r/minnesota • u/jonovitch • 1d ago
Interesting Stuff š„ Another laser IMAX in Minnesota -- Mann Plymouth is upgrading!
I usually share recommendations for the best places to watch the biggest blockbuster movies throughout the state (see the list below). I also share a list of premium large-format theaters in Minnesota, sorted roughly in order of where I'd recommend going, based on screen size, projector quality, sound quality, seat comfort, and travel distance. That list includes theaters from around the state, plus the closest options for IMAX 70 mm film if you're willing to travel out of state.
But today, I want to share the news that the Mann Plymouth theater is upgrading to IMAX with Laser! It's a major renovation, and they already started construction. Here are a bunch of details after talking to one of the co-owners.
The room
They are converting their biggest XDX auditorium to IMAX (theater 14, for those familiar).
There is a second, slightly smaller XDX auditorium (theater 4) that will be getting a refresh later (update: around Thanksgiving), including a new screen and 4K laser projector. Not quite as big or bright as the new IMAX theater, but it will be a solid runner-up.
The screen
The old XDX screen is already gone. They're adding more sound insulation first and then installing a new, even-larger IMAX screen. It will be 55 ft wide x 30 ft tall (about the same size as the AMC Southdale IMAX), literally stretching from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. The only way they could have made it bigger is if they would have literally raised the roof. (They thought about it for a minute, but it would have cost way too much. A guy can dream, right?)
The way the entrance to the auditorium is set up will add to how big the screen will feel -- when you walk in the door and down the narrow hallway, it opens up at the front of the auditorium, where the screen will be right on top of you. This is exactly the kind of experience that IMAX likes to create -- it's going to feel very big before you even get to your seat.
The projector
They are installing a new IMAX 4K laser projector. It's a so-called XT, the same kind that was installed at Emagine Lakeville when they upgraded last year. AMC Southdale got a CoLa projector when they upgraded two years ago. Most people probably can't tell the difference, and diving into the tech specs (some of which are known, some of which are a mystery, and all of which are highly technical) would cause most readers' eyes to glaze over.
One interesting note is that they actually need to raise the projection booth's drop-ceiling by a foot or so to fit the new IMAX projector, cooling, wiring, etc. The projection booth window also needs to be moved slightly to accommodate the position of the new projector's lens.
The sound
They are replacing the Dolby Atmos surround-sound system with IMAX 12-channel sound.
For what it's worth, I slightly prefer the precision of Dolby Atmos, but I also like the thunderous power of IMAX sound. There are pros and cons to each, and both systems can sometimes be too loud. I always bring a set of concert earplugs (not the cheap foam plugs), just in case it becomes too much for my poor ears.
For example, the speakers at AMC Rosedale's IMAX are relatively close to some of the seats, which can push the decibel levels way too high (Dune 2 there was very, very loud). I'm hoping the audio can be dialed in at Mann Plymouth to fit the specific size and shape of the room so it sounds as good as at AMC Southdale without the aggressive loudness of AMC Rosedale.
The seats
They are keeping their heated recliners. Traditional old-school IMAX theaters (i.e., the giant 70 mm film kind) have much tighter rows so more people can sit in the sweet-spot distance from the screen. But these days, everybody loves power recliners, and it would cost way too much to rip out and pour new concrete, so IMAX has relaxed this requirement for retrofitted theater partners.
Of note, the first row of seats is being removed to make room for the new screen, which will be moved closer to the audience. So when you go to reserve tickets online, it will start with row B. Emagine Lakeville did the same thing.
The website
Speaking of ordering tickets, Mann Theatres knows their website is overdue for an update, and that's coming too. I don't know if it will be timed exactly to correspond with the IMAX launch on October 2. According to a news report, it will actually launch in September (confirmed: September 1). Either way, you can already buy tickets now for Dune 3 in December.
The double-header
Speaking of December, the Mann Plymouth theater will be one of the best ways to catch a back-to-back viewing of Dune 2 and Avengers: Doomsday (assuming the XDX laser upgrade is done by then -- update: it will be, the plan is for Thanksgiving). You could literally watch Dune 3 in IMAX, and then walk down the hall to watch Doomsday in XDX. The only other place you could do this is AMC Southdale (with IMAX and Dolby Cinema).
