2020 has been a year of painful absences. As families across America debate the health risks in a Thanksgiving gathering this month, movie theaters – home to one of the most cherished indoor pastimes in the world – have remained shuttered since March, with no return in sight. When the COVID-19 outbreak reached the United States in Spring, theater chains shut their doors one by one, in a national effort to “flatten the curve” and minimize the spread of the deadliest virus in almost a century. Eight months later, the industry is beginning to face the worst-case scenario and, with cases spiking in the US as the days grow colder, it’s difficult to determine if movie theaters will live to see a post-credits scene after COVID’s credits roll.
There’s no way of knowing if movie theaters will return, but their importance to global pop culture is undeniable. In celebration of the movie-going experience that once was (and may never be again), the writers of GameRant’s Movies & TV section fondly look back on some personal experiences that prove why the silver screen has been so dearly missed this year.
For most, Pokémon is a relic from the past, something many grew up adoring that somehow got etched in their childhood memories. However, in 2019, Detective Pikachu dug deep into the hearts of moviegoers when it offered a recreation for the dream they envisioned as kids: to live in a world where Pokémon existed right next to humans. Detective Pikachu is a nostalgia trip to that time when everyone tried to imagine what their favorite Pokémon would look like in real life and that sudden flashback brought tears to the eyes of many sitting in a movie theater. -Raúl Velásquez
There’s something pure and retroactively surreal about seeing a movie before hearing any reactions to it. During an opening night double feature of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (which directly followed a feature of its predecessor, The Force Awakens), the audience was in full Star Wars mode by the time the second film began. There were no subreddits dedicated to hating its existence, no 4-hour-long YouTube videos crying about Rose Tico, just a packed theater perpetually on the edge of their seats. The infamous hyperspace scene rendered the crowd as silent as the shot itself, with only a single whispered “holy sh**” piercing the stillness. Later, that same reverent audience erupted in cheers as two lone warriors stood back to back at the start of the throne room battle. Reviews are one thing, but that opening night reaction is unlike anything else. -Dan Conlin
The Matrix was re-released in cinemas recently, giving audiences an excuse to watch it again. Seeing the movie on the big screen not only reminded viewers why they loved it, it gave them an opportunity to see it in a whole new light. Since both the directors are transgender, much has been said about the movie’s trans subtext. Old fans and new got to see themselves not just represented, but embraced and celebrated as well. Morpheus telling Neo that he can only show him the door is as true for transition as it is for Neo’s journey. Neo proudly fighting back with “My name is Neo” is a powerful moment for anyone who has to assert their identity. It wasn’t just the return of an older movie – it was an event. -Margaret Evans
A visit to the Marvel Cinematic Universe guarantees moments of triumph and excitement, but 2016’s Doctor Strange dared to turn audience expectations on their heads – and their stomachs. Upon awakening from an all-but-fatal car crash, Stephen Strange stares aghast at his hands, integral tools for his award-winning surgical sorcery. The doctor’s most prized possessions are scarred and stitched to oblivion, ballooned with swelling and held together with cold iron braces. Strange, along with the audience who’s been following his exploits for a good twenty minutes, is completely taken aback by this disgusting sight. The proceeding collective gasps and wails of terror that echoed through theaters around the world are more fitting for a horror film, which is precisely why it’s such a precious moment in Marvel movie history. -Max Marriner
There’s always something magical about seeing a movie in a theater packed with people genuinely thrilled to be there, but it’s even better when those folks are part of a passionate fandom. November 22, 1996 was a strange moment in time when three active Star Trek series happened to converge. The Next Generation was in theaters, while Deep Space Nine and Voyager were on television. As a result, the audience present for the opening night of Star Trek: First Contact was hyped in a way that they never really would be again. The nods to the other Trek properties – Dr. Crusher activating the EMH, the Defiant showing up for the fight with the Borg, the actor who plays Neelix appearing out of makeup – were met with huge cheers from the audience. A hundred plus people screaming with unfettered joy and, unmistakably, love. Nothing quite like it. -Susan Arendt
Catching Point Break as part of a day-long promotion for Hot Fuzz with the cast and Edgar Wright attending was an experience to remember. Before the showing they mentioned what to watch out for and gave the audience full permission to react as loudly as they liked. Every moment of sexual tension, awkward dialogue and iconic line, “I’m an EFF BEE AYE agent,” was made infinitely better by laughter. And the entire theatre loudly joyfully mimicked the moment Keanu shot his gun repeatedly into the air screaming as one beautiful collective. -Jake Laverde
Beetlejuice is a weird and magical film. The theater experience can make it even more so. Imagine watching it in a theater that’s actually a concert venue with a bar, where the price of admission includes a beer since that made it somehow legal for them to screen the movie. In the venue atrium the projector was pointed at the screen on the stage where bands played, and everybody sat in the balcony. During the Banana Boat scene the whole audience sang along, a low murmur at first that grew in volume by the end of the scene. Some focused on handling the baritone, others took charge of emphatically counting the foot bunches, everyone in their seats to the music. That was real magic. -Ian Newton
Movie theaters provide a grand epic tale unlike anything else. Logan was such a tale, a conclusion to nearly two decades of a character synonymous with action, attitude, and the raw pursuit of righteousness. Every sound of “SNIKT” sends shivers to filmgoers, and every blow rocked the Earth. For all in attendance, Logan was the triumphant end of an era. It’s certain that most audiences who packed theaters felt bittersweet euphoria, as Wolverine’s journey came to an end. The emotional sensations of audiences could not be underestimated, as following the screening, many clenched their first, crossed their arms in an X, and made the signature posture of Wolverine. -Roberto Nieves
Despite the meticulous craft of Christopher Nolan’s blockbusters, they are often criticized for lacking an emotional core. Those critiques conveniently omit Interstellar which, for the audience assembled on opening night, was a transcendent experience. The image of a peanut-sized space shuttle spinning against the black hole ‘Gargantua’ inspired wonder, elevated by the grandeur of Hans Zimmer’s pipe organ. Each gasp, sniff and sob from the congregation was a reminder of the movie’s human core. That night the emotion was palpable, which spoke to one of the movie’s core messages: the one thing humans are capable of perceiving, which transcends time and space, is love. -Andrew McKissock
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