Moviegoers are leaving their couches for theaters, bringing summer box office sales close to

[Tomconroy]

prepandemic levels.


It’s becoming clearer that audiences are no longer satisfied just sitting on the couch to watch movies. Not only are they returning to movie theaters in droves, theater operators say they’re opting for pricier tickets and spending more on concessions.

Over the weekend, Disney’s newest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” opened to nearly $145 million in ticket sales domestically and drew around 10 million moviegoers out to cinemas.



With additional ticket sales from movies like Paramount and Skydance’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” Universal’s “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and “Jurassic World: Dominion” as well as Pixar’s “Lightyear” and Warner Bros.′ “Elvis,” the weekend’s domestic box office raked in around $240 million.

That’s well above the $185 million for the same weekend in 2019, according to data from Comscore. At the time, Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Far From Home” topped the box office alongside Disney’s “Toy Story 4″ and “Aladdin,” Universal’s “Yesterday,” Warner Bros.′ “Annabelle Comes Home” and A24′s “Midsommar.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/11/moviegoers-are-leaving-their-couches-for-theaters-bringing-summer-box-office-sales-close-to-pre-pandemic-levels.html


Sorry DU, it's over.

[Lovie777]

1. K & R . . .

[BannonsLiver]

2. LOL

“Movies are dead” was the popular herd mentality around here in 2020-21. Spoiler: All of those people were wrong.

[Tomconroy]

3. It was a tough battle, but we won. Congrats!

[Aristus]

6. After putting up with the jaw-droppingly idiotic chatterbox husband and wife duo who blabbered

incessantly while I was trying to watch the extraordinary "1917", I pretty much swore off movies in the theater altogether. I kept shushing the fuckwits, but they ignored me. Finally, when the movie was over, and I was walking out, I passed them and asked "Don't you two ever shut up?". "No", they replied. Hundreds of mass shooting a year, and these wastes of human protoplasm get missed...

[USALiberal]

20. Wow, stress is not good, I agree you should avoid theaters Nt

[Auggie]

4. I like the couch

Theaters are a pain in the butt

[Sympthsical]

5. Seeing Thor tomorrow

It looks great. Before that was Everything, Everywhere All At Once which was fantastic.

I haven't done Maverick, and I'm still vacillating on it. The genre isn't really my thing, but friends keep saying you have to experience in a theater, preferably IMAX.

The Luxe theater about 25 mins away does $8 Tuesdays, and they have electric recliners and things. So comfy.

Spider-man FFH was our first return to theater post-Covid, and we've been going every month or so since.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

8. I thought Maverick was great

Not normally my genre either, but I'm glad I saw it a theater v. at home. The flight scenes are pretty spectacular.

[demmiblue]

7. What's over?

Does this have something to do with your post that was titled "The Covid crisis is over"?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216904234

[misanthrope]

9. Not on this end

It is exceedingly rare that I will venture to a movie, like one every five years or so. The cost combined with the rudeness of the other patrons just ruins it for me.

[Initech]

10. I saw Maverick again last weekend. Planning on seeing Thor this weekend!

[Carlitos Brigante]

11. Waititi managed the previously unthinkable. My GF staying

awake for the entire thing. It also helped that it was a "shorter" run time than the usual. But still, she thought it was hilarious. I still think Ragnarok is the better film.

[Initech]

16. Yeah I've heard that Ragnarok is better.

Of course I love Ragnarok and that is one of my favorite MCU movies, so going in I think I am already setting my sights high. LOL.

[Carlitos Brigante]

18. I have a feeling you'll enjoy it. Feel free to share

your thoughts after.

Yeah, our kid's made us re-watch Ragnarok more than any of the other ones. With the exception of Black Panther.

[Initech]

29. I'm sure it will be good!

I've had mixed feelings on Phase 4 so far:

- Black Widow - meh
- Shang-Chi - good, but mostly forgettable. Had some good humor and action, though.
- Eternals - meh
- Spiderman: No Way Home - excellent, A+. Best movie of Phase IV so far!
- Dr. Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness - Good, but could have been better.

Overall Phase 4 (which I refer to as the Multiverse Phase) I give a C. Definitely not as good as the Tony Stark or Thanos eras, though.

[Carlitos Brigante]

31. Pretty much my feelings exactly. The Dr. Strange 'Honest Trailer' really

nailed it. I was really enjoying Shang-Chi (big martial arts fan). The whole time thinking "Please don't do the big CGI 3rd act. Please don't do the big CG...."..... . Aaaaaand there it is! I feel Marvel is getting in their own way and micromanaging very talented directors. Making it too formulaic..

But anyway. Enjoy! These are about the only thing the kid will watch with us in the theater. We've been going to our neighborhood theater for about 8 years, every time a new one comes out.

On edit: almost forgot. I found Eternals to be pretty awful. Even though the director is supposed to be amazing. Still need to see her other work.