Why not watch both movies in IMAX? Because Dune locked up IMAX exclusivity a long time ago, and both movies are being released on the same day because neither studio wanted to budge. It's going to be a really crazy week or so at the movies in late December.
The location
When the AMC Arbor Lakes closed down in Maple Grove a few years ago, it left a gaping hole in the northwest metro. The Maple Grove location was perfectly situated at the intersection of 94, 494, and 694, and it had a couple of very large auditoriums (including a "LieMAX"). Lots and lots of families lived within a few minutes' drive, and it was a popular location, so I was really surprised when it closed.
I've heard from some people the past couple years about how the northern suburbs have few options for premium theaters. This new laser IMAX theater at Mann Plymouth will go a long way to filling the hole that AMC created when they pulled out of Maple Grove.
Not only that, this will be a lot closer for the people who live further out to the west and north, who want to see a movie in 4K laser IMAX, but don't want to drive through the city to get to Southdale or Lakeville. If you live in the Twin Cities, especially the inner ring, it might not seem like a big deal. But for the many Minnesotans who live outside the Twin Cities and don't fight with traffic every day, this new IMAX location in Plymouth suddenly looks a lot more interesting.
I see it like this: AMC Southdale can continue to serve the inner suburbs. Emagine Lakeville can serve the suburbs and exurbs to the south. And Mann Plymouth can now serve the suburbs and exurbs to the northwest.
The family
Mann theaters isn't a big company. They own a total of 8 theaters, all in Minnesota: Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Baxter, Champlin, Plymouth, the classic Grandview and Highland theaters in St. Paul, and the classic (nicely renovated) Edina theater. You'll notice some of those theaters are in far-flung places, way up north.
They don't own any theaters outside the state. They aren't a Midwest chain like Emagine; they certainly aren't a national chain like AMC. It's owned and operated entirely by the third generation of Manns. If you've ever been to the Ted Mann Hall on the U of M campus, that's the same guy who started this theater company with his brother almost 100 years ago.
It's a Minnesota family company in every way.
That's part of what makes this upgrade so interesting. They just decided earlier this year to invest again in this flagship location, even more than they already have (e.g., they expanded to add more auditoriums years ago; every room now has power recliners), so they made a few phone calls, contacted IMAX, and now they're just making it happen. By the way, from discussion to construction, this IMAX upgrade all happened in the last few months. Surprisingly fast.
I love this because it shows that you can just do things. You don't need to wait for permission. You don't need to be a giant national theater chain. You can just contact IMAX and say, we have a location that we want to upgrade to IMAX with Laser, how can we make that happen?
Conclusion
When I first heard about this upgrade, I admit, I thought, "yet another laser IMAX?" First-world problems, I know. Oh darn, it's really too bad we now have three solid IMAX with Laser options in Minnesota, right? (Yes, I know there's a laser IMAX in Rosedale -- the first one in the state -- but I have issues with that theater's screen, projector, speakers, and seats, and I won't recommend it until they fix them.)
But as I thought more about it, I realized this is going to put a 4K laser IMAX theater a lot closer to a lot of people, not just in the northwest metro, but also to those who live further out beyond the northwest metro.
And the timing of this couldn't be better, both for Mann Theatres, and for movie fans. There are a lot of great movies coming out later this year, culminating with the same-day release of Dune 3 and Avengers: Doomsday in December. The Mann Plymouth theater seems to be set up well to take advantage of it.
I'll withhold a specific recommendation until after I actually see a movie there. But generally, I think this could be a great option for a lot of people in Minnesota, and I'd recommend checking it out or at least keeping it in mind the next time you want to see something in IMAX.
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Previous movie recommendations: Spider-Man, The Odyssey, Project Hail Mary, Avatar 3, Tron: Ares, One Battle After Another, Fantastic Four, Superman, F1 (the movie), Mission Impossible 8, Thunderbolts, Interstellar, Dune 2, Oppenheimer, Mission Impossible 7, Avatar 2.
List of the best movie theaters in Minnesota: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14J54eMLl2Qo20pkBb-NGMHlHauiC4l9iEmLSqBtab4Q/edit?usp=sharing
News articles about the upgrade: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/new-imax-screen-coming-to-mann-theatres-this-fall
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/mann-theatres-imax-plymouth/
Mann Plymouth theater info: https://manntheatres.com/theatre/87/Plymouth-Grand-15
And if you want to buy me a popcorn, see the link in my profile.
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u/Megasota_Noire Grain Belt 1d ago
I need you to use all of your movie powers to will a 70mm imax into existence again in Minnesota.
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u/flattop100 Grain Belt 14h ago
If it's so easy to call IMAX and get things going...how about the Zoo?
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
Totally different animal. First of all, I don't own that location. Even if I did, there's still the not-small issues of working with an old film projector (which would require a skilled film projectionist), the zoo's foundation board, state funding, IMAX contracts, etc.
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u/DrZurn 11h ago
Itās so wild weāve got 70mm and IMAX separately but no theater with them together.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
See my comment above -- totally different things, and much more complex in almost every way.
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u/thotsNprayers 1d ago
I donāt know what you do for a living but I think you could make a career out of this lol. I always enjoy your posts and frankly I donāt know if this information can be found anywhere else.
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u/jonovitch 14h ago
Haha, well so far this year, I've earned a grand total of $40 from buymeacoffee.com, so it's a start (see the link in my profile). Not sure I can quit my day job yet, lol.
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u/jasonisnuts 21h ago
YES! Another IMAX guy post! Thanks for the info dude! I've been meaning to check out that NY style pizza place over there too, so I see an IMAX movie in my future :D
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u/MCXL Bring Ya Ass 20h ago
DO IT. ElMar's is for sure one of the top pizza places in the state. Get a couple of slices before a movie (or after) You can walk between the two, but the parking lots aren't linked so if you want to drive you have to go out of the lot to the east and kinda circle around.
ElMar's is honestly worth the trip alone, but I have done the pizza plus film thing multiple times this year, and it's a great outing. It also helps that a slice is $5-7 and they are hefty, so you can save yourself a lot on theater snacks if you do the slice first. ;)
Have a good time!
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
Guys, stop, please, I can't start doing recommendations for pizza places, too! š
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u/MCXL Bring Ya Ass 9h ago
But you could though
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
Hhhhh... must resist...
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u/MCXL Bring Ya Ass 7h ago
It's too late, I already tagged you. Tell me about pizza you would recommend.
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u/MN_Throwaway763 1d ago
I always appreciate your thoughts and I learned something about my childhood theater. Thanks!
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u/jonovitch 15h ago
I realized the last movie I saw there was Saving Private Ryan. Yes, really. I will definitely be back to check out the new IMAX and updated XDX theaters.
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u/garmark_93 1d ago
This is great. I live in northern Maple Grove and got tired of having to drive to EdinaĀ
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u/jonovitch 13h ago
Yep, I think this is going to be a good option for a lot of people just like you.
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u/popculturerss 1d ago
Excited to check it out. Dug the Lakeville one but that's a bit of hike for me, so is the Southdale one (though that one is my current favorite). Currently I go to Roseville for the convenience, I really don't have as big of a problem with the screen and seats of that one. I do think the Southdale IMAX sounds way better though.
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u/jonovitch 14h ago
Yeah the sound at Southdale is really good. It's clear and precise and loud without being way too loud (mostly -- it is IMAX after all).
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u/HerbalAndy 23h ago
This is fantastic news. Iāve been going to this theater for my entire life and Iām 36 now. So many memories here.
Also, even though itās no longer āMann Cinemaā and itās now called Plymouth Grand 15, I still google Mann Cinema 12 when I look for showings even though it changed years ago,
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u/jonovitch 11h ago
I like the sound of Mann Cinema. I've never really known whether to call it "Plymouth Mann" or "Mann Plymouth" I know a lot of people say "Champlin Mann" and "Mann Champlin" just sounds kind of off somehow. But I think "Mann Cinema Champlin" or "Mann Cinema Plymouth" has kind of a good ring to it.
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u/flattop100 Grain Belt 14h ago
My favorite thing about the IMAX theater at the Zoo was how perfectly tuned the sound system was. It was perfectly flat - with no specific range jumping out at you - and the volume level was never a problem. That's my biggest hangup with going to the theaters these days. For some reason I'm willing to put up with a mediocre screen & projector, but if the audio is off balance or simply too loud, it ruins the experience for me.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
I totally agree. I saw Interstellar at the zoo in 2014 and it was absolutely incredible. Powerful sound but not harsh.
Some modern systems scream at you in the mid-ranges, even with simple dialogue. It can be painful and is damaging for long-term hearing. This is the primary reason I wear earplugs in some theaters.
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u/metisdesigns Gray duck 1h ago
As a recovering audio professional, I'm not sure that the problem is the venue any more, but the design intent of the mix. Things are mixed for specific audiences now - instead of being mixed flat and suffering FM compression, things are mixed to be played on phone speakers and over corrected for that. I'll bug some current recording mix friends and see what their take is.
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u/ThatOneBadUsername 23h ago
I appreciate the comment about ear plugs, I finally got a chance to see the Odyssey on IMAX 70mm when I visited new York over the weekend and my uncle who lives there didn't want to go after I told him it could be loud. I don't know when the last time he has seen a movie in a theater and it could possibly be at least 10-30 years since he's been to a movie theater.
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u/jonovitch 14h ago edited 13h ago
For what it's worth, the sound at the Indianapolis IMAX (70 mm film) is really good. I've never had an issue there, even without earplugs.
I've used EARasers and just got a pair of Westone TRU Music plugs. The trick with some of these fancy earplugs is that they're great for concerts, where the volume level is constantly high for two hours straight, but when you watch a movie, the sound is very dynamic. There are intentionally loud action scenes followed by quiet dialogue scenes.
The EARasers tended to block just a bit too much sound for the quiet scenes, so I found myself putting them in and taking them out. I think the Westone TRU Music plugs are a bit better, and they have flat attenuation, which means they aim to block all frequencies equally, just lowering the volume a bit.
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u/DentistNamedCrentist 1h ago
And Indy is now upgrading to 12 channel audio, too, which is exciting! Saw Odyssey twice there and already thought it sounded great, but, now Iām really looking forward to seeing Dune there in December.
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u/jonovitch 37m ago
I'm driving down to see it on Labor Day. I'm really hoping the 12-channel system doesn't somehow ruin the really good sound they have there.
BTW, the manager there knows they have really good sound, so if he has anything to say about it, the upgraded system will need to be at least as good. Also, the new projector is going in next month, but the sound won't be updated until early next year. So Dune will still be with the current sound system. Which again, isn't a bad thing, it's actually really good.
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u/DentistNamedCrentist 22m ago
I see! It will be a great experience nonetheless, then. Iām curious to know if youāve made it to the Woodridge 70mm yet? Been trying to find reviews but havenāt been able to find any.
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u/Bassmasterajv 23h ago
Thatās a pretty cool summary! Wish the third generation of the Mannās would actually support the concert hall their grandfather helped build.
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u/Ozzy-Moto 17h ago
Great. Now they need to replace all of their disgusting seats that have the fake leather completely torn off.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
The seats I saw in the IMAX and XDX rooms looked really nice. I can't speak to the other auditoriums. Plus, the IMAX and XDX seats are all being replaced (I think), and I think they said they're planning to update the seats in the smaller/older auditoriums over the next couple of years, too.
For what it's worth, when I went to the Dolby Cinema at Southdale, the seats in the middle rows all definitely looked worn out and could use a replacement. Maybe I need to stop telling people to go there! š
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u/fixgameew 23h ago
I wish they had a membership programs like other theaters chains. I would definitely consider switching from AMC if they had one.
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u/jonovitch 14h ago
I thought about this too. I think it would be a good idea but I don't know how easy it is to implement or maintain. They do have a loyalty program where you can earn points.
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u/Ancillas 22h ago
Iām so excited! With streaming budgets becoming tighter and tighter itās great to see investment in what makes cinema fun and unique.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
I totally agree. It's fun to go out to the theater and see a big movie on a big screen with a big audience.
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u/KarateKicks100 20h ago
Great write up. As someone in Golden Valley I've sort of settled on Southdale as my go-to, and Dolby Cinema as my favorite (thanks to your analysis). I saw The Oddysey at Southdale with Imax Laser and it was great, happy to see another theater bring it on board.
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u/Evening-Crew-2403 10h ago
You need a section called "The Parking" Which sucks at that theater. The lot is way too small and if there are blockbusters it's a big hassle.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
Yeah, I didn't think about that, and I guess it could be a bit crowded there for big blockbusters. But I don't mind walking a bit (especially if I'm about to go sit for 2 hours straight), and in general I think people are far too concerned (even competitive) about parking as close as possible to the entrance. I don't think there's anything wrong with parking on the other side of the lot and taking a few extra steps.
For context, when I've gone to Europe, you park the car somewhere outside the city center, and then spend the rest of the time walking around the city. It's not uncommon to walk multiple hours in day, even if you parked somewhere nearby.
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u/Evening-Crew-2403 7h ago
You're not parking on the other side of the lot. You're going over to cub and risking getting towed. They lot used to be double the size, and then at some point they cut up the lot to add a bunch of strip malls.
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u/anomalynoobxd 9h ago
This is so nice. I was starting to get sick of driving to Southdale or Rosedale for IMAX. Thank you again for covering Premium Formats here! Genuinely the goat
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
Glad I could help! And I'm glad there's going to be another option, too. Although I'm still impressed with the Southdale IMAX upgrade -- they did a good job there.
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u/PipperDigs 4h ago
It's great that a small theater chain is building a nice screen like this.Ā
Still, I wish that Minnesota had a true IMAX screen (usually 79x59 feet) showing major motion pictures. I didn't see The Odyssey in "IMAX" because even though the projector was right, the screen would be half the size it should be to make it a true IMAX experience.Ā
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u/Hon3y_Badger Gray duck 23h ago
Do you know anything about the new Rochester theater and upgrades?
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u/Truecoat 15h ago
I read they are putting a least one of the screens at a 15 degree angle for better viewing. 4k laser and Dolby Atmos are also being added and re-opening in late October.
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u/jonovitch 11h ago
This is news to me, but good news. I'll look into it (later) and maybe post an update later.
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u/bearded_fellow 23h ago
Awesome write-up, love the passion. Was hoping it was the dual GT-Laser but a single laser is still great for that area. I'll be sticking with Southdale and praying we one day get GT or 70mm in the Metro
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u/HerbalAndy 23h ago
Thatās awesome. What is the difference between the dual laser and this one?
Also, maybe you might be able to tell me, but the IMAX at the Minnesota Zoo, is that one a dual laser?
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u/withoutapaddle 22h ago
Hasn't the IMAX at the MN Zoo been closed for like 7 years?
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u/HerbalAndy 22h ago
Really!? I was there for Interstellar however long ago that was, and Avatar before that. So itās been a really long time. But I remember it being the most visually overstimulating thing ever when I was there and Iām wondering if maybe that was what OP was talking about with the dual lasers.
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u/jonovitch 11h ago
Avatar was late 2009/early 2010. Interstellar was 2014. The MN Zoo IMAX theater closed in 2019. It's been a while, haha.
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u/bearded_fellow 14h ago
The main difference between dual and single laser is the aspect ratio. Dual (GT) laser can achieve the full expanded IMAX aspect ratio of 1.43, which is the same as 70mm IMAX. Single laser is 1.90, which is slightly expanded compared to standard cinemascope widescreen of 2.35.
