In the age of Netflix, more and more people have been watching movies from their computer. Yet there’s a magic to going to the movies that neither Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu Plus can replicate: sitting in a theater, getting your popcorn, watching the movie from the big screen. In the movie theater, action movies become more thrilling, comedies are suddenly funnier, dramas are more heart-wrenching. While New York is lucky to have those smaller theaters that stand the test of time, such as the IFC, Film Forum and the Angelika and Anthology Film Archives, the number of movie theaters has been declining significantly due to the rise of television, multiplexes and streaming services.
However, there’s another wave of indie theaters that’s getting us out of our couches on lazy Friday nights. Inspired curation, the social component of midnight showings of cult classics and the chance to see works of art in their intended form have all led to a golden era of theaters, aimed at making the experience of watching movies completely immersive. In New York City, theaters like Metrograph, Syndicated, Nitehawk and the soon-to-be-opening Alamo Drafthouse branch in downtown Brooklyn have all been spearheading this movement. Matthew Viragh, owner of the Nitehawk in Williamsburg, believed so strongly in this movement that he lobbied the New York State legislature to pass a bill allowing alcohol in movie theaters, one of the major draws of his theater.
The fun novelty of ordering a drink and a burger while watching a cult film from the 80s has evolved into a wide variety of cinema experiences. While the experience of eating overpriced popcorn and watching the newest Iron Man flick is the same at every multiplex from New York to Nebraska, at the smaller theaters each experience is unique. The Sunshine in the Lower East Side offers midnight showings of cult classics, most notably “The Room”. Syndicated in Bushwick only has 50 seats, but if you’re quick enough to snag a $3 ticket you get access to its cushy chairs and an extensive bar and menu. Metrograph in the Lower East Side pays homage to the classic arthouse cinemas of old New York with an eclectic mix that will keep you off your ex-boyfriend’s Netflix account for weeks.
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Maria Haymandou 