# Why are there still movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137 "2014-02-24T19:12:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/41 "2014-02-25T16:37:53Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > You need to rid yourself of this notion that producers of movies like taken are trying to produce art. It’s a business and a darn good one: Many are trying to do _both_, if your definition of art can include simple fun and entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/42 "2014-02-25T17:27:57Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Well, I really don’t care because I have an LXXX-inch TV. (It’s a pretentious brand, so it’s marketed as XXC.) Fie on your pretentious brand! Mine’s a XXXVVIIV-inch and the brand is so pretentious it doesn’t have a name. Actually it’s a Sony. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/43 "2014-02-25T17:47:44Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > While 60" screens are getting common at home these days the 60’ ones are pretty hard to come by. You should have made Frank an offer for his old one before he traded up to [the 2000" model](http://weirdal.wikia.com/wiki/Lyrics:Frank's_2000%22_TV). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/44 "2014-02-25T18:28:24Z")
Top of the line movies don’t have the deadline and budget pressures TV shows have. You can take a lot longer to shoot a page of script in a movie, which means more control over the location, more rehearsal and more takes. While limited series can have character development, episodic television has to keep things static for fear of changing the chemistry. If ST:TNG had been inherently a movie Riker would have had his own command ages ago. I’m not knocking TV, but there are plenty of good reasons for people to pay to go to the movies in terms of quality. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/45 "2014-02-25T18:47:00Z")
Going to the cinema is the only way I watch movies (and even that is rare) because I don’t even own a TV ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/46 "2014-02-25T19:37:47Z")
You don’t own a TV? Then how do you watch your [vast laserdisc collection](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12653319#post12653319)? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/47 "2014-02-25T19:53:10Z")
I had to leave it at my mom’s house (she does have a TV) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/48 "2014-02-25T21:33:35Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > There are many other reasons. But I just hate going to the movies so much that I can’t force myself to list them all. Do you ever end up watching movies rented from the library, from Netflix or Amazon, or when they are on TV? If so then you’re still part of the reason why movies are made. Even if you can’t bear to go to a theater, if you (or your library) are willing to give up a few pennies to the movie and are part of the reason why movies keep being made. Whether or not people like going to theaters is not really the be-all-end-all argument for why movies are still being made. Movie revenue doesn’t end at the ticket booth. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/49 "2014-02-25T22:11:24Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I saw a fantastic documentary today called Tim’s Vermeer about an inventor who discovered how Vermeer most likely got his paintings to look they way they did using technology of the time (mirrors!). The OP would not find discussion about that the least bit interesting. Why bother? Well, you’ve certainly taught me a valuable lesson about how unappealing it is to be too judgemental. I apologize for the temerity of my OP. By the way, Tim (of the movie) and Teller (of Penn and Teller) were on Charlie Rose (a TV show) recently, discussing the film, and I found it fascinating. When it comes out on DVD, I’ll watch it, because then I’ll be able to pause it as long as I want when something interesting is shown, and to back up and replay it when something I didn’t quite fully appreciate the first time is said. I’m so happy that you are setting all kinds of records for the numbers of movies you see, but your approach would never work for me. I’m just not smart enough to get everything in one take. I have to go over stuff a few times before I feel like I really understand it. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/50 "2014-02-25T23:34:22Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > I’m just not smart enough to get everything in one take. I have to go over stuff a few times before I feel like I really understand it. Gasp! I bet you read a book more than once, too, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/51 "2014-02-26T02:46:18Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > OP opines that he sees no value in movies over serial TV shows and wonders why there’s still a market for them. Several posters provide reasons. Interesting conversation happens. Can we drop the tiresome meme that any thread inquiring about why others see value in _x_ is somehow invalid or can be simply answered with “people like things you don’t like”? Everyone’s answer simply comes down to “I like movies” or “people like movies.” Trivial questions demand trivial answers. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/52 "2014-02-26T03:22:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Why are there still movies? Beats me. Why are there moving pictures? ---
