Movie theatres have been around since 1895 when the Lumiere brothers first opened a small cinema in Paris showing a short film showing workers leaving the Lumiere factory. Since then, the cinema industry has been the juggernaut of the entertainment industry, making billions worldwide off of single movies alone. But since the pandemic the film industry seems to be in a flux. Ticket sales are no longer the sole driver of revenue like it was 30 years ago and even before the pandemic. So with the ever changing landscape of technology affecting the ways we view films, how will the cinemas look in 2040?

POSSIBLE FUTURE

Now lets get the big one out of the way. Streaming services. Already streaming services have had a major impact on the way audiences consume movies. The cinema is no longer the be-all end-all of films making money. There has been a huge change in how movies are being distributed. Studios are now considering whether or not some titles are worth putting on big screens or sending straight to streaming. By 2040 we could see a combination of traditional theatrical releases, hybrid theatrical releases and more of an emphasis on direct to streaming content. Traditional releases might only be saved for the biggest blockbusters. We already see a shift in how smaller releases are being distributed with some films screening at cinemas while simultaneously being available to watch on streaming. A recent example is Oscar winning Poor Things. The movie is available to watch right now on Disney+ but Dendy Newtown has two screenings tomorrow.

By 2040, if this trend continues, distributors may put more of an emphasis on direct to streaming content, which could in turn kill smaller chains, independent cinemas, such as the Ritz that make their money off of screening these smaller movies. Hybrid releases could also prove fatal for larger chains as well, with smaller release windows for blockbuster movies, this could potentially lead to a decline in traditional cinema attendance and the closure of some theatres.

To combat this from happening we could see a range of different technologies integrated into the theatre experience. Over the past few years, we’ve already seen Dolby Atmos and Screen X being added to larger chains like Event and Reading cinemas.

When asking ChatGPT what sort of technologies could be seen in theatres by 2030 it suggested a list of possible integrations:

• Virtual Reality Integration
• Augmented Reality Enhancements
• Holographic Displays
• Personalized Content and Experiences
• Hybrid Viewing Experiences
• Advanced Audiovisual Technologies
• Interactive Elements and Audience Participation
• Sustainable Practices
• Expanded Social Spaces
• Health and Safety Innovations

PROBABLE FUTURE

A possible future does not mean a definite future though. Theatres aren’t currently showing any signs of dying. In fact, they’re doing quite well with recent examples of Barbie making $1,445,638,421 worldwide and Oppenheimer making $965,100,540. Both of these films released the same weekend. So we can pretty confidently rule out the idea (what many have been saying for decades) that cinemas will die by 2040. Even ChatGPT agrees with idea cinemas are unlikely to die out. When prompted this question, here is what its opinion was:

So while uncertainty looms over the cinema industry, It is highly unlikely they will just disappear. Cinemas are and always have been a social experience. They provide a unique setting that cant be replicated at home. Its also culturally important to many countries around the world. So the cinema experience most certainly will not die out, it most certainly will change. New technology and expansions will be added to improve the cinema experience. Referring to ChatGPT’s list of possible technologies that could be seen in cinemas by 2040, I think it hit the nail on the head with a few, but The technology must not only significantly and tangibly improve the cinema experience, but do so in an economical way. (ACADEMIC). I don’t believe we will see VR/AR or holographic technology any time soon but some we may see are:

• Expanded Social Spaces

This I believe has one of the highest possibilities of happening. Cinemas have already started adopting some elements of this adding bars and arcade. But I think we will see more spaces being added to cinemas to be not only a cinema experience but multiple experiences. Restaurants, bars, gaming areas and themed escape rooms are a few examples of likely additions.

• Health and Safety Innovations

Another focus cinemas will focus on will be public health concerns. Implementations include Air Quality Management, continued use sanitization stations and social distance seating, Contactless Transactions, and Post-Pandemic Resilience.

• Advanced Audiovisual Technologies

Advancements in screen and audio technology are always happening. The recent introduction of 4K projectors assures inclusions of 8K projectors in the foreseeable future.

PREFERABLE FUTURE

The obvious preferable future would be that all cinemas, chains and independents alike will be alive and thriving. While this is most likely going to happen, there are a few preferable changes and addition that could be added to make going to the cinema a more inclusive, eco-conscious and overall better experience. These changes and additions include:

• Sustainable Practices

More cinemas could increase their focus on sustainability, adopting eco-friendly practices such as solar-powered facilities and energy-efficient equipment.

• Community Events

Community events including more film festivals, local filmmaker showcases and guest appearances could be implemented into more cinemas.

• Inclusive spaces

This would include theatres designed to accommodate people with disabilities, including more accessible seating and hearing impairments. Some screens already do open captioning but more could probably adopt this, with younger audiences opting to watch content with subtitles.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, cinemas are very unlikely to die out by 2040, but that doesn’t mean there wont be any changes to them. The current landscape of our ever changing digital and technology driven world forces cinemas to adapt to stay alive. If we want to keep the culture of the cinema experience alive and well, we need to support them through these changes and adapt with them. In my next post on The Future of Cinemas in 2050, I will focus on AI and how it will affect how movies will be made and the future technology we could see integrated into cinemas.

ACADEMIC

The Next (R)evolution. By: Claypool, Brian, Film Journal International, 15269884, May2012, Vol. 115, Issue 5

Claypool, B 2012, ‘The Next (R)evolution’ https://web-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=de950edb-a75a-491f-b4ab-3ee32d4ab868%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=74741811&db=f6h [29 March 2024]

REFERENCES

Zipin, D 2021, ‘How Exactly Do Movies Make Money?’ https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/093015/how-exactly-do-movies-make-money.asp [1 April 2024]

Hellermen, J 2023, ‘What’s The Future of Cinema and Theatrical Distribution?’ https://nofilmschool.com/whats-future-cinema-and-theatrical-distribution [1 April 2024]

Enthoven, J 2024, ‘80% of People Prefer Video Subtitles. Here’s How they Affect Engagement.’ https://www.kapwing.com/resources/subtitle-statistics/ [4 April 2024]

This blog was made with the inclusion of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and COPILOT