Since the late 1800s, movie theaters have been a staple pastime, charming audiences with larger-than-life screens, immersive audio systems, food, beverages, and more. In the past decade, however, the once-full theaters have become increasingly empty as consumers gradually turn to at-home online streaming services.
In November 2025, I saw “Wicked: For Good” in the theater with a friend and noticed that less than half of the seats were filled. Although I left the theater mildly disappointed by the movie, I couldn’t help but wonder why the attendance was so low, especially considering the popularity of the “Wicked” franchise.
In the past, many teenagers went to the movies almost every week, often as a way to spend time with friends. Lately, this hasn’t been the case. Theater attendance dropped to a low of $8.7 billion in ticket sales in 2024, a drastic change from the $11 billion theaters earned before COVID-19.
In the 2000s, streaming services were introduced, with Netflix launching in 2007 and Hulu in 2008. Streaming gained traction after their introduction, causing more services to launch, such as YouTube and Prime Video, by 2010. At the time, their popularity was limited due to fewer streaming options and the appeal of movie theaters. Soon after, in 2020, COVID-19 disrupted many people’s favorite in-person activities, including watching movies at the theater.
During the pandemic, many people flocked to streaming services, and theaters were slowly left behind. Streaming boomed, and even more services were introduced during COVID-19, including Peacock and Disney+.
To be fair, online streaming is very convenient. The ability to watch almost any movie in the comfort of your home is great, especially after a long week.
Personally, I enjoy seeing movies in theaters much more than streaming them online. Watching movies in a dark room on a large screen with few distractions is an experience I cherish. A theater is one of the only places where I feel completely engrossed in the film I’m watching. At home, distractions make it difficult to completely immerse yourself, but movie theaters provide that focus.
As a movie lover myself, going to the movie theater isn’t just a way to see new releases or eat popcorn; it’s an opportunity to focus and escape from distractions. It’s time to pull away from our screens at home and remember that theaters are what keep us present.
