Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Will 'Top Gun' Save US Movie Theaters?
Tom Cruise attends the UK Premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" on May 19. The U.S. opening is Memorial Day weekend.
(
Chris J Ratcliffe
/
Getty Images
)
The last “Top Gun” movie opened more than 30 years ago.
And it’s not just Tom Cruise fans who are looking forward to this coming weekend, when the long-delayed sequel finally arrives at the multiplex. The nation’s theater owners have nothing less than their own viability at stake.
This year’s summer movie season, which kicks off with “Top Gun: Maverick,” will deliver a frank report card on the overall health and future of moviegoing, whose popularity was in decline even before the pandemic hit more than two years ago.
Outside of a few chains (like Arclight and Pacific) that are gone for good and some prominent theaters that are closing (The Landmark in West Los Angeles), most of the nation’s screens have reopened.
Support for LAist comes from
But millions of ticket buyers haven’t yet come back.
At this date in 2019, total North American theatrical grosses stood at $3.3 billion. This year, those year-to-date receipts stand at $1.1 billion. Yes, that's a third of the pre-pandemic receipts.
Buoyed by over-the-top reviews, “Top Gun: Maverick” is expected to gross more than $100 million over the Memorial Day weekend. But as the latest “Spiderman” sequel proved, no single hit film can reverse plummeting theatrical attendance.
om Cruise attends the red carpet for the Japan Premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
(
Kenta Harada/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
/
Getty Images AsiaPac
)
The fact that streamers — especially Netflix — have struggled recently is of little consolation to theater owners: the damage was already done during the pandemic. COVID exposed the inherent antiquity of the theatrical model, which essentially hasn’t changed in more than a century.
And even if “Top Gun: Maverick” takes off at the box office, movie theaters will need a steady stream of popular titles all summer. Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” and Jordan Peele’s “Nope” look promising. But the real odds of those kinds of films restoring moviegoing to what it was before? Slim, and none.
Support for LAist comes from
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist