What Happened to Dinner and a Movie?

As Independent Cinemas Continue to Lose Customers, Downtown Loses a Part of its Soul

By Mia Isacson

Like many enthusiastic teenagers, I watched the Oscars. A key takeaway for me was Sean Baker’s acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best Director for Anora. He shared that, “In a time in which the world can feel very divided, this [movie theaters] is more important than ever.” He also highlighted how “independently owned movie theaters are struggling, and it is up to us to support them.” Baker’s “battle cry” about the importance of movie theaters inspired me to consider the root of the decline in cinema attendance and how it impacts downtown New Yorkers and our theaters.

Baker is right; movie theaters are closing like old shops on a quiet street. Three thousand movie screens have gone dark nationwide since the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, and ticket sales have declined significantly from $11.89 billion in 2018 to $8.75 billion in 2024, according to a report by Box Office Mojo, a company that tracks box office revenue. Streaming services and the COVID-19 lockdown are mostly to blame for this decline, as the pandemic led to more people resorting to streaming movies. Today, people still choose to watch films on streaming platforms rather than in cinemas, even after these cinemas reopened. I interviewed Angelyne Menges, a student in New York, who defends her choice to watch a movie at home rather than in the theaters by stating, “Why would I pay to see a movie on dirty chairs and eat expensive, unhealthy food when I could watch it in the comfort of my home?”

Though I see Menges’ point, movie theaters are a better option for viewing movies than streaming. For one, these cinemas allow for a better appreciation of the filmmaker’s work, as the poor picture quality of watching a movie on one’s phone, laptop, or TV doesn’t give justice to all the details the director worked hard to include. Theaters are vital for the experience of watching a film, as the venue forces the audience to stay focused on the movie because it does not have all the distractions of watching a film in one’s home. Secondly, cinemas offer opportunities for shared experiences and new connections, an opportunity not available when streaming movies. Finally, these cinemas, notably independent cinemas, make up a big part of Lower Manhattan’s artistic identity.

Lower Manhattan has been a historic home to independent movie theaters. Theaters such as the Angelika Film Center, IFC Center, Quad Cinema, and Cinema Village have lived and grown in our amazing neighborhood. There are so many theaters in lower Manhattan because Greenwich Village was a hub for filmmakers, such as Jim Jarmusch and Maya Deren who would draw inspiration from this vibrant scene. These independent theaters became safe havens for New York City Rebels. A good example of a staple in lower Manhattan is Cinema Village, a theater that has been operating since 1963. It is one of NYC’s oldest continuously running artistic movie theaters, specializing in independent films and world cinema. Cinema Village offers amazing opportunities for independent artists to showcase their work not only in their theaters but also in their festivals. It houses many film festivals, such as the New York Short Film Festival, the Manhattan Film Festival, the Workers Unite Film Festival, the African Diaspora Festival, and many more, that allow lower Manhattan to thrive in so many ways.

However, as mentioned, COVID-19 and streaming services dented independent theater businesses, impacting cinemas that comprise a big part of lower Manhattan’s culture. Though many of these independent theaters have been struggling, they are trying their best to stay open. For example, Nick Nicolau, who owns Cinema Village and two other independent cinemas, refuses to close his cinemas, saying in 2020, “I will never sell my theaters. I have sold my house, but never the theaters…The city won’t give any breaks to us on the real estate taxes, so I am paying a lot of money in the hopes of keeping my theaters ready to open. I need some cash flow, or I have to get another loan.” These independent theaters struggled more than chain cinemas during the pandemic and, even afterward, cinemas such as AMC and Regal Theaters received Personal Protection Program funding, whilst independent cinemas did not.

Though the lack of business for independent cinemas is concerning, there is hope. Independent owners such as Nicolau are motivated by something beyond revenue. And they are resilient and innovative. New ideas like concession price tickets, virtual screenings, and hosting themed events are stimulating growth. Beyond the theaters themselves, there are several ways these cinemas could get their groove back. For example, distribution companies could allow movies to be shown during a longer period exclusively at movie theaters before heading to streaming services, this would greatly help independent theater businesses. Independent cinemas have played an influential role in lower Manhattan culture. Though the effects of streaming services and COVID-19 have been significant, there are many ways that both the city and theaters can work to stay up and running. So, I suggest for the next movie you plan to watch, buy a ticket from one of New York’s finest downtown cinemas.

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Mia Isacson is a junior at Philips Academy Andover who loves the humanities. She grew up in Greenwich Village and believes New York City is the best place on Earth.