The Decline of the Movie Theater

So, have you gone to the movies lately? Let's face it, in this day and age, going to the movies isn't what it's cracked up to be. Recent studies have shown that box office ticket sales have steadily declined over the years and the reason is simple - years ago, if people wanted to see a movie, they had no other choice other than going to the theater. I don't know about you, but I don't remember the last time I had a pleasant "movie going" experience. Let's look at what's involved. First, you have to find out the times and the movies that are playing. Next you have to get in the car and drive to the theater giving yourself enough time to park, get your tickets, buy your popcorn, etc. Okay, now you’re all set and you enter the appropriate theater room and find your seat. The movie begins and here come the distractions. You have all the people straggling in that are late, fumbling around in the dark trying to find their seat, you have the whisperers, the plastic crinklers, the cell phone talkers ... I think you get the point. By the way, I didn't even mention the price of admission. Where I am from, it costs about $7.50 US Dollars per person. Bring your significant other, kids or whoever else and throw in the cost of snacks ..... This is Big Bucks!

I don't go to the theater anymore, because now I have brought the theater to me. Yes, anytime I want to enjoy the movie experience (without the above aggravations), I simply change into my most comfortable lounging outfit and take the long trip down 13 steps into my game room , which I have transformed into a home theater. The advantages are unbelievable. I don't have to drive anywhere, worry about parking, or deal with annoying people anymore. If I need to stop the movie to use the restroom or fix a quick snack, I just pause the movie and go do my thing. Yes, I still need to spend money on movies, but the prices of DVD's have dropped tremendously and you can find many good deals on used DVD's, which are just as good as a brand new one. Even the cost of a rental is at least half that of a theater ticket.

Don't get me wrong, your going to have to shell out some bucks, but you can put together a decent set up for much less that you think. Basically, you need a flat screen tv and a surround system and you are good to go. How fancy you want to get all depends on your budget, but trust me, it will be a great investment in the long run. Don't forget to keep all this in mind the next time your sitting at the theater and the kid next to you starts screaming out in the middle of the movie and the two teenagers in front of you wont shut up.

Reggie Dunn is a long time movie buff and also the webmaster of flat screen television