Nearly two years into the COVID-19 global pandemic, it’s fair to say that the world has seen numerous shifts in the technological sector—revolutionized technology has since facilitated corresponding changes in patterns in human culture and human interaction. The movie theatre industry exists as just one trend that has been silently boiling down for the past decade, only speeding up and brought to light due to the restrictions brought on by the pandemic.
According to Forbes, “The $2.2 billion in box office receipts in 2020 marked a 40-year low in domestic box office.” MPAA trends dating back from 2002 onwards reveal a steady decline in annual ticket sales, with 2020 marking a drop of over 80% since 2019. The Numbers additionally reveals that 2020 marks an all-time high in movie ticket pricing, averaging at $9.16 compared to $7.93 in 2011, and $5.66 in 2001. The item to note here is that global movie consumption itself hasn’t gone down— rather, the content source has since migrated.
While much of this decline can be attributed to price point and the cost of home-viewing versus the theatre experience, content consumption has arguably changed from a group experience into a solo experience with the development of new video streaming platforms and cultural changes. “Bingeing” new shows and movie marathons from the comfort of one’s home has become the new standardized form of entertainment consumption. But does it have to be? Can we bring back the good old communal movie-watching experience and do so from the comfort of our homes? Absolutely.
As film watching has become a solo experience, Cya Live’s mission is to make content consumption a shared experience once again—but this time, even better. A live events platform that delivers high, 4K production value for virtual and hybrid events, Cya Live has redesigned the content consumption experience to allow audiences to interact with live content, other users, and even stars through video or text chat—all in complete synchronicity. In recognizing the decline in movie theatre popularity even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed our industry-leading technology for the sole purpose of unifying people through a combined love for movies. By combining both the bests of the at-home and in-theatre experiences into a single platform, Cya Live has transformed the movie-watching experience for its users. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.
Let’s admit it: COVID-19 has made homebodies of us all. Whether it be school, work, or even entertainment, the world has shifted online and we’ve moved with it. Sure, there are things we all miss about hanging out with our besties in the ancient pre-COVID era, but this virtual shift doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice real-life connections and real-life fun. Thanks to technology, getting together and keeping in touch with loved ones from around the world has never been easier.
Here are 6 activities to spice up your next virtual event!
1) Cook-off
Who says you need to be a chef to experiment with new flavors? Thanks to the millions of online resources we have access to today, cooking a hearty meal or a yummy dessert has never been this easy! Whether it’s a live cooking demo from your grandma, a cooking party with your friends, or a private virtual cooking class with a local chef, food has never failed to bring people together.
Check out some of these quick and easy recipes we found online:
With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering in our lives, it’s fair to say that the movie and entertainment industry has taken a large leap away from physical viewings and into at-home virtual screenings. But are you really ready to say goodbye to the bittersweet feelings of finding your seat in a dark auditorium, paying $10 for a soda, or shushing the chatty couple above you? The answer is simple: yes.
We’ve listed out the top movie theatre pros and cons to put this debate to an end once and for all. Let’s get right into it!
Movie theatre PROS:
Buttery movie-theatre-style popcorn, baby!
Ravioli ravioli give me the formuoli… alright, we’ll give it to them this time, but it’s fair to say that the irreplaceable, irrefutable theatre popcorn is what keeps 90% of movie-goers coming back for more. While the taste of this magical concoction is undeniably loved by all, let’s admit it… the dreaded price tag is not!
AVX, IMAX, 3D, 4D, and D-BOX:
Okay, so it might be a little difficult to recreate the 57 by 72-foot screen IMAX experience on your 13-inch MacBook Pro…
Movie theatre CONS:
The dreaded bathroom break…
Picture this: you’re half an hour into a two-and-a-half-hour movie when mother nature decides that it’s time to go. Caught between missing the tragic backstory of the movie’s heroine and a potentially tragic accident of your own, you begin to panic. We’ve all been there. Whether it’s reading the synopsis ahead of the show and strategically planning your 30-second bathroom break, or begging your friends to fill you in on the last two minutes of the grand fight, our inability to control the playback of movies definitely deserves number 1 on the movie theatre cons list.
Unruly neighbors…
Be it Suzie Seatkicker, Harvey Hogger, Tammy Texter, or Sally Soundtrack, we’ve all experienced our fair share of movie-theatre annoyances.
Non-gourmet foods at gourmet price points…
I love my movie snacks as much as the next person but $10 for a bag of m&ms and $20 for a regular popcorn and drink combo? Something’s not right here… While some decide to bite the expensive bullet and splurge on their bi-weekly movie theatre trips, sneaking snacks into movie theatres should qualify as an official Olympic sport if you ask me.
Unwarranted trailers…
We get it, movie trailers are a great way to get audiences excited for their films and upcoming releases, but is it really necessary to play a trailer of The Nun right before my Saturday afternoon viewing of Peter Rabbit?
The Verdict:
As much as we loved our time at the theatres as kids, growing up has helped us realize two things: 1) technology has evolved like crazy, and 2) our tolerance for others has probably decreased collectively throughout the years. While COVID-19 created a push away from movie theatres, virtual online viewing platforms have taken the world by storm. With higher quality resolution and top films available at our fingertips, the demand for movie theatres has undeniably gone down. Watch parties have gone virtual, allowing friends and family to get together and enjoy content without leaving their own homes. Homebodies can remain homebodies, movie lovers can continue to indulge in the latest films, and meaningful connections can continue to be made.