We watched the Golden Globes on TV last night and I was surprised by how many movies I haven’t seen in the movie theaters. I looked up how many movies we went out to in 2023 and it was only 4.
2023 Movie Theater Tickets: Oppenheimer, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Indiana Jones: Dial of Destiny, & Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense Re-Release
That might be the fewest number of movies I’ve seen in the theaters since my parents started taking me to movies as a kid. Before the pandemic, we used to go to the theater between 25-30x a year. Even during awful 2020 – when theaters were closed for quite awhile – I probably went to more than 4 movies.
Certainly we are watching a fair number of movies online. Some TV series, too. Still, it doesn’t feel like I’m seeing any more movies online than we did before the pandemic. I think we are just watching the same about, or less overall. Hopefully that means we’re spending our early retirement time on something we enjoy much more!
Are you watching more (or less) movies than before the pandemic? Going to the movie theater, or watching online?
Image: (c) MrFireStation.com
MrFireStation 
My wife and I went to five movies the past year. 1) Sound of Freedom, 2) Openheimer, 3) Equalizer 3, 4) Killers of the Flower Moon, and 5) Napolean.
We would go to many more, but these were the only ones that caught our fancy. Sound of Freedom was very interesting because the movie had been sitting in Disney’s movie library that they acquired as a part of their 20 Century Fox Acquisition unreleased for over five years. The producers acquired the distribution rights and released the film through Angel Studios (studio behind The Chosen). They promoted the film on Conservative News Channels, and on opening weekend it was a the number one film. It was a $15 Million film that made over $200 Million.
My wife and I have the funds and time to pretty much go to as many movies as we want, but very few catch our fancy. We recently went to see K.C. and the Sunshine Band in a concert hall. Great seats, great acoustics, and the place was full of people our age. The staff at the venue commented about the great turnout. Conservatives and retired people are an underserved market. We have the time and money to come to your show if it is worthwhile.
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I think you are right – “conservatives and retired people are an underserved market.” Not just in entertainment, but a lot of industries. I’d like to see Napoleon & Killers …
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Be prepared to see two movies without guys in white hats.
Sound of Freedom just showed up on Amazon Prime for free. The movie already made an impact where a Republican State Senator in the People’s Republic of California was able to use the movie to shame the Demonrat Super Majority into passing legislation to toughen the sanctions against child trafficking. The movie was filmed approximately six years ago, and the situation is much worse since Biden became President with the current lawless border. Evangelical churches drove opening day attendance with the goal of making this film the number one movie. The goal was accomplished, and word of mouth drove turnout.
They did the same with the Jesus Revolution, with the end result being that the film grossed more than many of the Oscar nominated movies in 2022.
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“…Freedom” is on the list. I prefer cheerful movies, honestly. We saw Jesus Revolution with Kelsey Grammar. Are also watching our way through the old Frasier series, too.
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I’ve not been to a movie theater since 2020. Surprisingly, I don’t miss it. Our big screen TV and sound system suffice. Most flicks these days don’t deserve more than that.
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I think a lot of people are happy to stay home after the pandemic, like you. We bought a big 80” ultra HD screen and have a great surround sound system in our lower level. Still, I do
Like going out.
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My first 2024 movie at home was Lenny. I really wanted to like it: great subject; great cast; great music; great director. Something didn’t quite work. I get that in modern culture a hero must have meaningful flaws. But when the flaws are all you see — meh.
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I’ve heard of that movie, but have never seen it. Have you seen the Mrs Maisel series on Amazon Prime? If not, I think you might enjoy it – the stand-up scene in NYC during the 1960s. Really well acted & a great final season to close it out.
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Yes, I got a kick out of Mrs. Maisel.
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Here’s another one that looks worthwhile. https://www.fandango.com/the-holdovers-2023-232343/movie-overview My wife and I missed it in the theaters. It is on Prime now, but we need to wait a couple weeks to rent it instead of buy it.
Got to love a guy who celebrates the Golden Globes by going to In-N-Out.
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I heard that was terrific. It one a lot of awards at the GGs. The other two I want to see right now are Ferrari and American Fiction. Checkout the trailer for American Culture. Looks like they are having some fun with our divided nation.
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