[beaglelover]

12. We actually went to the theater to see Top Gun Maverick. So glad we did. Awesome movie!!

I think the last time we went to the theater was about 7 years ago. It helps that a brand new Regal cinema opened up within walking distance to the house last year. Very nice theater with great stadium seating and comfy seats. We'll be going to more movies there in the future.

[Initech]

17. Yeah Maverick was awesome! Saw it twice!

I wanted to see it on IMAX since we have a relatively new theater where I live that also has an IMAX theater attached to it, and it is a very nice theater.

[Politicub]

13. Glad people are getting out and having fun

With my risk factors, I’m not ready to go to a movie theater yet.

I do miss going to see movies, though.

[JI7]

14. There are certain types of films that people prefer to see on the big screen

And during summer it's also nice to sit in a cool theater.

And it's something all age groups can do together. And go out to eat before or afterwards and it's just a convenient way for people to get together and hang out a bit.

[Raine]

15. No thanks

I'd rather skip the movie theaters, too many loud obnoxious people, uncomfortable seats, expensive snacks and outrageous ticket prices. Anything I want to see I'll watch at home.

[USALiberal]

21. You must live in a unusual place! Where? Nt

[Totally Tunsie]

19. Hoping to see Elvis on Wednesday

if he hasn't left the building, that is.

[USALiberal]

22. It was great! Nt

[Totally Tunsie]

28. Good to know! Thank you.

[ecstatic]

23. Not this germaphobe

I don't bother wearing masks to stores anymore, but the thought of being trapped in the same spot for 2 hours with hundreds of strangers kind of disgusts me right now. I'll attend a potential "super spreader," but only if I can move about freely.

[tulipsandroses]

24. Unless they plan to release a known blockbuster week after week

I highly doubt that most people will be returning to pre pandemic levels. Some things people will want to see on the big screen. It’s almost event like.
At my local theater, the audience clapped at the end of Thor.
Franchise movies are a given.
Movies like that will do well. Other films, Father Stu? Moonfall?

I will go see Nope and Black Adam on the big screen.

Bullet Train, nope, even though Brad Pitt is my secret hubby, I will wait to stream it.

[BannonsLiver]

26. First it was "people will never return!11"

Now it’s: People won’t return unless it’s a blockbuster. We broke our 2 year drought by seeing a weird movie about Princess Diana that wasn’t a blockbuster. People will go if there’s something they want to see blockbuster or not. The end.

[tulipsandroses]

27. I can speak for myself and say that is exactly what I have always said

in any post regarding this topic. I have said I will see movies with special effects, super hero movies, etc on the big screen. I will not be going to the movies in the same manner as I used to.

I don’t think over time that blockbusters will be able to sustain this industry for the long term. They will have to reinvent themselves. I’ve said that in previous posts as well. Make more movie theaters with restaurants and real food that people will like, not the crappy stuff that they usually have.

I bought my tickets for Thor online. An AMC theater. I was annoyed that I had to click through a number of 2nd party product offers before I could make my payment. They have to supplement their incomes with other streams of revenues. Annoying ads when you buy your tickets, paid memberships, renting out a theater for birthday parties, advanced screenings as an event are some things I have seen.

Prior to the pandemic, I went to the movies around 12 times per year. That will drop to half that or less per year. If you have a significant amount of people that reduce how many times they go to the movies, they are in trouble.
The theaters will have to figure out how to combat that kind of thinking if they are to survive. It’s not like I am rejoicing their demise. It’s just the reality of where we are.

A recent article in Fortune magazine suggested. That movie studios, theaters, streaming services will have to work together if they are to survive.

[FakeNoose]

25. Well nobody can take a vacation, so their only "luxury" is an occasional night at the movies

I get it!

[Skittles]

30. too much Marvel crap these days

I used to love going to the movies.

[Meowmee]

32. Have fun getting and spreading covid and

Making life even more miserable for those of us who are high risk and ultimately for everyone.

I stopped going to theaters for the most part years ago. They are filthy, disgusting places full of rude people who screech, talk and cause disruptions throughout the films. I had to complain and get refunded for that numerous times as well as for technical issues. Plus they are way overpriced with crappy, over priced food. I brought my own food, the theatre near me tried to stop me but I explained that I am a pwd and have to have my specific food etc at all times. Much better to stay and watch at home. I already felt like I was going to get a disease at one local theatre long before covid. I think they are going out of biz now.

[Skittles]

33. what surprised me most about the rude folk

is they spanned all generations, it's like, increasingly people simply no longer know how to behave in public

and the way everyone seemed to stop masking and pretend Covid no longer exists makes me realize they don't give a damn about the immune-compromised folk

[Meowmee]

35. Yeah it was obvious long ago

When they decided to vaccinate young healthy people before my father, a lot of those vaccines were refused and tossed in the garbage and others were given illegally to friends and family. And walensky was on tv saying it’s only high risk people who are dying or getting really sick now.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

34. This year's main attraction: Covid Part Deux!