There are few better forms of escapism than going to the movie theaters. Movies are a way for us to escape normal life through the lives of brave and noble heroes, despicable but charismatic villains, emotional scenes that have us reaching for a tissue box or action scenes that keep us at the edge of our seats.
In 2019, there seemed to be a blockbuster movie every other month, from Marvel’s Captain Marvel to Warner Brothers’ Joker. In fact, nine movies crossed the billion-dollar milestone when it came to box-office success, according to Box Office Mojo. And while there was little 2020 could do to compete with the epic finale that was Avengers: Endgame or the terrifying sequel It Chapter Two, there were still some very exciting movies to look forward to.
But movie companies were thrown for a loop by the sudden COVID-19 pandemic. Most movie theaters shut their doors in early March in order to comply with the lockdowns that many states had mandated. For good reason too, as a packed theater would certainly have become a hotspot for the spread of the virus.
While shutdowns protect the health of movie-goers, closed theaters leave the release of films like Black Widow and Wonder Woman 1984 hanging in the balance. More importantly, it leaves no way for movie studios to make the money they depend upon to make more movies.
One way that studios are trying to remedy this is by taking advantage of the multitude of streaming platforms that consumers can subscribe to. According to an editorial written for Rotten Tomatoes, a website famous for its collection of movie reviews, over fifteen movies that were supposed to receive theatrical releases have gone straight to various streaming platforms or are available for digital rent or purchase.
A notable example of this phenomenon was the release of Disney Studios’ live-action remake of the 1998 classic animated film Mulan.
The movie was already off to a rocky start after producers announced that they would be cutting many of the aspects that viewers loved from the original, such as the comedic sidekick Mushu and the rousing musical numbers. More controversies also arose over cast members’ political views and the filming location.
When Disney announced that they would be releasing Mulan (2020) on their streaming plat- form Disney+, even the most diehard Disney fans were taken aback by the additional $29.99 fee they would have to pay in order to watch the movie. Nevertheless, according to an article written for The Atlantic, nine million Disney+ subscribers watched the film within the first twelve days of its release, and opinions on its quality have continued to vary.
Some movie theaters are attempting to reopen with heavy health and safety protocols in place, allowing some movies such as Tenet and Bill & Ted Face the Music to receive theatrical releases. Haven Washington, a freshman early-education major, described her own recent experience in a movie theater, saying that she felt safe because “there was nobody in there anyway.”
There are some concerns that theater companies may go out of business as a result of their closure. According to an article written for CNN, the company AMC has publicly admitted that they’re unsure if they can stay afloat during these times. Catherine Windham, a freshman psychology major, explained that, because of streaming services, “movie theaters are becoming more and more obsolete, and this is sort of speeding that up.”
Only time will tell what the future of movies holds.
Graphic by Katelyn Miller
