AMC You Later

So apparently the FCC is now going to allow movie studios to directly stream new movies into to home televisions...

While I don't think this is the end of movie theaters, it looks like things are about to change in a major way. Box office numbers are currently trending upward, but I'm hard pressed to come up with a reason why someone would want to see a movie in a theater when they could just stay home and see it there.  As much as I like seeing movies in the theater (and I really do) I also dislike having to wait in line to buy terrible, overpriced popcorn and dealing with the various disruptions common to seeing a movie in a room with a bunch of other people and their cell phones.  Also, and I say this as a former theater usher, movie theater bathrooms are just gross.

So really, I can't think of a good reason why I'd go see a new movie in a theater instead of just streaming it at home.  I don't have a big television with nice sound (or a television at all), but I'm in the ever increasing minority (and I already stream all kinds of movies via Hulu and other sources).  This 3D business is fine and all, but its really just a gimmick.  It didn't take hold before, and it won't now.

Like I said, I don't think this is the end of movie theaters (at least for awhile), cinephiles and people with no cable access will still need somewhere to see movies (Also, teenagers.  Teenagers will see literally anything in the theater).