By: Jamie Georges, Community Journalist
I always held the belief that going to the movies was a great way of gathering people with a common interest to experience the same emotions.
In recent years, the number of individuals going to movie theaters have gone down, especially after 2020. The pandemic and actor strikes have also affected movie release dates.
According to Pew Research center, “In 2020, sales plunged 81%, to 231.6 million, as many theaters shuttered because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Additionally, streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus have grown in popularity, where watching a movie at home is more convenient. While films can be enjoyable at home, nothing compares to an immersive movie theatre experience.
The social aspect of theatres has always drawn me in. Together the audience can undergo similar feelings of anticipation when reaching the climax of a film, or the shared joy of seeing the villain defeated. Sure, watching movies in your PJ’s will never grow old, but neither will going to the movies to experience a quality film with striking sound, visuals, 3D or 4D imagery, and a room filled with fellow enthusiasts.
There are many films shown in theaters that individuals hold near to their heart. Not just because of the appreciation for the storyline, but the feeling of togetherness sitting in a theatre with others just as excited to watch.
Even with movie theaters seeing fewer numbers of attendees, recent movies such as “Oppenheimer” and “Project Hail Mary” have attracted large audiences.
This is no shock since going to the theatres allows you to experience emotions of excitement and fear, not just with friends but alongside strangers. That’s when you can truly internalize the sense of community a single film can bring.
For marvel fanatics, like myself, it is easy to recall the time spent in theatres watching the 2021 film, “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
I can vividly remember how the movie theater filled with gasps and cheers when the appearances of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, from past Spider-Man films, were in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Fans of the previous Spider-Man movies were in amazement when former villains from past Spider-Man films returned, like Green Goblin played by Willem Dafoe and Electro played by Jamie Foxx.
The crowd reaction continued to be loud and energetic with applause throughout the room, standing ovations, and fists in the air, as the three Spider-Man’s were seen fighting crime together.
The excitement on social media surrounding this movie was high. At this time, it felt rare to not see a post of people’s reactions to the film in theatres going through Snapchat. Within days of the film being released, videos of cheers from the crowds in various theatres created viral moments — a memory Marvel fanatics won’t forget.
The previous Spider-Man movie that captured fans attention remains special because of the memory in the theatre that is attached to the creative film.
Fortunately, Spider-Man’s story continues, extending the strong connection they built in theaters.
The upcoming film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” is set to release in theaters July 31. Positive fan reactions from the prior film have created high expectations for this new movie.
The movie’s cast posted the trailer for the upcoming film, taking the news to their socials to share with fans. Within days of revealing the trailer millions have watched, suggesting a large interest and possible high movie theater attendance.
Just as recent movies have attracted larger audiences, I have no fear “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will do the same.
Going to the theatre showcases how unforgettable moments, like the reaction to “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” are created through shared experiences and emotions that resonate and foster connection in a thoughtful way. Watching a movie at home is unlike the movie experience that invites community engagement in its early days of release and eliminates distractions.
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