Cinemas: new Seaport movie theater, and Hub on Causeway"s fancy Arclight will not reopen. (Boston: house, movie theaters) - Massachusetts (MA) - City-Data Forum

bostonguy1960 · 04-13-2021, 09:43 AM

What a void for downtown.

Just saw in today's Boston Globe how the fancy new Arclight complex at Hub on Causeway will not reopen, as they "don't have a way to move forward." (Don't know how to link stories.) And I read last month that the Seaport's fancy new movie complex won't reopen.

Yes, I realize the struggles, but couldn't they qualify for enough assistance to tide them over until we all feel more comfortable returning....or many of us never will go back to a movie again?

Yesterday, a Pacific theatres reported over 300 of their cinemas will not reopen in California, including a historic Cinema.

I'm not a movie goer, and don't watch them often, period, but what a shame for Boston and mankind.

Are most younger folks eager to return or have returned? There was some publicity a couple months ago about opening night at some chains, but has it sustained to some reasonable extent?

Coolidge Corner Cinema, and hopefully the Arlington and West Newton cinemas have not closed? Still planning to reopen? Weymouth, Beverly and Belmont also have/had small screen theatres; do they plan to somehow reopen?

Can the newer South Bay Mall theatres survive?

Chestnut Hill is open?

I think Regal Cinemas in the Fenway has opened with restrictions? And I thought I had read months ago that the AMC chain may shut everything down, but didn't they at least reopen on Tremont street on Boston Common a couple months ago?

So sad. We'll have even less to return to once society gets back to more of a normal. Gee, I figured most of the closings were behind us by now.

Lampert · 04-13-2021, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

So sad. We'll have even less to return to once society gets back to more of a normal. Gee, I figured most of the closings were behind us by now.

Cinemas have been struggling for years. The pandemic may have pushed some over but streaming services is what actually brought to the brink.

lrfox · 04-13-2021, 10:18 AM

^It's never good to see businesses closing, but central Boston really has a glut of theaters and it's hard not to think that this was more expediting the inevitable than something that could have been avoided.

While it looks like the Arclight brand is done nationally, the Boston location in particular seemed like it was destined to fail. They pegged it as an upscale experience, but that really only extended to the price of the popcorn, the bar, and the bathrooms (which were nice). Most theaters have upgraded to big, comfy, fully-reclining seats, but Arclight weirdly went with the type you would get in a Regal Cinemas in 1999 - slightly mobile/tall backrest and narrow armrest (that you can flip up). Just a mediocre experience in the theater itself.

I saw one movie there (Ford Vs. Ferrari on New Year's Day 2020) and decided against going back even though I could walk there easily from the office. It just doesn't make sense. From that North Station area, you can get to the AMC at Assembly in 10-15 minutes on the Orange Line or about 6-7 minutes by car. You can walk to AMC Boston Common, and Regal Fenway and AMC South Bay are a pretty easy ride on the T or short drive away. Compared to 10 years ago when most of those theaters didn't exist, there are options. I'd wager the spaces may eventually go to other brands when things rebound more, but I think we had hit critical mass already even before the pandemic.

msRB311 · 04-13-2021, 10:31 AM

I agree that movie theater patronage was dwindling before the pandemic. People would rather watch movies from home, it's more comfortable. The last time I did take my kids to the movies was December 2019 or January 2020. I was surprised by the ticket cost then of course the drinks/food. If I were to go to the movies again it wouldn't be in Boston. Not sure Boston needs that many movie theaters?

I would imagine the age range of people going to movie theaters to be teenagers. They can't go to bars yet and want to get out of the house. When I was in high school I went to the movies pretty much every weekend. People used to get excited about new movies but I don't hear much chatter about movies anymore.

Lampert · 04-13-2021, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msRB311

People used to get excited about new movies but I don't hear much chatter about movies anymore.

That's probably just your social circle. There's a lot of chatter about movies and series.

lrfox · 04-13-2021, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lampert

That's probably just your social circle. There's a lot of chatter about movies and series.

Agreed, but emphasis on the series. I think people are still really enjoying movies at the theaters (which have had success by upgrading the experience and simultaneously shrinking capacity), but the series is becoming the preferred norm for big/small screen entertainment. 20+ years ago, it was generally assumed that movies were higher quality/better than TV shows. They had bigger budgets, bigger names, and were more easily accessible (you could choose when you went to see a movie, but before on-demand and TIVO, shows were only on at certain times).

But now, TV series are available on demand for binge sessions. They have big budgets, better production quality (and people have better setups at home for viewing them), A-list actors, and can really dive into the details due to not being capped for time. Even the greatest cinematic success of the last 15 years, MCU, is basically a movie version of a series. There's still a place for movie theaters (I love going and based on the pre-pandemic crowds, so do many others), but not at the volume we had in central Boston to start 2020.

msRB311 · 04-13-2021, 11:14 AM

Sigh. Ok sure. It's just me. Just like WFH isn't here to stay.

And yes I'm well aware there's chatter about series but those aren't in the movie theaters which is what we're talking about on this thread. I hear plenty of chatter about Netflix series.

bigfatdude · 04-13-2021, 11:35 AM

Movie theaters were doing well back in the days when an average TV screen was about 20 inches wide and average stereo system sounded worse than iphone speaker. Fast forward to today, when a 70" 4K TV and a speaker system that can easily demolish your house costs next to nothing, and it's easy to see why they're struggling.

BostonBornMassMade · 04-13-2021, 12:06 PM

Streaming and movies have become a little too expensive. Not prohibitive but it's just expensive enough for you to second guess the value of experience.

More comfortable at home and TV quality is very high as others have said. I do not hear chatter about movies.

msRB311 · 04-13-2021, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Streaming and movies have become a little too expensive. Not prohibitive but it's just expensive enough for you to second guess the value of experience.

More comfortable at home and TV quality is very high as others have said. I do not hear chatter about movies.

Exactly...like what movies are hot right now? Id have to google it. I guess Raya is a popular one, I know that because of my kids...we have disney plus but even if you want to get Raya you have to pay another $13 for it. In June it will be free on Disney + so we're just waiting until June ...

I could talk a lot about Netflix series...and I'm sure i'm not alone there.