Independent movie theater

An independent movie theater or indie cinema is a movie theater which screens independent, art house, foreign, or other non-mainstream films.[1] They can be contrasted with mainstream cinemas (often multiplexes), which are more likely to screen blockbusters and other popular films.

The Little Theatre in Rochester, New York, an example of an indie cinema.

Indie cinemas are often characterized by their smaller size and stronger ties to their local communities.[2] Many are also located in historic or nontraditional venues.

Unlike mainstream cinemas, which almost exclusively draw patrons looking to see a particular film and make no tacit endorsement of the films they screen, indie cinemas often work to cultivate a reputation for good taste by curating a selection of high-quality films, thus drawing patrons who might know little about a film before going to see it.[3]

History

In the silent cinema era, most cinemas were independent.[4] In the 1930s, as talkies requiring more sophisticated equipment arose, many smaller cinemas were unable to compete with larger chains.[4] The 1948 United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. Supreme Court case, which blocked movie studios from also owning cinemas, led to a resurgence of indie cinemas starting in the 1950s.[4] In the 1980s, loosened vertical integration restrictions helped reverse this trend.[4] Like all movie theaters, indie cinemas have been financially threatened in the 21st century by the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix.[2] Some have converted to become nonprofits.[2]

By region

United States

In the United States, the largest indie cinema chain is Landmark Theatres. There are some smaller regional chains such as Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles, as well as many stand-alone venues throughout the country in places like New York City.[2]

United Kingdom
Main article: Independent cinema in the United Kingdom

See also

References
  1. Lang, Brent; Donnelly, Matt (26 March 2019). "Inside Indie Movie Theaters' Battle to Survive". Variety. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  2. Beals, Rachel Koning (27 February 2017). "Independent and art-house movie theaters double down on anti-Netflix vision". MarketWatch. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  3. Blair, Iain (17 January 2017). "Indie Cinemas Face Challenging Future Together". Variety. Retrieved 22 January 2020. at the movie theater, we’re all about curation through a person, and that’s always been part of the indie cinema experience.
  4. Geraughty, Kiera (27 September 2018). "HIGHLIGHT REEL: Independent Film Theaters in Limbo as the District Evolves". The Hoya. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
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