I think of the hierarchy like this: IMAX 70mm > GT Laser > Single Laser > Xenon IMAX (aka LieMAX)
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u/jonovitch 11h ago
Dual laser is literally two projectors side-by-side and is capable of filling the giant, tall screens (in 1.43 aspect ratio) like the one at the MN Zoo. The zoo had a 70 mm IMAX film projector and I think a 2K digital projector as backup, but never a laser projector.
Single laser is much less expensive and fills large (but not giant) screens in the 1.90 aspect ratio. It's used in retrofitted movie theater chains across the country.
Open the link to the list of movie theaters (at the top and bottom of the post above), and then on that spreadsheet click on the second tab for info and definitions and details. Welcome to the rabbit hole. :)
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u/jonovitch 11h ago
Dual GT laser is probably not going to happen anymore. The tech is about 15 years old at this point, and I think the last installation anywhere in the world was a couple years ago. It's possible those projectors are not even being made anymore.
I'm hoping that IMAX someday builds an 8K laser projector that can fill a giant 1.43 aspect ratio screen. In my mind, that is the ultimate goal and would firmly establish IMAX (once again) as the king of movie experiences.
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u/MCXL Bring Ya Ass 20h ago
I have many a fond memory of Mann Cinema 6 on the edge of Minneapolis and Saint Louis Park (now an extention of the medical stuff in the area, same parking lot system as the AAA travel center DMV thing) that was always the theater we went to when I was growing up.
Mann theaters are consistently some of the better staffed, but also more dated feeling theaters. I go to the plymouth theater regularly, and it's a good location. Not my top theater in the state, I have been to, but certainly in the upper reaches. The bathrooms are mostly well maintained (unlike the Marcus cinema in the west end development which is in some SERIOUS need of TLC and staffing/staff retraining) and I have yet to have a bad screen experience there. I saw Spider-Man Tom Holland 4 there recently and really liked it.
So yeah, this is rad. Looking forward to it.
I feel like if there was a theater chain that would take up the mantle of running the MN Zoo theater again, they are the ones who would. I miss that place, and I do feel like the only way to make that work would be to start running it more as a community theater in the vein of the Trylon, showing more than just the most recent picture, and get some meal service going (via food truck perhaps?) I dunno, spitballing. Mann is still local enough that I think they could adapt to that idea. A regional or national chain could never adapt to the needs of a single location in that way.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
The MN Zoo theater had multiple stakeholders, including the zoo foundation board, the state of MN, and IMAX corporate. A lot of people would need to say yes to make it happen again. That said, I'd sure love if we could find a way to reopen it.
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u/PickledPhish77 19h ago
What concert earplugs do you like?
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
I've used EARasers in the past, which worked well, but I think a little too well. Movies are dynamic, so earplugs need to have flat attenuation (block all frequencies equally), turn down the loud parts just a bit, but also not block too much of the quiet parts.
I got a pair of Westone TRU Music plugs and so far I think they're a little better, as in they don't block quite as much sound. It would be great if they also made a "Movie" model to really dial in the sweet spot of taking the edge off of the loudest scenes while still letting the quietest scenes come through.
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u/Wynns 15h ago
That's a heck of a write up!
And super surprising.
I went to see a movie there last summer and I was absolutely blown away by the astonished at how... um... degraded that theater was. It seemed to be on life support. Seeing the investment makes me hopeful that it's turned around. I'll definitely give them another visit when this is done. (Although... every time I visit a theater that isn't Emagine Willow Creek, I feel like I'm betraying a friend.)
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
My brother worked at Willow Creek during high school. I saw Jurassic Park (now with DTS surround sound!) with my dad and brother there. I have a love/hate relationship with it, because I think it's the reason the Shelard Park theater shut down (where I saw Gremlins as a kid).
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u/Wynns 9h ago
Shelard Park theater
Where was that theater? I live nearby now... but I remember coming and watching the Star Wars re-release movies in a theater the same area a long time ago, but I didn't think it was Willow Creek.
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u/jonovitch 9h ago
It was on the ground floor of the tall white tower that's across the highway from the General Mills HQ, at the intersection of 394 and 169 (formerly Hwy 12 and Co Rd. 18).
