Given the rise of streaming services, the impacts of covid, and the mandation of masks in them, I wouldn't be surprised if this spells the end for the cinema industry (including the big ones like odeon, vue, cineworld etc).
I don't see the pleasure in sitting in a noisy, hot cinema with a mask one and no snacks when you can relax in your own home with no mask and no rules and enjoy the movie at your own pace (and pause for loo breaks!!)
I had this conversation last night with my mum who prior to the lockdown, used to go to the local Vue cinema which did a cheap rate on a Tuesday.
The audiences at my local Vue were not great and yesterday's news is a potential death sentence for the cinema industry.
Who is going to go and sit in a cinema theatre for up to two hours wearing a face mask, when you can simply relax at home without one and watch something on Netflix which is far cheaper too.
Because I wear glasses, wearing a face mask too can steam up the lenses if you pull the mask above your nose and this can become uncomfortable at times. I generally have to resort to removing my glasses if I go in a shop now.
I personally think cinema going in this country has been on the decline for several years. You used to see queue's of people stood waiting outside cinema buildings to see the latest big film, with many unlucky few being turned away at the door because the cinema theatre had reached it's maximum capacity. I remember the rush to see Jurassic Park and the potential disorder outside the local Ritz when people realised they weren't going to get in. Very rare we will see that again.
More than 20 years ago, cinema going was a treat. A new film came out, and if you didn't go & see it, you would have to wait several months to rent it from Blockbuster (another industry that has long gone) or wait about four years for either the BBC or ITV to televise it.
We now live in a different world where cinema's are not regarded as prime social venues anymore - people went on dates to the cinema but how many do that now? People are more likely to go hill walking on a first date now rather than visit the cinema.
I also think people's viewing habits have changed & it's very rare a new film comes out now and people flock to the cinema to watch it. Even the new Bond film, that was put back to November - I will eventually watch this in the comfort of my own home NOT in a cinema.
The only issue in the decline of cinema's is the knock on effect to the film industry. I believe the vast majority of money generated from cinema tickets goes back to the film makers so the cinema doesn't make much of a profit at all. This is why you have to remortgage your house if you buy the drinks & popcorn while in the cinema! Peter Kay once joked about having four items in a pick n mix bag and it costing him £20.
CJ