Indeed this topic pushes me back and forth. I certainly understand and can agree with much of what Villeneuve is saying. I have been extremely excited about Dune since it was first announced. If it was going to premier in theaters only, and at the time it comes out i feel safe being in a theater, i would certainly see it there. if it's streaming at the same time, i'd probably opt to watch at home even if the world has regained some normalcy.
I'd love to hear some of these directors, who have some very valid points, respond to some of the criticism of the actual movie theater experience as described over in the Controversial Cinema thread by me and others. When the sound in a theater sucks, and the picture is not as good as medium-sized, previous generation flat screen tv.... is there still an argument that these films MUST be experienced in a theater?
As i said, i go to the theater (before 2020). but it's not because it's an immersive experience, but because i'm too pumped for a movie to wait for home release. And i don't tend to go to arty films at the theater either. Someone mentioned The Lighthouse here. Not a movie i'd see in a theater, but i did want to watch at home, and i enjoyed it. I was able to watch without the distractions and nonsense that come with the modern theater setting. alone... in the dark... not having to smell the fake bistro cafeteria level food that somehow is now being served inside the actual theater, during the movies.
this being the NIN forum, i assume many here have already watched MANK. I don't know what kind of numbers a movie like that would do in a theater in normal times, but it's not a movie I'd see in a theater. I like the big blockbuster popcorn flix, comic book films, etc, but i also like "fine art cinema"... just not IN the cinema... I'd rather see the next Wes Anderson film at home. (perhaps not the best example of "fine art" but i love him).