After watching a movie on the big screen for the first time before the pandemic, I’m convinced that watching a movie in the theater is always better than streaming at home

• I saw “Xiangqi” at the Alamo Draft House, the first movie theater experience since the fall of 2019.

• I ate bottomless popcorn, felt the boom surround sound, and got lost in the movie for two hours.

• I’m convinced that direct streaming movie releases will never catch up with the theater.

• See other articles on Insider’s business page..

“Legend of Xiangqi and Tenring” Beat the box office record Since debuting on September 3rd.

And it’s not just the record of the pandemic era. It’s been more successful than some pre-pandemic films, earning $ 90 million during the four-day Labor Day weekend.

The release of the movie proved several things: the Marvel franchise is ridiculously powerful, it Exclusive theater windows can reduce online piracy, And people still want to watch a movie in the theater.

I am one of them. At least if going to see “Xiangqi” last week is a sign of something.

Just a few weeks ago, I watched Marvel character’s stunning stand-alone movie, “Black Widow,” in sweatpants, on the couch, and on a 40-inch TV via Disney +.

Being in a physical cinema with posters lined up in the hallways, bottomless popcorn, surround sound blasts, and a snack bar with a wide aspect ratio of a huge movie screen convinces you of a simultaneous dual-movie pandemic era experiment. The release you made may be useful, but it never responds to a magical cinema experience.

The theater has been abused and exhausted since March 2020

I went to the Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas to watch a movie.Just 5 months ago, the chain Chapter 11 Submitted for Bankruptcy Protection.

Most US theaters Closed from March to August 2020, And the Alamo Draft House was forced Temporarily dismissed part of the workforce March 2020.

The industry has fought a confluence of factors, from local shutdowns and safety protocols to what the studio felt needed to survive. Debut the movie directly on the streaming platform.

The story continues

“Moulin,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Wonder Woman 1984,” and “Cruella” are just a few of the movies published on sites such as HBO Max and Disney +.Many of them are The most pirated movie of the year as a result.

But as the vaccine was distributed, the theater slowly began to open, Watch the blockbuster open on the weekend Also.Even the Alamo Draft House has some benefits-said planning for June Opened 5 new locations in the United States.

Studios are Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros. We are starting to withdraw direct streaming releases such as. I have agreed to an exclusive theater release window. Like Universal, there are still some holdouts Next month, dual release of “Halloween Kill” at Peacock and the theater.

But most of the time, the traditional cinematic world sees signs of life.

There was no better movie than returning me to the theater

I enjoyed the “Black Widow” I saw at Disney + in early July.

But “Xiangqi” blew it and many of its Marvel predecessors out of the water-and if I paid $ 30 to see it at Disney +, I would have a real range of movie brilliance. I don’t know if I could feel it at home.

I was still living in San Francisco when “Shang-Chi” was filmed. So it was catharsis to see action-packed scenes (the same routes and streets I went to work) on the city’s bus system. After all, the last time I went to the cinema was San Francisco.

Certainly, in the pandemic era of streaming releases, the number of people who are accustomed to enjoying new media at home, The theater release window has been shortened.

But for all the speculation about Cinema is dead, I’m sure it couldn’t be far from the truth.

Read the original article Business insider