As if the future of movie theaters hasn’t already felt a bit shaky, the pending merger between Netflix and Warner Bros.-Discovery last month made things even more nerve-wracking for those of us who love visiting the multiplex. While Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos assured moviegoers that Warner Bros. films will stay in theaters for at least 45 days, the reality of streamers being able to alter or completely take away one of the most beloved pastimes became extremely stark.
However, if there’s any hope for the theatrical experience, it’s all thanks to Gen Z, whose theater attendance rates are increasing, in addition to showing enthusiasm for moviegoing on Letterboxd and #FilmTok. Even the youngest cohort, Gen Alpha, reported higher levels of interest in going to the movies than older generations. It all goes against the narrative spun by streamers that theaters are no longer consumer-friendly and that young people all want to watch movies from their couches. Instead, they’re making the multiplex experience cool again and, through online fandom, maybe even something like a cult.
—Kyndall Cunningham, staff reporter |
