It’s Time To Go Back To The Movies!
If it’s been a while since you saw a movie at a theater, there are some new releases coming soon that might make you want to go back.
For most of our adult lives, the usual date night was dinner and a movie. And the movie was at a movie theater.
Whether it was a first date, a special occasion, a night out without the kids, or just for something fun to do, going to a movie was one of the first things we thought of. Especially if there was a new release coming out that we all wanted to see. But moviegoing has seen a big decline since Covid hit in 2020 and shut down theaters across the country.
Over five years later, they’re still struggling to come back. It’s an uphill battle when they’re fighting streaming services that allow us to watch new releases from the comfort of our couch. And there’s a much faster turnaround for movies going from theaters to streaming services, so theaters have less time to make a profit. In a recent survey, moviegoers said high ticket prices and a lack of interest in current offerings were some of their top reasons for staying home. But could those things be changing?
Could we be seeing a trend toward going back to the theater?
According to a study by trade association Cinema United, 77% of Americans saw at least one movie in a theater in 2025. The number of “habitual moviegoers” (those who see six or more movies per year) increased by 8%. And one statistic that was really interesting to me is that the Gen Z audience increased more than any other age group.
The theater industry seems to be taking note. Owners spent over $1.5 billion upgrading their theaters in 2025. And they are taking steps to attract the younger audience by making the experience more immersive with bigger screens, better sound systems, and upgraded concessions. Our local theater (part of the Epic Theater chain), is in the process of renovating all its theaters with full recliner seating, 4-D E-Motion technology, IMAX with Laser, and new sound systems that will significantly improve the moviegoing experience.
So what does all this mean for us almost-retired (or retired) people?
I think it means if you haven’t seen a movie in a theater lately, you should try it again – soon! Bob and I have been going fairly often lately, and we have re-discovered the fun of getting out of the house and watching a movie on the big screen instead of Prime or Netflix.
Moviegoers complain about high ticket prices, but for us, it’s a fairly cheap outing. As we shared here, our local theater offers a pretty good discounted rate for seniors. If we go on a Tuesday, all tickets are only $6.00 for Epic Rewards members. Joining the loyalty program also allows us to earn concession cash and free tickets as we accumulate points. We consider it an almost-retired bonus that we have the flexibility to go when the theaters are a lot less crowded and cost less.
And as far as not being interested in the current offerings, we’ve noticed a much better selection of movies we want to see lately. For a while it seemed like there wasn’t anything but horror and thriller movies coming out. But looking at the new releases for this year, there are a number that interest us. I’ve started adding the release dates to my calendar so we don’t miss the short window we have to watch them in the theater.
Here are a few we can’t wait to see at a movie theater in the coming months, along with their release dates:
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert How can you not love anything about the King of Rock and Roll? Seeing this at an IMAX theater will be like being there live. (February 27th)
- Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling. See our review of the book here. We’ve been anxiously awaiting this one! (March 20th)
- Michael a biography of Michael Jackson’s life starring his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson. With over 30 songs from the King of Pop’s catalog, this is pretty much the soundtrack of our youth. (April 24th)
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt all return in this sequel that looks to be as fun and full of fashion as the original. (May 1)
- The Sheep Detectives starring Hugh Jackson and Emma Thompson. When a shepherd (Jackson) is found dead, his sheep step up to solve the murder. (May 8th)
- Star Wars:The Mandalorian and Grogu It’s Star Wars. And baby Yoda. Enough said. (May 22)
- Pressure Brendan Frasier stars as General Dwight D. Eisenhower in this film about the 72 hours leading up to the launch of the D-Day invasion. (May 29th)
- The Breadwinner Our favorite comedian, Nate Bargatze, hits the big screen. From the trailer, it looks like it will be hilarious! (May 29th)
- Disclosure Day Apparently Emily Blunt has been busy! She also stars in this upcoming science fiction thriller directed by Steven Spielberg. The tagline for the movie is quite enticing: “If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?” (June 12th)
- Young Washington Coinciding with the 250th celebration of Independence Day, this is “The extraordinary story of George Washington, the surveyor-turned-commander who fought for American independence and was unanimously elected the nation’s first president.” With Ben Kingsley, Mary-Louise Parker, Kelsey Grammar, and William Franklyn-Miller in the starring role. (July 3rd)
Looks like a good line-up of potential hit movies!
And with the new advances being installed in theaters across the country, the moviegoing experience is improving all the time. It’s getting to where it can be like going on a Disney ride, complete with synchronized motion, scents, and other effects. Ramped-up concessions, like collectable cups and popcorn buckets, specialty drinks, and themed combo offers add to the fun. (I personally love the new DIY popcorn dispensers that allow you to apply your own butter in layers!)
Overall, there’s just something so much better about watching movies on a big screen. Plus, we never fall asleep in a theater like we do watching TV at home on the couch! Next time you’re looking for something fun to do, check out the “Now Playing” options at a theater near you. We think you’ll be glad you did.