Are movie theaters worth it anymore?

Are Movie Theaters Worth It Anymore?

NPR's Bob Mondello and Marc Rivers explore the ongoing relevance of movie theaters in the streaming era and why audiences still choose the big screen experience.

A Personal Theater Experience

Last year, I went to see the movie It Ends With Us in a theater.

Justin Baldoni (as Ryle Kincaid): I want to see you again.

Blake Lively (as Lily Bloom): Now you see me.

Baldoni: You know what I mean.

The film depicts a toxic relationship, and while I had mixed feelings about the story, my theater experience was awful. A family of five—two adults and three young children—sat nearby and were disruptive throughout:

Talking and laughing loudly
Crying and yelling
Playing with toys and eating food
Leaving the theater and returning multiple times
One child even shone a flashlight directly on the movie screen

This experience made me promise never to see a movie in a theater again. Watching at home, even on a laptop, is easier, cheaper, quieter, and more comfortable.

The Big Screen’s Unique Appeal

Still, I acknowledge that watching a film on a large screen with a crowd offers a very different experience than streaming on Netflix at home.

For this week's movie conversation, I wanted to hear others' perspectives on why and when going to an actual movie theater remains worthwhile.

Author's Summary

Despite personal frustrations with noisy theatergoers, the unique communal and immersive experience of watching films on a big screen keeps movie theaters relevant in the streaming age.

NPR — 2025-11-03