The business of independent movie theaters, explained

How do theater owners stay alive in a business that’s constantly “dying”?

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Every few years, someone declares the end of moviegoing. First it was cable, then VHS, then DVDs, streaming, and even COVID. And yet — the big screen persists.

Sure, the landscape has changed. Since 2019, the U.S. has lost nearly 5,000 movie theater screens. Big chains have struggled financially. Alamo Drafthouse, once independent, was recently acquired by Sony Pictures. And Netflix’s Ted Sarandos famously claimed that moviegoing is an “outdated concept.”

But people still love going to the movies — and independent movie theater owners are meeting that passion head-on.

Across the country, independent cinemas are reimagining what it means to be a theater. From inventive programming and community events to affordable tickets and local partnerships, they’re creating experiences that go far beyond just watching a film.

We sat down with Emelyn Stuart (Stuart Cinema), Matthew Viragh (Nitehawk Cinemas), and Thaddeus Bouchard (Screendollars) to explore how these theaters are thriving — and why the industry isn’t on life support just yet.

Watch Vox’s latest to learn more.

Links:
- http://nitehawkcinema.com/
- https://www.stuartcinema.com/
- https://screendollars.com/
- https://cinemaunited.org/behind-the-screens/

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