Post-lockdown, we’ve made several challenging adjustments back to a “new-normal,” like wearing jeans again, getting through full weeks of work, and being sociable. The economy was forced to adapt, and the entertainment industry may be a victim of an ever-changing world. COVID-19 shut down movie theaters for a year, so executives released feature films through streaming platforms, keeping the cinematography business lucrative. This was ideal during the pandemic because it kept the public safe and entertained. Now, it’s a cheap convenience that starves the viewer of real art. There’s no clear separation between an Oscar-winning film and a Disney Channel Original Movie. However, movie theaters are yet to meet their maker, and that’s not just credulous nostalgia. Feature films should hit theaters before streaming platforms. If there are more highly-anticipated films in theaters, more people will go to the theater. We’ve hit the three-year mark since the beginning of lockdown. It’s time for movie theaters to come back from their sabbatical and play their role as a creative medium in our society, culture, and economy. The entertainment industry must pivot and allow films to be enjoyed as they should: in a dark room with a bright screen, a crying baby, and a coughing grandmother. In community
Cece Hammond '24 is a Vol. 71 Contributing Editor
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