with your friends and bond over similar movie tastes. People have lost the essence of the movie theaters and how they are supposed to be enjoyed, and it’s important that we try to restore them to their prime.
With Oscar season upon us, it’s a good time to visit your local movie theater and catch up on the award-winning movies. Major theater chains like AMC and Cinemark often bring back Oscar-nominated films for limited-time screenings prior to the night of the Oscars.
Recent movie releases that are popular among the R.J. Reynolds High School student body are Marty Supreme, Weapons, and The Housemaid. These are all good movies that you have to enjoy at some point.
New big blockbusters like Wicked: for good, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and F1 are designed to be seen on the big screen. This is why people must visit the theaters to get the full effect of the movie. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of watching an action movie in the theaters.
Couples often run out of activities to do on Valentine’s Day, but the theaters are the perfect place for a Valentine’s Day date. Not only are the theaters good for couples, but also for a Galentine’s activity with your friends. With movies like Wuthering Heights coming out right around Valentine’s Day, the theaters will be the perfect place to spend the weekend with your friends or significant other.
While the theater’s popularity is far from what it used to be, there is still a chance that it can be popularized again. With new movies being released over the Holidays, it has attracted many back to the big screen. Next time you don’t have anything to do, remember the theaters are always a good place to visit.