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Concert films from artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé have a ripple effect

Nov 28, 2023
Movie theaters get a slice of profit from ticket sales, but many also capitalize on the moment with themed food, merchandise and more.
After more than a month, the Taylor Swift movie still consistently ranks in the top five for ticket sales, per Michael O’Leary at the National Association of Theatre Owners.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

What the end of the actors strike means for movie theaters

Nov 10, 2023
Studios are scrambling to resume movie production, raising the question of whether the supply of movies to theaters can ramp up quickly enough.
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, stars of "Dune: Part Two," at a convention in April. The "Dune" sequel's release was delayed to next year due to the actors strike.
Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Will franchise films like "John Wick" get people back in theaters?

Mar 24, 2023
At least three big franchise sequels have come out this month, which could get the public back in the movie-going habit.
March franchise film releases like "John Wick: Chapter 4," starring Keanu Reeves, may help draw people back to theaters.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

"Avatar" sequel: rebooting the Hollywood-China romance?

Dec 16, 2022
"The Way of Water" debuted in China and the U.S. on Friday amid tense relations between the countries. A simultaneous theatrical release is a big deal.
A marketing poster for "Avatar: The Way of Water" in Shanghai. The movie was released simultaneously in the U.S. and China despite the chilly relations between the two countries.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace

After years of watching movies at home, are audiences ready to return to theaters?

Dec 5, 2022
There have been only 66 films in wide release so far this year, down more than a third from this point in 2019, according to Comscore.
Studios are trying to predict what audiences want — to watch movies at home or in the theater.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Coming soon to a theater near you: company Zoom meetings

Nov 8, 2022
The movie theater chain AMC and meeting technology company Zoom plan to offer ginormous teleconferences for remote workforces.
AMC is set to partner with Zoom to stream company meetings in movie theaters next year.
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How do movie theaters decide showtimes?

Aug 19, 2022
Deciding when a film plays is a giant moving puzzle that theaters have to put together every week.
Looking ahead for a weekend showing? Check the Tuesday listings.
Tom Cooper/Getty Images

Inflation adds new pieces to the puzzle of running an independent movie theater

Jul 20, 2022
Nashville's Belcourt just had its first "normal" weekend in 2 years, while supply chain issues and industry change are adding obstacles.
Everything costs more now, says Stephanie Silverman, the Belcourt's executive director, including shipping for repertory films like 1992's "Malcolm X."  "Those movies are heavy," she says.
Andie Corban/Marketplace

MoviePass is coming back, but are moviegoers?

Feb 11, 2022
The company collapsed in 2019 but is now betting on a tiered subscription model and a return to indoor entertainment.
The subscription service MoviePass is trying to stage a comeback this summer.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images