**Author:** ![BrokenBriton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/53 "2014-02-26T07:32:38Z")
I guess the big clue is in the multiplex demographic. I certainly don’t feel films are aimed at me, but if I were 18-30 then, yeah, loads of explosions andd car chases for me, and throw in some romance for the girlfriend. It obv. still works. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/54 "2014-02-27T03:15:46Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Everyone’s answer simply comes down to “I like movies” or “people like movies.” Trivial questions demand trivial answers. I’m baffled how you found my post to respond to, since it doesn’t look like you’ve read this thread. Multiple posters have called out reasons that they - or others they know - like the movie experience or feel it offers something that TV serials do that goes beyond “I like movies” or “people like movies.” ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/55 "2014-02-27T10:17:10Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > Moviegoing is an event. You get out of the house, maybe you get dinner beforehand, you take a date, you feel like you’re going somewhere. The lights lower, **you know you’re not going to be distracted** or flip the channel or check your e-mail…I still enjoy the process of seeing the movies on the big screen. It used to be, years ago, that I could go to a movie theater and there were few to no distractions and I could enjoy the immersive experience. But in recent years it has been the rare exception when there hasn’t been near constant chatter from other movie-goers around me. Far fewer distractions at home. That’s why I’ve given up going to movies in the theater. That’s why I share the OP’s puzzlement. Am I just particularly cursed? Particularly sensitive? Has the culture just changed so that no one expects quiet in movie theaters anymore? Do people just not care? Have most people become so social that other people talking during a movie is just part of the expected experience? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/56 "2014-02-27T10:21:52Z")
Have you started going to different theaters? Because personally, there are several movie theaters here I prefer, and several I have sworn to avoid, solely based on the quality of its typical patrons. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/57 "2014-02-27T18:46:43Z")
What a silly question. Because they make money. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![LarkingPot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@LarkingPot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LarkingPot)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/58 "2014-02-27T20:32:16Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > In the days before TV, when movies were all we had, most of the stars got paid amazingly low salaries. Now that there’s all kinds of free (and often better) competition, they get paid astronomical salaries. > > How do they stay in business? That first sentence quoted is a lie. This board is supposedly dedicated to fighting ignorance, yet here you are trying to spread it. Contrary to your lie film actors and actresses in Hollywood have always been paid amazingly HIGH amounts of money. Charlie Chaplin, aside from the likes of Rockefeller and Henry Ford was the highest paid person in the United States during the height of his career. Who exactly do you think lived in all of those Hollywood and Beverly Hills mansions in the 1920’s and 1930’s homeless bums? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/59 "2014-02-28T00:58:12Z")
> [@LarkingPot](#): > > That first sentence quoted is a lie. This board is supposedly dedicated to fighting ignorance, yet here you are trying to spread it. > > Contrary to your lie film actors and actresses in Hollywood have always been paid amazingly HIGH amounts of money. Charlie Chaplin, aside from the likes of Rockefeller and Henry Ford was the highest paid person in the United States during the height of his career. Charlie Chaplin was not "most’ actors; he was one of the most successful, and, I believe, owned a production company with his wife and other successful actors. (I’m sure there are others better informed that I on that issue.) I don’t think we can use Chaplin as a measure of the salary of most of the stars. Isn’t “lie” a little strong for this board? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2014, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137/60 "2014-02-28T04:48:23Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > It used to be, years ago, that I could go to a movie theater and there were few to no distractions and I could enjoy the immersive experience. But in recent years it has been the rare exception when there hasn’t been near constant chatter from other movie-goers around me. Far fewer distractions at home. That’s why I’ve given up going to movies in the theater. > > That’s why I share the OP’s puzzlement. Am I just particularly cursed? Particularly sensitive? Has the culture just changed so that no one expects quiet in movie theaters anymore? Do people just not care? Have most people become so social that other people talking during a movie is just part of the expected experience? I don’t get it. > [@Alessan](#): > > Have you started going to different theaters? Because personally, there are several movie theaters here I prefer, and several I have sworn to avoid, solely based on the quality of its typical patrons. Agreed with **Alessan** on maybe you should try to go to different theaters. I rarely have the issue with people being disruptive. Constant chatter is something I couldn’t stand. Personally I love the massive screen and great soundsystem. The big screen experience is something I gladly will pay for. I saw “Gravity” in IMAX 3D and it was an utterly amazing cinematic experience that I can never get on TV. Also, when I watch a movie at home, my girlfriend wants to freaking pause the movie 3-4 times to get a snack or go to the bathroom interrupting the flow of the film - that doesn’t happen at the theater. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-still-movies/682137.md?page=4)