By JACOB COMP, Student Reporter
The movie industry has taken a massive financial hit in the past year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Even in the small town of Alva, where the pandemic does not seem to be as big of a concern, the coronavirus has taken its toll on the industry.
“COVID has simply been devastating,” said Jesse Jones, owner of the Rialto Cinema in downtown Alva. “Our revenue is down nearly 75% to prior years. Hollywood is pushing back big movies into later in the year and some into 2022. Along with movies going to streaming services instead of being released first in theaters, (this) has really hurt us.”
Jones said this is not supposed to happen.
Theaters across the nation have closed since the pandemic began nearly one year ago. In October 2020, the Regal theater chain shut down 536 locations nationwide. Regal is the second-largest movie chain in the nation, according to an October 2020 NPR article.
Before the pandemic, the industry was already seeing a slow decline around the country. The Rialto did not see much of a change, though.
“Prior to 2020, numbers were around the same year to year,” Jones said. “It really does depend on the quality of movies. The last few years, the big ‘blockbusters’ just haven’t been there.”
As the premiere dates of more noteworthy movies keep getting pushed further and further back, movie theaters continue to lose revenue.
Online movie streaming services began to cut into theaters’ profits long before the coronavirus did. Platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and HBO have made it much easier for the public to watch movies from home. These services have also given exposure to directors and actors that may not have gotten exposure otherwise.
Dr. James Bell, associate vice president for academics and dean of faculty at Northwestern, has taught film classes at the university and presented at film festivals. He said streaming services have improved movie theaters in a way because they have made people fans of certain directors and actors they may have never heard of before.
“This will be one more bobble, but it always reminds people how much they like going to the movies,” Bell said. “So, I don’t even think theaters are in jeopardy.”
As for the Rialto Cinema, Feb. 26 is its next showing with “Tom & Jerry.” A new Disney movie will be screened in early March.
Until then, the snack bar will remain open, with drinks and popcorn available throughout the week.
“We’ve been in Alva since the late 1920s,” Jones said. “Hopefully we can stick around a little longer.”