Why don't cinemas show more classic blockbuster films?

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whitneyskywalker

New member
With the news of them re-releasing Back to the Future it got me wondering why they don't show other such films.

I know most people want to go see the latest films and that is where most of the money is to be made. But it surprises me that they don't during quiet times such as in the morning show some older films which might attract certain people.

A while back when they were showing Alien for some anniversary like Back to the Future my frienRAB and I said we would happily pay to also see Aliens on the big screen since we were too young the first time round.

Is there a valid reason none of the big chains do this? Or do they and I'm missing out :eek:
 
the Edinburgh cinema near me - used to be UGC now is Cineworld, used to show classic movies every monday night. but have stopped - and i wished they would start doing them again.
 
The sad thing is that most kiRAB would sit and watch and enjoy something like the 1938 version of The Adventures Of Robin Hood.

But today's moronic imbecilic 'execs' think that anything like that is 'gay'.
 
Economics, the problem is you have to fill a theatre. While a few might go an old blockbuster or classic to reexperience something great, the draw for the masses just isn't there. I've noticed this in the past with other rereleases..even alien didn't have anything close to a packed theatre. The folks that think its a good idea tend not to actually bother to show up and pay money. If they did, it would happen all the time. Just as it is with smaller films and such, the people that cry about how there are not enough this or that, tend not to actually support it with cold hard cash.
 
A few years ago my local multiplex (I think it was a Virgin at the time) started letting customers suggest old films to show on their screens. I got to see Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Star War (pre-digital crap version) on their biggest screen in special midnight showings. On both occasions they managed to get maybe 200 people in. They stopped doing that for some reason though.
 
Yeah when we went to see Alien the place was almost dead which was a shame considering some of the rubbish that was being shown at the time.

I can understand they want to try and fill a place. But I thought that perhaps showing one in the morning when it's quiet anyway might attract some people who wouldn't go in the morning normally. I know I would happily get up early on a Saturday morning to go see one.
 
The UCI in Swansea used to have late night showings of not quite blockbusters, but cult films. One of them was a completely uncut version of Peckinpah's Straw Dogs. Great film (although the night was nearly ruined by a temporarily broken down projector). I don't live in Swansea anymore and the UCI is now the Odeon so have no idea if that is still continuing.
 
Yea I was kinda surprised how empty it was as well.
It's just the problem, the folks that would go, have busy schedules and are older, or don't know or keep up with such things anymore, so any showing would less than optimal, let alone one for the early birRAB. I just couldn't bother to go to see a film early on the weekenRAB when I'd rather sleep in. In the end it just doesn't work out for either the theatre or the film companies, and so we get nothing. The only rereleases tend to be for special directors cut dvd/bluray releases as promotional events.
 
There's a cinema in Glasgow called the GFT (Glasgow Film Theatre) that specalises in showing old films.. I'm off there to see 'Some Like It Hot' a week on sat :D

I agree that more cinemas should follow suit and screen the classics.. they're classic films for a reason and new audiences deserve to see them on the big screen.

xx
 
I had a look on the GFT's website the other week but didn't see any classic films, must have missed that one.

I'm a bit put off with that place due to the very lack of legroom :p
 
Granted, it's not every week they play the Classics, but they play their fair share throughout the year, I go there nearly every month to watch a classic film.

Yes the legroom isn't the best.. and I don't like the fact that they don't sell popcorn :p
 
There was a time when classic blockbusters were in regular circulation. "The Guns of Navarone" was still around in cinemas well into the 70s, even though it was made in 1961.
 
Will need to keep an eye out in case they start showing them again.



That sounRAB amazing, those are the type of films I'm talking about. Wish more cinemas would do that.
 
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