Return of the cinema: 'Star Wars' a major coup for theaters

I hadn't been to a cinema for a while - not because of home technology, but because of people. I just can't stand the side chat, the noisy chocolate bar unwrapping in the middle of a silent scene, the constant glare of smartphones in the dark. Maybe I am a little bit old school, but I know lots of people who gave up cinema because of uncouth behavior. Well, The Force Awakens took me back to the big screen in 3D. And man!, it was worth every second of it. I didn't see the two hours passing, so hypnotized I was. Don't miss it on the big screen. Kudos to J.J. Abrahms.

"a major coup for theaters" -- who cares? As long as they are screening movies, that is all that matters.

I'll bet it's a major coup for the popcorn makers too!

The Force is Strong with USA! Meanwhile in Japan. Darth AKB48, Sith lords of Japan, if you wont join the dark side you will be destroyed.

@smithinjapan, The Force Awakens is a rarity--a film that was highly-anticipated and a lot of people wanted to see it. As such, that's why it made US$529 million (63.7 billion Japanese yen) in its first weekend. Though the latest Youkai Watch movie sold more tickets in the same weeked, people forget many were children's tickets sold at substantial discounts. In short, The Force Awakens will likely make way more money in Japan in the longer run, especially now with the New Year's holiday break coming up.

A big problem in the movie industry nowadays that movie theaters want movies lasting no more than 2 hours 15 minutes maximum and the need to make a movie conform to MPAA ratings. As such, that's why 9-12 episode per season dramatic series are all the rage--Game of Thrones, the recently-concluded Mad Men and Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, House of Cards, among several others. With 9 to 12 hours to fill, they can have more far more complex storytelling than what you get in a theatrical movie.

"coup" is the wrong word; "windfall" is the term you're looking for - "an unexpected turn of good fortune".

The downfall of theatres can be directly tied into the Phantom Menace years before when they jacked up the prices to an unheard of $10 at the time to pay for all the THX licensing and installations.

I saw The Force Awakens in a small theatre on a cheap Tuesday night for $5. Beats the computer screen but I'm not paying for stupid frills. Theatres have to get back to presenting and stop pretending along with the studios.

Smithinjapan, I'm not even a SW fan and it was awesome! I'm sure it will be worth your time and money. Enjoy!

Conspiracy Theories: I haven't seen it yet, for all the hype, but I plan to this weekend and will enjoy it, I have no doubt. I'm still pretty sure that my favourites won't change from: V/VI (dead heat), IV, but I think it will place an easy fourth. The other three movies don't exist.

The Force is Strong with USA! Meanwhile in Japan...

Smithinjapan, well said! Well done movie, for sure. I can't wait to go see it again.

I was talking about this with a friend recently. Television has become the medium to turn to once again for quality entertainment, with many big name actors going back -- which until now has been a no-no -- and with many, many people preferring it to forking out to go to the movies and see an entire story unfold in two hours. There will always be movie-goers, of course -- it is not just a show, but an event -- but really, and especially in Japan, paying a minimum of 1800 yen for a potentially mediocre film just is not worth it. With Star Wars, though, they have literally saved the industry for the moment. Good movie or not, well done!