My partner and I were discussing all this after our experience, and we came to the conclusion that the future of cinema is community. Smaller, local screens that show one movie at a time for a price that covers the running costs.

There's a little community owned cinema in the town they're from; one of the oldest purpose built cinemas in the world, no less. It's not making anyone a millionaire, but it does show a good selection of new movies in a nice building that the locals are proud of. If it wasn't a 2 hour drive away, I'd be inclined to watch most movies there.

[–] lichtmetzger@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

the future of cinema is community

I'm from Germany and I took a trip to Nuremberg this year. They have a very popular and massive cinema, because they understand the culture. You can find dancefloors in there, a big cafe area to hang out, an underground cinema where they carved the screen out of the wall (it's like the batcave with a screen). They livestream soccer matches and you can even listen to audiodramas in a dark room or watch movies on the roof at night with drinks served.

It's really amazing and I wish more cinemas would understand that surviving on endless Marvel movies will not work out for them in the future. Cinemas need to do more activities to draw people in.