LOS ANGELES — Whether it’s to see a summer superhero sequel or a quiet indie thriller, Antonio Ylanan says nothing beats going to the movies.
“You’re not only watching something bigger than probably the TV inside of your living room, you’re going in a huge screen with immersive sound, comfortable seats,” he said. “And you cannot forget about the popcorn either.”
That passion led Ylanan to start the Silver Screen Club, a Los Angeles-based group of movie lovers who meet up to watch films and with discussions afterward. Ylanen likens it to a book club for movies. What began as a weekly hangout with a few friends has now grown into a community where members debate new releases, swap recommendations and celebrate their shared love for cinema. And for Ylanen, this summer offered plenty to celebrate.
“Starting from Memorial Day leading up all the way through Labor Day,” he said. “There have just been so many big hits. And you’re not just talking superhero movies, you’re talking about big summer blockbusters that are getting people to the seats that want to see movies in a large, premium format.”
But the numbers didn’t quite match the hype many analysts predicted. The summer box office reached $3.7 billion according to Comscore, strong by recent standards but short of the record highs expected. That fueled a familiar question: Is the box office in trouble?
Shelby Schultz, director of programming at LOOK Cinemas, says the answer is more complicated.
“What we saw this summer was a lot of consistency at the box office,” she said. “So, instead of having peaks and valleys where we’re relying on one blockbuster, we were seeing a huge variety of movies working really well.”
And, she points out, the “death of the movies” has been declared before.
“Historically, people have called our industry dead every 20 years, you know, when DVD players came out and VCR came available,” she said. “But our industry always thrives, and that’s because people love the experience.”
One ongoing challenge has been the quick jump from theaters to streaming platforms. Schultz says studios may be cutting films short by sending them online too fast.
“We’ve found that movies are more successful on streaming when they have been supported with a robust theatrical release. So we actually think that it’s better for the studios, for the movie theaters and for the consumers when things are given time to grow in the theater,” she said. “We really encourage the studios to continue to have a long window.”
Looking ahead, Schultz is optimistic about the fall and holiday season, with films like “Wicked”, “Zootopia” and “Avatar” all expected to draw big crowds.
For Ylanan, no industry challenge can diminish what keeps him coming back.
“Ultimately, it doesn’t take away the fact that you’re watching an awesome movie in a theater with other like-minded people that are also there to watch it with you,” he said.
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