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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Thursday 29 augusT 2024
What’s hot in theaters? Old movies and some that aren’t so old

By JAKE COYLE ception”) and a “Schlock
AP Film Writer and Awe” series of William
NEW YORK (AP) — When Castle films, complete with
Jennifer Kent’s “The Baba- their original gimmicks, like
dook” opened in theaters seats that buzz during “The
a decade ago, it played Tingler.”
at two cinemas. When it Such programming isn’t
returns to theaters next new for urban arthouses
month, it will be in 500. but it’s expanding. Increas-
“It’s strange but in a won- ingly, older films are being
derful way. I can’t quite shown on screens usually
believe it’s been 10 years reserved for first-run mov-
already. But it’s fantastic ies. Some of that is out of
to go back and be a part necessity.
of it,” Kent says, speaking “There’s about 20-30% less
from Australia. “Consider- films being majorly distrib-
ing that it only released uted now than there were
on such a small number of just five years ago,” says
screens, I feel proud that it’s Jeremy Boviard, the gen-
still enduring.” “The Baba- eral manager of the four-
dook,” a chilling parable screen Moviehouse in Mil-
of parenthood that ush- lerton, New York. “There’s
ered in a new era of dar- definitely more holes in cer-
ing, cinematic horror films, tain programming week-
is just one of many movies This image released by IFC Films shows Noah Wiseman, bottom, and Essie Davis in a scene from ends.” Boviard has had to
making an anniversary run the film “The Babadook.” be more selective about
in theaters this year. Look at Associated Press what appeals to Hudson
almost any movie theater Valley moviegoers, but
marquee right now and to cult status by wide- “The interest in classic mov- while flipping through your some choices really click.
you’ll probably see not just spread raves even William ies has really gone up,” phone, or on a big screen Last year, that included
new titles but a smattering Friedkin hailed it as an in- Ray Nutt, chief executive with an audience collec- the 40th anniversary of
of older films, too. stant classic will very pos- of Fathom says. “This year tively on the edge of their Jonathan Demme’s Talking
At a time when nearly ev- sibly outgross the $1 million we’ll see a 75% increase seats? Heads concert film “Stop
erything is available at it made a decade ago in year over year in this cat- Mark Anastasio, the pro- Making Sense.” It was re-
home with a few clicks, North America. egory.” When Fathom start- gram director of the leased by A24, which prides
nothing is surging on the “It has grown a new fan ed out, they mainly looked Coolidge Corner Theatre, itself on cutting-edge con-
big screen as much as yes- base,” says Nicole Weis, to play films on quiet days a six-screen non-profit cine- temporary films but has
terday’s movies. Repertory vice president of distribu- in cinemas, like Mondays ma in Brookline, Massachu- begun experimenting with
cinema, once the home of tion for IFC. “The majority of and Tuesdays. But they’ve setts, was struck by the ap- re-releases. “Stop Making
the arthouse, is now in the the fans didn’t see it theat- steadily expanded. Ear- peal older films had when Sense” made more than $5
multiplex, too. rically. This strategy of bring- lier this year, one of their the Coolidge was reopen- million domestically.
And sometimes, the ticket ing it back was so people biggest hits was a run of ing from pandemic closure. The trend isn’t likely to slow
sales can be eye-popping. could see a film they’ve the “Lord of the Rings” tril- At the time, there were pal- down any time soon. Stu-
In the last two weeks, the fallen in love with as they ogy over Saturday-Sun- try first-run films to play. dios now regularly comb
beloved 2009 stop-motion should, as it was intended day-Monday. Upcoming “But the interest in the rep- through their archives and
Laika Studios film “Cora- to be, on the big screen.” classics includes anniver- ertory never went away,” patiently await notable
line,” by Henry Selick, has Theatrical hasn’t returned sary showings of “Rear Win- says Anastasio. “We’ve got anniversaries. For Kent, it’s
grossed more than $25 mil- to pre-pandemic levels. But dow,” “Blazing Saddles,” six screens here. It used to a positive development in
lion a staggering sum for a that’s partly due to theaters “Mean Girls” and “The Fifth be that once or twice a what she otherwise calls “a
15-year-old movie. Earlier not having enough mov- Element.” week we’d run an older dark age for cinema.”
this year, Disney’s re-release ies to show. The number of “We joke around here a lot film at 7 p.m. And we’ve “I feel like people still crave
of “Star Wars: Episode One films released nationwide about what is the definition now increased our reper- that experience,” says

The Phantom Menace” in theaters has lowered for of a classic movie,” says tory offerings so that we’re Kent. “I went to see on
made $19.4 million globally. various reasons. The year’s Nutt. “It used to be some- showing an older movie the weekend Dryer’s ‘Or-
This fall will see anniver- movie calendar was signifi- thing like 50 years or what- every single night of the det’ and Bergman’s ‘The
sary releases of “Shaun cantly altered by last year’s ever, and now we’re talk- week, including Saturday Seventh Seal.’ Especially
of the Dead,” “Paris, Tex- prolonged work stoppages. ing about ‘Coraline’ at 15.” and Sunday nights. And the in ‘Ordet,’ it’s such a tran-
as,” “Whiplash,” “Hoop Partly to help fill such voids, Some streaming services demand is there.” scendent film. The audi-
Dreams,” “Interstellar” and the nation’s three largest tend to hide older film from Now, Anastasio is finding ence, we were collectively
many more. It’s not un- theater chains AMC, Re- their home pages. But in he can program increas- experiencing it. I could
common, of course, for gal and Cinemark in 2005 such a digital sea of con- ingly creatively, reaching hear people crying at the
restored classics to return formed Fathom Events. It tent, how new a movie can deeper into filmmaker cat- end. It’s the reason that we
to theaters. ( “Seven Sam- distributes, among other sometimes be less relevant. alogues and the crowds went to the cinema in the
urai” and “The Conversa- things, live broadcasts of (“Titanic” and “The Equal- keep turning up. This week first place to have an ex-
tion” are among those that the Metropolitan Opera izer” have both charted he had a packed house perience. Not to sit on our
have this summer.) But it’s and special events like the this summer on Netflix’s for Spike Lee’s “Inside couch while we’re looking
a new feature of moviego- annual Studio Ghibli Fest, most-watched lists.) The dif- Man” in 35mm, the other at our phones watching
ing that fairly recent movies which brings back classics ferential between theater day Friedkin’s 1977 thriller some sort of content.
are seeing wide re-releases from the Japanese anime and home is becoming “Sorcerer” was a success. It’s not bringing out the best
– and that audiences are studio. Its release of “Cora- less about what’s new and The Coolidge’s upcom- in us or in the work.
packing theaters for them. line,” including 3-D screen- more about the viewing ex- ing plans include three “For me,” she adds, “I take
“The Babadook,” a small ings, set a new high mark perience. Do you want to weeks of 70mm screenings it very seriously, because I
independent film propelled for Fathom. see “Jaws” on your couch (“Lawrence of Arabia,” “In- think we need it.”q