Empty screens

I went to the cinema today and it was empty. A Saturday afternoon and it was empty. It was really weird. The staff, usually running around like blue arsed flies were all shooting the shit and looked bored silly. The shopping centre next door was mobbed, full of families out for a Saturday shopping spree. If they're avoiding the cinema because of covid........well they were putting themselves in the line of fire in the centre. The cinema is a far safer option these days

I sat down to watch my film in an empty room, just me, no one else. Usually this would be great. No one talking over the film, no gowl kicking the back of your chair. No noise at all. It made me uneasy. When I left, there was two other people there going to see Tenet. Two. It's not looking good for cinemas is it. Tenet wasn't anywhere near the industry saver people expected it to be. The studios are afraid to release their big crowd pleasers because they know they won't make much money but it's turning into a catch 22 of their own making. People won't go to the cinema because there ain't much on and the studios won't give us the goods in case no one goes. Someone is going to have to do something, cinemas can't live on repertory showings alone. The next big release is Bond in late October. If that one can't tempt the crowds back then there's trouble ahead.

Disney recently released Mulan for streaming and made a nice chunk of change. Nowhere near what the film would have made in the cinema but already you can sense the wind of change blowing. Is this it? Is this the beginning of the end for cinema going?

I truly hope not. The world will be a shittier place without them.