What's the Future for Indie/Arthouse Movie Theaters?

Last month the Landmark E Street Cinema, an indie/arthouse theater in DC, closed after 21 years. Landmark blamed the closing on the "inability to recover in the post-pandemic environment.” Detroit, San Diego, and Denver are just some of other areas that have had these theaters shut down recently.

The news is not all troubling. Locally, the AFI Silver, the Greenbelt Theater and Baltimore's The Senator have survived. Portland's independent cinemas are reportedly thriving. The New York Times reports that arthouse theaters in small towns have weathered the storm by operating as non-profits.

Nationwide ticket sales have not caught up to pre-pandemic levels. Large theater chains like AMC and Regal have taken hits. But will smaller theaters without those deep pockets still be around in a few years? Will audiences who appreciate smaller films support them in theaters or just wait for streaming? What can the theaters we love do to stay vibrant?

At the end, we will remember the life and work of Val Kilmer.