The cinema is not THAT expensive...

I don't even think the prices for the theater experience have even gone up very much in the past 5-10 years. In fact, the rate of increase seems far less than inflation in general. And, people need to realize they are paying for the theater "experience", and all that comes with going out and seeing a great flick at the cinema. My local theaters (with all the amenities, leather reclining chairs, full bar, etc..) are still $10, same as they were last year and the year before. If you don't like the cost at the snack bar, bring your own!

Think about it....by some people's logic, it really doesn't make sense to spend what ultimately could add up to a couple hundred bucks to go to a football or baseball game...but you still do it...for the EXPERIENCE of being out on the town, having a shared experience with your buddies, drinking a beer, having a dog and watching the game. You could save money watching the game in your basement....but is it even REMOTELY the same?

You just need to think back to one of those exciting movie openings, on a Friday night, where you had a shared experience...with an audience...in Dolby sound...with that perfect bucket of popcorn, and walked out of there really jazzed about the whole thing. This could be as recent as Maverick: Top Gun. That's a prime example of movie magic--an example of investing in the age-old, nostalgic experience of doing something social, going out...grabbing dinner first...maybe grabbing a Fireball on the rocks at the theater bar, and then settling-in to a great movie.

When people stay home and stream in their basement, they give movie theaters No Choice but to slightly raise their prices if they're going to stay in business. It's cause and effect. Eventually, people will never feel the need to EVER leave their basements.