Is It Still Worth Seeing Movies in Theaters?
A personal reflection on moviegoing, home theaters, and the changing landscape of cinema culture
A Thoughtful Discussion Sparked by Film Sack
A recent Film Sack podcast (#699!) provided an intelligent discussion of what's happening to movie theaters and moviegoing. If theater attendance really is on the decline, it’s worth asking why people go to the movies in the first place—and whether that still makes sense in an age of ubiquitous streaming services and surprisingly good home theaters.
The Film Sack crew brings a mix of fandom and production savvy to their conversations, and while I don’t always share their tolerance for “junk” films, I admire their depth of knowledge and passion. Their musings got me thinking about my own relationship with moviegoing.
A Lifetime of Moviegoing
When I was in grade school, weekends often meant movie outings (my dad managed a neighborhood theater in Columbus Ohio), and our house was filled with issues of Photoplay and Silver Screen, thanks to my mom’s subscriptions. Growing up, I had constant free access to the cinema, which undoubtedly fueled my lifelong interest in the medium. I've been writing movie reviews on my website since the early 2000s, and movies remain a central part of my life.
These days, I still go to theaters—though not often. My friend Charlie and I share a love of action and sci-fi films, and we’ll catch something in a local theater maybe once a month. Most of the time, though, I watch films at home, either solo, with my wife, or (on Tuesday night) with Charlie.
The Home Theater Trade-Off
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve thought, “I wish I could see this in a theater,” while watching a movie at home. The color, the sound, the immersive detail—even with a decent home setup—are just better in a well-equipped theater. Yet the ratio of home viewings to theater trips for me is probably 10 to 1.
Why? It depends on the kind of experience I’m after—and the practical realities of life.
Tastes, Preferences, and Practicalities
My wife and I have different tastes. She prefers low-impact, low-stress, non-violent films. Charlie and I, by contrast, are into action and science fiction. On my own, I’ll happily dive into anime or revisit classic films that almost never screen in theaters.
This mix of preferences shapes what we watch and where. If my wife and I are watching something together, it’s usually not a film where the big-screen impact matters much. And while the DC area offers some great repertory and thematic screenings of older films, streaming tends to be the default.
A good example: we recently rewatched The Illusionist at home. I was struck by the superb cinematography, the excellent score, and the clever plot. Would I have preferred seeing it in a theater? Sure—all things being equal. But all things rarely are.
The Hassle Factor
That’s where the Film Sack hosts hit the nail on the head: going to the movies has a “hassle factor.” You’ve got to coordinate schedules, deal with transportation, parking, ticket prices, concessions. I love popcorn with movies, but I can make it at home for a fraction of what the theater charges (and yes, I know that's where theaters make their money).
Even something as simple as choosing a seat or avoiding noisy patrons can become part of the decision calculus. When you compare that to the simplicity of pressing play from your couch, theatergoing has a high bar to clear.
A Generational Perspective
One word of warning: the Film Sack hosts and I are all from the same general generation—middle-aged or (in my case) baby boomer. My own father managed a neighborhood theater, and that generational experience deeply shaped my emotional connection to the movies. We all share a love for film, but we come at it from different angles.
Younger audiences may not carry the same nostalgia—or the same willingness to accept the inconvenience of theaters—especially when surrounded by a world of on-demand, high-quality content just a click away.
So…Does It Still Make a Difference?
Yes. And no.
Theaters still offer something unique: scale, sound, spectacle, and the communal vibe of watching a story unfold with a room full of strangers. But for many of us, the home theater has become the default—especially when weighed against cost, effort, and convenience.
So maybe the question isn’t “Does it still make a difference?” but rather, “When does it make a difference?”
And for me, the answer changes from film to film, and day to day.
Copyright (c) 2025 by Dennis D. McDonald
