Movie theaters are special. The experience of going to the movies brings us together — connecting us to art, culture and each other. The smell of buttery popcorn, the glow of the screen and the immersive sound set the stage for beloved memories.
“There’s an energy in the room when you go to a theater that you can’t beat,” Joel Mata, a Boise State film student, said. “Sitting in a room with a bunch of people, you can just feel it.”
Going to the movies is a timeless tradition that generations of people have enjoyed together. It once seemed like movie theaters would be a permanent part of our culture.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused most theaters to close down or limit capacity, and streaming services brought in millions of new subscribers. When theaters reopened, audiences returned slowly. The streaming revolution was in full swing, and the future of movie theaters was in question.
In recent years, though, major film releases like “Dune,” “Barbie” and “Wicked” have brought new hope to the theater industry. Unfortunately, most theaters have not yet returned to pre-pandemic audience levels.
If we want future generations to enjoy the experience of moviegoing, we have to keep the theaters alive. While streaming services offer more convenience, watching a movie from your couch can’t replace the special experience of going to a theater.
“I love streaming services,” Chris Lehosit, owner of Overland Park Cinemas, said. “They’re so convenient … but it just doesn’t beat the experience of going with your friends and family out to an event.”
Overland Park Cinemas has been serving the Boise area since 1977. Lehosit is passionate about providing affordable entertainment to local families.
“Our primary feature for guests is we are a discount theater,” Lehosit said. “Our tickets are only $3, and we get the movies about six to eight weeks after they come out in the big theaters.”
Lehosit is proud of how Overland Park Cinemas gives back to the community and local film scene.
“We do local film screenings,” Lehosit said. “So if you’re a filmmaker at Boise State or high school, or maybe you’re just part of a local filmmaker club, you can send me your movie and I can put it up on the big screen for you.”
Overland Park Cinemas also works with nonprofits in the Boise area by showing documentaries and inspirational films that are educational and foster a sense of community.
Local theaters offer a unique chance to connect with the community and local culture.
“When you’re supporting locally, you get to meet more people, build more community and build more connections,” Frosty Biggs, another Boise State film student, said.
Films connect us to new ideas, stories and worlds other than our own and they bring us together in the process.
“Films can evoke so much emotion, and they can be very blatant in their messaging,” Biggs said. “That’s why it’s so important for everybody to consume art in general, and I think film is one of the easiest art forms to be able to consume.”
Viewers can experience the emotional impact of films at home, but it’s so much more powerful on the big screen.
“Movies are made for the theater,” Biggs said. “They’re not made for streaming services. The sound quality is way better, you can see way more and you’re totally immersed in the movie.”
Movie theaters serve a bigger purpose than entertainment alone. They’re an escape for audiences in an immersive way that streaming services can’t replicate.
“Student life can be pretty stressful, and it kind of feels like you’re going non-stop,” Mata said. “I’ve found that going to the movies to sit down for a couple hours and get lost in a story … that’s a really nice way to decompress.”
Students can play an important role in supporting local theaters. Balancing school, work and social lives can make it hard to get to the cinema, but the affordable ticket prices and unique film options of local theaters make them a great gathering place for young people to meet and interact with local culture.
We’ve lost so many human experiences in the name of convenience — writing letters, watching live television, going to the mall — all for quicker, easier options that allow us to stay at home.
Younger generations have the chance to revive one of these vital human experiences. We need to protect the theaters so that future generations can enjoy them, and the only way to do that is by supporting them. So, if you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to rediscover the joy of going to the movies.
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I love going to the theaters!
I was just thinking the other day that I hope our local theaters never close. We are losing too many vital parts of our lives to “convenience!”