Teessiders blame Netflix

[newyddion]

Showcase is head and shoulders above Cineworld, Vue in Darlo is dump too.. does my head in having to order at the big touch screen tvs.. just to go to the counter to ask for the same thing!

Probably having too many cinemas is a problem. The Odeon Luxe in Darlo has closed recently.

 

[pierrequiroule]

The biggest issue though is the quality of film available. They have almost completely stopped doing anything original. All the biggest films are more entries into the Marvel series, remakes, sequels, reboots etc. It's very rare there is a must-see film that is actually original these days.

There are plenty of original and interesting films, many in a foreign language, that will never see the light of day in these big chains. It's understandable to a point, although it can be got around by having one of the smaller screens dedicated to niche films that may not attract a large audience, as is the case in France. Unfortunately you usually need to live near a larger city that can support an art cinema (for want of a better name) if you want to see these films regularly in the UK unless you're lucky enough to have some local collective putting them on. The main thing that would put me off going to a large chain even if there was something worth watching, would be people eating which is just not allowed in smaller independents, but that's another beef.

 

[Teesside87]

I’ve had a cineworld unlimited card since 2016, i use it with meerkat movies every week so it makes it worthwhile. Definitely been a decline in service in the last few years, things never seem to get fixed like the escalators, lifts, seats etc. That being said, i still prefer watching a movie on a big screen than at home

 

[LowMoorBoro]

Not being a fan of marvel films, there is rarely anything on at a cinema I’d go and see.
The smaller lower budget films tend to get streaming releases these days, and just the blockbusters get cinema releases.

 

[Priv]

I've just read in the Gazette that filmgoers are blaming the lack of numbers attending Cineworld on the 4k TVs we all bought during lockdown and Netflix. Although it would be a shame to lose Cineworld from the town centre, I don't think it is helping itself.

I attended Cineworld last year after someone on here added a link to reduced prices on Film Day. Although we enjoyed the film, the experience could have been made much better if the cinema was clean and had more staff. We had bought our tickets in advance and after collecting them we moved on to buy drinks and a hot dog. After being served the hotdog I was told I had to go to the other side of the cinema and fight my way through other queuing customers to get any sauces. Although this wasn't a hardship, it would have been easier to have sauces at each cashier's point. After getting served, we made our way to the screen door only to be told it needed cleaning before we could go in. This was about 10 minutes before the film started and everyone waiting in this area looked puzzled at the lateness of this. Again, we weren't going to allow this to detract from our experience. We finally entered the screen and took our seats but noticed there were still food wrappers and drink cartons on the floor. Whoever had cleaned up had certainly missed our row.

On leaving Cineworld there were gangs of young teenagers loitering about and the lads were trying to impress the girls and were making a lot of noise (we've all done it). We made our way past McDonald's and whilst walking through the car park, there were two young lads on a motorbike looking for easy pickings. I had to tell the wife to be careful and to put her bag over her shoulder.

The experience of going to the cinemas rekindled our love of going to the cinema and we have started going at least once a month to the Showcase Cinema at Teesside Park. The luxury seats are quality and on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night the admission is reduced to £7.50. The screens always seem clean, there are never any queues (until I try to tackle the self-service drinks machine) and there are never any large groups of kids hanging about.

The Showcase Cinema is a much better experience overall and one that we are willing to drive past Cineworld on our way to.

Teessiders blame 'Netflix and fire sticks' for Cineworld's struggles

Cineworld at Middlesbrough's Leisure Park is under threat as the troubled chain gave an update on takeover plans

www.gazettelive.co.uk

I’d also add the showcase are strict with people talking during screenings whereas Cineworld tends to be full of gobshites chatting Constantly throughout the film.

