During the pandemic, there was much talk about how Covid accelerated trends that were already happening. Home delivery for groceries and prepared foods expanded. Online retail for clothing, accessories, and furniture spiked. And as really good televisions became more affordable to accommodate more streaming, enabling more and more people to upgrade their home theaters, movie theater attendance started to collapse even faster.
Just as the pandemic kicked into gear, I, myself, ponied up for a nice new 4K television with Dolby Vision. Combined with surround sound from a Sonos system or perfect wireless audio with noise cancelling AirPod MAX headphones to shut out sirens and street noise, my home setup is fantastic. I love a good Netflix & Chill as much as the next guy, but my metastasizing housebound viewing habits made me realize how much I missed actually going out to the movies.
The first movie I saw when theaters reopened was No Time To Die in Dolby Cinema with Dolby Atmos sound. Even though we were all wearing masks, I thought it was thrilling. I don’t care how good one’s home system is. There is nothing like experiencing a great movie with a perfect picture and massive surround sound with an auditorium full of other movie lovers. Add a Diet Coke, a feed bucket of popcorn and a bag of Twizzlers, and you’ve made my night.
I’m fortunate to live in a city with really good theatre options other than the typical multiplex. The Metrograph in Manhattan’s East Village offers great programming in a chic setting. The IFC Center shows all the arthouse titles in a cool, compact multi-theater space. Film Forum is a paradise for movie snobs and true cinephiles. The Angelika still scratches the itch for cinema esoterica with a nice café element. A refreshed old favorite is the Paris, recently revived by Netflix with a complete renovation and upgrade to state-of-the-art screen and sound, remaining New York’s last single-screen movie theater. Each of these venues offers something worthwhile.
On the more commercial level, I decided to enroll in AMC Stubs last summer, which entitles members to three movies per week and no upcharge for enhanced formats like Dolby Cinema, 3D, or IMAX. While I certainly don’t go to the movies three nights a week, I definitely go at least once a week. Still worth it.
On the most basic level, it’s just nice to get out of the house and be among other people. But the magic of being at the movies that grabbed me as a kid still has me as an adult. The shared experience of laughing, being thrilled, or getting scared together is something you just can’t get at home, no matter how amazing your tv is. Nicole Kidman is right: heartbreak feels good in a place like this. I love going to the movies.
Also, when it comes to movie candy, let’s all agree that Twizzlers are better than Red Vines. Because they just are. It’s science.
Cheers.
This post is part of my free weekly newsletter, The Dispatch, which includes recommendations on movies and shows I’m watching, books I’m reading, albums I’m listening to, worthwhile articles I’m finding on the web, and anything else that might catch my interest. Subscribe here.
Photo of Stanley Tucci by Robert Wilson/Contour by Getty Images.
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