The rustle of popcorn buckets and excited whispers before the film starts is an experience you won’t be able to get anywhere else other than a movie theater. 

Being able to sit in the comfort of your living room to watch a movie on Netflix is convenient. 

However, it doesn’t compare to the feeling and benefits of going to the movie​​ theater to watch a movie for the first time.

Unfortunately, there has been a 15.5% decrease in movie theater audiences since 2017, according to research from a 2023 survey by The National Endowment of the Arts, a U.S. independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts. 

Fewer students are going to the movies, isolating them more from society by missing out on the cinematic and socal experience that can only be found at a theater. 

Out of 75 USF students, about 51% of students prefer staying in and watching a movie at home than going to a movie theater, according to an April survey conducted by The Oracle.

Part of this problem can also be attributed to the high prices of movie tickets. 

Average movie ticket prices across the country have gone up over $3 in the past 10 years.

Sadly, the rise of streaming services has contributed to the isolation of society with thousands of movies at the touch of our fingers.

By opting to go to a theater instead of staying at home, people can share experiences with strangers and make them feel connected. 

Watching a movie at home isn’t the same as laughing or crying with a group of strangers at the theater. The movies give viewers a common space to interact with each other that may go outside their normal social interactions.

Viewers are no longer putting in the effort to get ready and go out to watch a movie with friends, family or loved ones when using streaming services. 

Despite the rising movie costs, paying for streaming services isn’t much better.

Americans spend an average of $46 per month on streaming services, according to a 2024 survey conducted by Forbes.

Students end up paying hundreds yearly for streaming services that don’t provide the same benefits the movie theater atmosphere does – even if these platforms provide more movies to watch at once.

Either way, students should divert more from streaming services, and Netflix seems to encourage this.

The use of streaming services is now becoming more difficult for college students.

Services such as Netflix have established the Netflix Household rule, meaning Netflix accounts can’t be shared with students from parent’s home anymore.

As streaming services become stricter with their guidelines, students should be more encouraged to visit movie theaters and bring back that entertainment culture.

Meanwhile, a movie ticket at our nearby theater costs around $12 per person without discounts.

AMC Theaters also provide a $20 monthly membership that allows members to watch up to three movies weekly at their theaters as an alternative to using streaming services.

The closest theater to USF, LOOK Dine-In Cinema located less than 10 minutes away from campus, provides no student discount. However, they do offer $6 tickets on Tuesdays.

With these discounts provided by theaters, students should appreciate the cheap costs of a movie.

Don’t just stay home and watch Netflix, take a break from studying at home and experience a good movie in the theater.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated who conducted the 2023 movie theater survey. The organization’s name is The National Endowment for the Arts.