Ticket prices have gone up, and attendance has gone down. Although it may seem that the theater industry rebounded after the COVID-19 slump, increased ticket and concession prices explain the recovery. Many feel that it just isn’t worth it to go to the theater anymore when streaming services are so prevalent, costs are up, and no movies are out.
“If the prices were cheaper, more people would go,” Maize South sophomore Megan Vogts said. “They just got raised like two months ago, again, so, it’s expensive.”
Of course, the drop in attendance also relates to movies themselves. Many people share the opinion that movie quality has decreased in the past few years. Big companies like Disney and DC struggle to release movies that perform well now compared to past years. Movies such as Joker: Folie à Deux (31% rotten tomatoes) and Kraven the Hunter (16% rotten tomatoes) should have been big releases, considering their production companies, but they severely underperformed.
Another issue is the public opinion around remakes. People are tired of unnecessary sequels and adaptations. All of the top movies in 2024 are adaptations and sequels. There is a real lack of originality, and it drives customers away. “I think it’s Disney being lazy, in a way,” Maize High business teacher Madison Austin said. “ I know it takes a lot of effort, and a lot of respect to the actors, but we also need to take risks and be creative as well.”
The lack of interesting movies has caused many to turn to other forms of entertainment, like series on streaming services.
“I wait for it to come out on video or subscription, or I forget about it,” Madison Austin said. “It doesn’t really make sense to spend the money on it.”