Home Theatres
Home theaters, complete with large elevated screens, stereo surround sound and high definition discs used to only be for the wealthy.
With the continual dropping of prices, a true home theater that would have been written up in a magazine only a few years ago can be had by a good number of middle class families.
At the same time Hollywood is cashing in on record sales, families are bringing the theater experience home.
Movie studios, tired of decreasing box office returns, finally brought movie goers something they couldn't get at home-the 3-D experience.
It has been such a money maker that Warner Brothers has pledged to make all of their major releases, called tentpole releases, in 3-D in 2011.
At an average of $3 more a ticket, or a cost of 30-50 percent more than a 2-D movie admission, 3-D movies have been shown to be guaranteed money makers and studios are rushing to give the public their fill of the experience.
In the last 10 years, Hollywood has trying to stay ahead of runaway technology.
Big budget action movies, with their huge explosions, massive action and detailed models didn't translate well to a smaller home screen, making the theater the best place to see those films.
Then came the era of the computer generated blockbuster, which was able to create "stunts" in scales never before possible.
These, too, only really translated well on large screens with high definition.
The ability to truly recreate the experience was beyond the budget and capability of the average moviegoer.
When flat screens, high-definition television and large screens with stereo sound became cheap enough to be within the reach of the average person's credit card or home equity line limit, sales of these technological marvels took off.
People justified the expense by telling themselves that they could skip going to the movies and watch at home.
At an average for $9-10 for an adult movie ticket, it wasn't absurd reasoning.
Ticket sales went down and Hollywood spent a few years trying to come up with winning formulas to get people back into the theaters, until along came 3-D.
Within two years, most major family releases became 3-D with a 2-D option, though that is changing to straight 3-D.
Stores have begun offering 3-D systems, but they are still expensive enough to only be on most people's wish list.
An expansion of the market causing a lowering of prices, combined with an economic recovery in the next few years, will change that though, leaving Hollywood to find the next even bigger thing.
Virtual movies, anyone?
With the continual dropping of prices, a true home theater that would have been written up in a magazine only a few years ago can be had by a good number of middle class families.
At the same time Hollywood is cashing in on record sales, families are bringing the theater experience home.
Movie studios, tired of decreasing box office returns, finally brought movie goers something they couldn't get at home-the 3-D experience.
It has been such a money maker that Warner Brothers has pledged to make all of their major releases, called tentpole releases, in 3-D in 2011.
At an average of $3 more a ticket, or a cost of 30-50 percent more than a 2-D movie admission, 3-D movies have been shown to be guaranteed money makers and studios are rushing to give the public their fill of the experience.
In the last 10 years, Hollywood has trying to stay ahead of runaway technology.
Big budget action movies, with their huge explosions, massive action and detailed models didn't translate well to a smaller home screen, making the theater the best place to see those films.
Then came the era of the computer generated blockbuster, which was able to create "stunts" in scales never before possible.
These, too, only really translated well on large screens with high definition.
The ability to truly recreate the experience was beyond the budget and capability of the average moviegoer.
When flat screens, high-definition television and large screens with stereo sound became cheap enough to be within the reach of the average person's credit card or home equity line limit, sales of these technological marvels took off.
People justified the expense by telling themselves that they could skip going to the movies and watch at home.
At an average for $9-10 for an adult movie ticket, it wasn't absurd reasoning.
Ticket sales went down and Hollywood spent a few years trying to come up with winning formulas to get people back into the theaters, until along came 3-D.
Within two years, most major family releases became 3-D with a 2-D option, though that is changing to straight 3-D.
Stores have begun offering 3-D systems, but they are still expensive enough to only be on most people's wish list.
An expansion of the market causing a lowering of prices, combined with an economic recovery in the next few years, will change that though, leaving Hollywood to find the next even bigger thing.
Virtual movies, anyone?
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