 

[h_m_boro]

We've got a locally owned, privately run boutique cinema 10 mins walk up the road. Cheaper than Cineworld etc, serves booze, better clientele. If you want to see latest movies day of release ....not for you. But if you are happy to wait 4-6 weeks like I am

 

[Nano]

There are plenty of original and interesting films, many in a foreign language, that will never see the light of day in these big chains. It's understandable to a point, although it can be got around by having one of the smaller screens dedicated to niche films that may not attract a large audience, as is the case in France. Unfortunately you usually need to live near a larger city that can support an art cinema (for want of a better name) if you want to see these films regularly in the UK unless you're lucky enough to have some local collective putting them on. The main thing that would put me off going to a large chain even if there was something worth watching, would be people eating which is just not allowed in smaller independents, but that's another beef.

Yes, there are still some films worth seeing but they don't need to be seen at the cinema. I have a good setup, not as cinema like as @ThatFragranceGuy but I will go to the cinema for the experience to see something that looks and sounds better than my own setup can manage. The type of films you've mentioned (I'm guessing) are the ones that don't benefit from the big screen and sound as much so seeing them at home isn't a problem.

Really I'm wondering where are the big screen experiences that we used to get from films like Jurassic Park, the Matrix, Avatar etc. instead of Jurassic Park 6, Matrix 4 and Avatar 2.

Why was this the most accurate part of Back to the Future and not flying cars or hoverboards?

 

[BoroFur]

I've got an 83 inch LG oled, dual svs pb-3000 subwoofers and Dali/focal surround with atmos.

I thought you would have

 

[Piccadilly Day Tripper]

I think the chain cinema experience started to go south before the pandemic when tickets went above £12 a film and every cinema seemed to start serving alcohol and have a full bar on site. Then after the pandemic, I think people have just got so used to watching films in the comfort of their own home they have forgotten how to sit still and shut the f..... up when watching on the big screen. I've been a couple of times since covid restrictions lifted and there's a constant stream of people now walking past the scree throughout the film going to the bar/going for a slash. Men and women.

 

[Legz]

We always use showcase. We went to cineworld last year for world cinema day as it was the only place that was showing the film my daughter wanted to see. When we walked in the first thing she said was "what a dump" (she's 15).
The seats and cleanliness at showcase are 100% better....and I've got a showcase card (which is free compared to the cineworld one) and the tickets are cheaper than kids tickets on a Sunday night and all day Monday and Tuesday. Plus 10% goes to your rewards and you can redeem it back in cash whenever.

 

[Loop]

I’m not surprised, it’s a dump of place and has been for years. Showcase is definitely the place to go.

 

[Johnnyweetabix]

There is something for sure also about the quality of releases. Wierdly my compass has been my enthusiasm in reading my monthly empire movie subscription . Until covid I used to love waiting for and reading the magazine, reading it in the bath.

Now I’ve got loads unopened and only read them on Holiday . Pretty rubbish way of gauging cinema and movie quality but it’s my only barometer.

I do agree with all said about Cineworld though and the closing of this is just another nail in the Boro coffin

 

[Randy]

There is something for sure also about the quality of releases. Wierdly my compass has been my enthusiasm in reading my monthly empire movie subscription . Until covid I used to love waiting for and reading the magazine, reading it in the bath.

Now I’ve got loads unopened and only read them on Holiday . Pretty rubbish way of gauging cinema and movie quality but it’s my only barometer.

I do agree with all said about Cineworld though and the closing of this is just another nail in the Boro coffin

The Pandemic definitely had any effect on big blockbuster films. Producers not willing to start a film not knowing how long restrictions were going to be in place. Look at the upcoming films that were stated for release last year or even 2021 and they still haven't been released yet.

I think once cinema chains realise they've got to many chains in too many places and close a few cinema usage will rise again.

 

[Support Your Local Team]

Myself and Mrs SYLT regularly visit both the Showcase and Redcar's Regent. Both are very clean and tidy. Haven't experienced any of the chatter or annoying viewers that seem to blight so many viewers in this thread.

Must be lucky so don't want to tempt fate.

 

[SilentProf]

I have had a Cineworld card for about 15 years but I don’t go anywhere near as often as so used to. There just aren’t enough quality releases lately and most of them are streamable within a couple of months now. I’ve never had a problem with parking or cleanliness in there but I have always tended to go at quieter times either when the kids are at school or late evenings during the week. Meerkat movies codes really help to justify the cost too.