The future of movie theaters: Who will decide?

Above : Keanu Reeves stars in the coming Warner Bros. feature “The Matrix 4.” (Photo: Warner Bros.)

One of the subjects that movie fans talk about these days is how much they miss going to a theater.

I haven’t been in a movie theater since sometime in early March. But I was reminded of just how enjoyable the moviegoing experience could be while texting yesterday with my “Movies 101” colleague Nathan Weinbender.

At one point, we were exchanging memories of seeing movies at the former Lincoln Heights Cinemas.

My own memory dates back to the fall of 1987 when I was able to catch a screening there of the film “Three Men and a Baby,” the American version of the 1985 French film “3 Hommes et un couffin.” And I was lucky to get a seat, the house was that full.

In the film, which was directed by Leonard Nimoy, Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg played a trio of bachelors who find themselves having to care for a baby. The film features at least one scene where the guys awkwardly attempt to change a diaper.

And during that one scene the audience laughed so loud that it was impossible to hear what the actors were saying – not that it much mattered.

That’s what I miss about going to the movies, that shared experience. Seeing movies at home is far better in some ways, especially if you own a decent-size television and have access to either a decent library of DVDs or a selection of streaming services.

But nothing quite beats the energy of an audience sharing the same emotion, whether it be caused by a film of comedy, action, romance or horror.

It’s not clear what the future of movie theaters will be, given the limitations forced on theater exhibitors by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their status was further threatened when Warner Bros. studios announced on Wednesday that it will be releasing its whole movie slate for 2021 in theaters and online at the same time (the latter through HBO Max).

That plan affects such much-anticipated films as Denis Villeneuve’s version of “Dune,” the adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “In the Heights” and the fourth in the “Matrix” franchise, “The Matrix 4.”

As Washington Post reporter Stephanie Zeitchik wrote, “The shift could limit revenue for theaters at a time when they most need it, after shutdown measures ease. And in the longer term, it could further habituate Americans to receive their entertainment at home instead of in theaters.”

Let’s hope that’s not what happens. It would be nice for us to think that someday we’ll once again be able to comfortably and safely watch the movies we love, among others, in the big-screen format in which they play best.

Another Washington Post writer, critic Ann Hornaday , is optimistic both about the future of movie theaters and about her fellow American moviegoers as well.

“The pandemic has demanded a new form of civic-mindedness from citizens who see it as their duty to protect each other by wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and sacrificing fellowship right now for the great good down the road,” Hornaday wrote.

“And with luck,” she added, “filmmakers will make movies that are too big, beautiful and blazingly fun to watch to be limited to the living room.”

In anticipation of that day, the Regal Cinemas website posted a list of what it is describing as the “21 Most Anticipated Movies of 2021.”

So dream on, movie fans. Stay safe. And hope for the best.