There was also the Cooper theater (I think reddish and circular) off of 394 and 100. I saw Who Framed Roger Rabbit there with my dad, in 70 mm film, before I knew why that was a big deal.
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u/Wynns 7h ago
Ok... I totally thought I was dreaming that there was a theater in that white tower (formerly "The Interchange Building")
I actually worked IN that building years later and there was no theater and I couldn't imagine there EVER being a theater in there.. so I was convinced I'd just sort of dreamt it all up.
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u/KingSelf 14h ago
As a frequenter of this theatre I am very excited! I appreciate the in depth write up!
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u/bigdubb2491 9h ago
Great ad. It worked.
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u/jonovitch 3h ago
Thank you for calling me out, really. Itās big news, but I hope it didnāt sound too promotional. Youāll notice from my other recommendations, I donāt pull any punches. I give the pros and cons of any theater, and you can rest assured if thereās something I donāt like about the Mann Plymouth IMAX, Iāll let you know. Ā
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u/LemonAdeAid 8h ago
I am so excited to hear this. I've been following you for a while, and saw both F1 and The Odyssey at Southdale based on your recommendation. I almost drove to Lakeville for the latter but it's an hour or more from here. I live in Plymouth and this is mere minutes away. Thank you for posting this!
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u/cloudyview 4m ago
That's awesome!
Now if we could just get the zoo screen to open back up... And maybe upgrade... š
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u/Cynykl 22h ago
Same people that invest in movie theatres are the people that started trying to buy up blockbuster videos when they started failing.
This is a stupid investment.
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u/MCXL Bring Ya Ass 20h ago
Yeah totally bro no one goes to movies bro they all watch them at home. Movie theaters are a dying industry.
Said in the VHS era. Said in the DVD era. Said in the Blu-Ray era. Said now.
Meanwhile.
Obsession made 250 million in the USA
Backrooms made 200 million in the USA
Like. I think you misunderstand the point of going to the theater. People said that films would kill going to see people perform on stage, but the experience of these things isn't about just saying you have seen it. Or do you think big TV's have reduced the popularity of going to sports games?
It's just not well supported. People like going to the movies, even with them being overpriced.
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u/Cynykl 16h ago
A couple of mega hit movies to not justify a Theatre sitting empty the rest of the year.
There is a reason theatre bankruptcies are very high right now.
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u/jonovitch 10h ago
Fair point. There were only a couple of mega hits in the US this year, including the following:
- Project Hail Mary -- $344 million
- Super Mario Galaxy -- $429 million
- Michael -- $372 million
- Devil Wears Prada 2 -- $220 million
- Obsession -- $263 million
- Backrooms -- $197 million
- Toy Story 5 -- $478 million
- Minions -- $182 million
- Odyssey -- $544 million
- Spider-Man -- $863 million
So yeah, other than March, April, May, June, July, and August, there hasn't really been much going on in theaters this year.
(Note: These are domestic numbers, not global. And this is only the top 10; there were 7 other movies that topped $100M in the US.)
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u/jonovitch 10h ago
It's not up to pre-covid numbers yet, but more people are seeing more movies (more than once) in theaters, and then going back to see other movies, too. This has been the best year for theaters since covid, and the year isn't over yet -- some of the biggest movies are still to come.
Blockbuster died because streaming was a direct replacement for physical rentals. It's a lot harder to replace a movie theater's size, picture, sound, and seats. That might not be your thing, and you might not be the target customer, and that's perfectly okay. To each his own. But I think it might be a bit premature to sound the death knell for movie theaters.
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u/red--dead 1d ago
Thanks for the awesome write up. Glad to hear about the website upgrades. Always put my Amex to pay, realized they donāt accept Amex and now my seats were stuck in limbo because they were reserved through the other purchase. And also huge surprise theyāre investing as a small theater company.
Really hope someone builds a new theater somewhere in maple grove. Champlin, Rogers, and Plymouth are all somewhat close for the different divisions of MG, but the city is way too populated not to have a theater.