The Decline in Movie Interest: An Analysis

Movies have always been one of the most important parts of pop culture and entertainment. They have always been one of the most important ways to find entertainment, especially through theatres. Recently however, audience interest in theaters has been decreasing, especially after COVID-19. Is this the reason? Or is there another factor that is causing a decline in movie interest?

Most would assume the cause would be uninteresting movies. According to CNBC, between 50-70% of movies released by top studios were from existing IPs. This could be the cause of movie loss because people find constant sequels boring and predictable, and audiences want something new and creative.

Another reason for this decline is raised prices. The average movie ticket costs 11.50, according to MoviePass. Now take this, add in 4 people, popcorn, and soda and the cost begins to stack up. Ticket prices have gone up 33%, while tickets sold have gone down 38%. It’s no surprise people have turned to cheaper ways to stream movies, which brings me to my next point.

Probably the main reason for theatre loss is the rise of streaming websites. After COVID-19, many theaters had to shut down. This led to many people turning to streaming services such as Netflix, PrimeVideo and Disney+. They had access to many movies for less than a trip to the movie theatres, and were able to watch within the comfort of their home, and even after theaters were open after the virus, many people did not want to go out of their way to watch movies in theaters when the same movie would be released on streaming services in a month.

In conclusion, the decline in movie interest comes down to 3 main things: quality, price, and accessibility. People don't want to go out to watch constant sequels for a high price, because they can just as easily watch whatever movie they want for a lower price. No matter what, movies will always be an important part of pop culture and entertainment, and will always have importance in our society.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottphillips/2024/06/14/is-the-death-of-movie-theaters-upon-us/ https://www.moviepass.com/movie-ticket-cost?cookie_consent=false

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/06/box-office-2025-movies-existing-intellectual-property.html