The Avon Echo

By Owen Zuranski | Reporter

“Any movie is better in a theater,” according to junior Will Moad. He watches movies “once every one to two months – not very often.” Not very often indeed. However, when he can find the time, he will prefer “the subs and the bases that make the action in movies way more immersive,” to that of the experience offered by the modern day streaming service.

However, while he is more likely to prefer the theater going experience, most of his recent experiences watching movies have been at home, with his family, streaming movies onto their TV. Now, of course, he is not alone in this phenomenon; he just may become less alone as the future of at-home media consumption comes towards us faster and faster. 

As mankind has sought out to streamline nearly every aspect of daily life, media consumption, amongst other things, is an aspect of modern times that has been swiftly lifted up and carried from ticket booths, concession stands, public bathrooms, cities, and even miles away to be installed into households anywhere. 

Despite the attempts to bring today’s consumers and products a few simple clicks away from one another, movie theaters still do, in fact, exist. So why would anyone leave their house when they could simply ask Alexa to confirm their purchase without having to move so much as a muscle? What reasons could possibly exist for people to still attend the big screen today? 

When it comes to this exploration of the ever changing tides of modern film accessibility, junior Cooper Perkinson prefers the theater going experience. However, just because he enjoys the big screen, that does not necessarily mean he plans on condemning streaming services and their future any time soon. 

“I don’t think it’s an atrocity and that streaming services are evil. I think streaming services do a lot of good for filmmakers. Since then a lot of films have become more accessible just because of streaming services. But it is kind of sad that some people may lose the access to a movie theater and the experience you can get from one. So I guess it’s a little half and half of being sad but also being hopeful for future filmmakers,” Perkinson explained. 

However, it is important to look at the different points of views of cinema, as not everyone views movies equally. Junior Aidan Wiles watches “maybe a movie a month” and does not seem to take too much special interest in film media. While he still prefers the theater going experience, he helps to clue in on the mindset that could be involved in why some may not always be attracted to the theater going experience. 

“If it is a movie that is in theaters, but I do not think it is worth the money to go to the movies or I don’t have time to go to the movie theater, then I’ll just watch the movie on a streaming service,” Wiles stated. 

Now, this discussion could definitely look like from the perspective of someone who watches “at least a movie a week.” Junior Jack Lloyd knows that perspective as he lives it. He is of the opinion that while theaters make most good movies better, they are not without their flaws. Lloyd shares his thoughts of how today’s movie-going culture could affect the future, from his point of view. 

“A lot less people are gonna go to the theater just because it’s too much effort to go and do stuff,” Lloyd predicted. “[It’s] more because of the convenience, which is kind of sad, but it is just a lot easier.” 

Whether it be in our homes, local theaters, or even on our phones at a cramped bus stop, film is, and will continue to be, an experience to be enjoyed by all. Whether it be because of what we watch, or who we watch with, film arts will continue to grow into a new experience every generation; we can never predict how it will. However, if one thing is for certain, Moad will continue to go anywhere to watch movies if it means he can share the experience with his friends and family. “Really, most of the time, if I watch a movie, it’s to spend time or to watch with my family or friends.”