Every few years, someone declares the end of moviegoing. First it was cable, then VHS, then DVDs, streaming, and even Covid. And yet — the big screen persists.
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The business of independent movie theaters, explained
How do theater owners stay alive in a business that’s constantly “dying”?
Edward Vega joined the Vox video team as a video producer in 2021. His coverage focused on all things cinema, from the intricacies of film history to the nuts and bolts of filmmaking.
Sure, the landscape has changed. Since 2019, the US has lost nearly 5,000 movie theater screens. Big chains have struggled financially. Alamo Drafthouse, once independent, was recently acquired by Sony Pictures. And Netflix’s Ted Sarandos famously claimed that moviegoing is an “outdated concept.”
But people still love going to the movies — and independent movie theater owners are meeting that passion head-on.
Across the country, independent cinemas are reimagining what it means to be a theater. From inventive programming and community events to affordable tickets and local partnerships, they’re creating experiences that go far beyond just watching a film.
We sat down with Emelyn Stuart (Stuart Cinema), Matthew Viragh (Nitehawk Cinemas), and Thaddeus Bouchard (Screendollars) to explore how these theaters are thriving — and why the industry isn’t on life support just yet.
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