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Changes in the Film Industry Due to COVID-19
by Devin Caldwell
The movie industry was always going to head in the direction of releasing some films straight to online streaming sites rather than to movie theaters. That trend had already started with the likes of HBO original movies but COVID-19 accelerated it. In 2020 the movie industry only made two billion dollars while in 2019 it made over 10 billion.
Watching New Movies From Home
Since many Americans were either in quarantine or under stay-at-home advisories for a big part of 2020, watching movies from home became a very popular thing to do. New releases were available to watch streaming via Amazon Prime from $5.99 to $19.99, which is less than the price of a movie ticket. Films like "Songbird" and "Promising Young Woman" and family favorites like "The Croods: a New Age" that were slated for release when COVID hit, went right to streaming sites instead.
A trip to the movie theater had become an expensive occasion in the years before the Coronavirus. Unlike Amazon Prime where one "ticket" allows the whole family to watch, at theaters, everyone needs their own ticket. Not only that, but food and drinks in the lobby are incredibly marked up in price. The final straw is when you pay all that money and still have to put up with the other theater-goers' noise and movements.
Currently, many families who enjoy movies have large screen TVs installed at home, which make the film experience much better than it was on a small screen. At-home sound systems have improved drastically as well.
This makes the home movie experience much more comfortable and cheaper than the theater one. Plus there is no need to leave the house and find a parking spot. Some city movie theaters can charge up to $40.00 just for parking and that's on top of the cost of the movie and snacks.
The home film experience is an even cheaper event if your home is solar-powered and you have a solar battery. These batteries enable you to use the power your panels took in during the day to power your entertainment center at night.
With so many Americans stuck inside, lots of new releases that should have been seen in a theater were watched at home. Time will tell if this is the future of movie-going or if there will be a mass exodus back to theaters when it's allowed.
Watching New Movies Outside
The drive-in theater had all but died out. A few lingering venues, mostly in summer vacation hotspots, saw a huge increase in popularity last summer. Even in the city or in unlikely places like parking lots, ambitious property owners invested in outdoor movie screens.
With the return of outdoor movies, restaurant owners were able to continue making a profit when indoor dining was restricted. Many cleverly set up screens in their parking lots as an enticement and delivered meals to the vehicles.
Homeowners with yards also purchased inflatable screens and watched movies again with friends while social distancing.
Where will We Watch Movies in the Future?
Ultimately, though, newly released movies in the theater will make a comeback. The return to theaters may be slow after COVID-19 has been conquered but many have missed the movie theater event and will be sure to return as soon as possible.
Despite the fact that most movie theaters have been closed for the better part of a year, there is sure to be a grand re-opening. Although watching at home can be more convenient, nothing can replace the comfort of the red velvet seats, the giant screen and the camaraderie of the other theater-goers (even if they sometimes can be annoying.)
Many fast-thinking theaters have done things like sell tickets to watch movies online or to name theater seats after donors. Now that the restrictions are lifting, the future could be bright for the venues that stuck it out and for the movie industry itself. People will always love going to the movies.
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