What's hot in theaters? Old movies — and some that aren't so old (2024)

NEW YORK (AP) — When Jennifer Kent’s “The Babadook” opened in theaters a decade ago, it played at two cinemas. When it returns to theaters next month, it will be in 500.

“It’s strange but in a wonderful way. I can’t quite believe it’s been 10 years already. But it’s fantastic to go back and be a part of it,” Kent says, speaking from Australia. “Considering that it only released on such a small number of screens, I feel proud that it’s still enduring.”

“The Babadook,” a chilling parable of parenthood that ushered in a new era of daring, cinematic horror films, is just one of many movies making an anniversary run in theaters this year. Look at almost any movie theater marquee right now and you’ll probably see not just new titles but a smattering of older films, too.

At a time when nearly everything is available at home with a few clicks, nothing is surging on the big screen as much as yesterday’s movies. Repertory cinema, once the home of the arthouse, is now in the multiplex, too.

And sometimes, the ticket sales can be eye-popping. In the last two weeks, the beloved 2009 stop-motion Laika Studios film “Coraline,” by Henry Selick, has grossed more than $25 million — a staggering sum for a 15-year-old movie. Earlier this year, Disney’s re-release of “Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace” made $19.4 million globally.

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This fall will see anniversary releases of “Shaun of the Dead,” “Paris, Texas,” “Whiplash,” “Hoop Dreams,” “Interstellar” and many more. It’s not uncommon, of course, for restored classics to return to theaters. ( “Seven Samurai” and “The Conversation” are among those that have this summer.) But it’s a new feature of moviegoing that fairly recent movies are seeing wide re-releases – and that audiences are packing theaters for them.

“The Babadook,” a small independent film propelled to cult status by widespread raves — even William Friedkin hailed it as an instant classic — will very possibly outgross the $1 million it made a decade ago in North America.

“It has grown a new fan base,” says Nicole Weis, vice president of distribution for IFC. “The majority of the fans didn’t see it theatrically. This strategy of bringing it back was so people could see a film they’ve fallen in love with as they should, as it was intended to be, on the big screen.”

Theatrical hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. But that’s partly due to theaters not having enough movies to show. The number of films released nationwide in theaters has lowered for various reasons. The year’s movie calendar was significantly altered by last year’s prolonged work stoppages.

What's hot in theaters? Old movies — and some that aren't so old (4)

Partly to help fill such voids, the nation’s three largest theater chains – AMC, Regal and Cinemark — in 2005 formed Fathom Events. It distributes, among other things, live broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera and special events like the annual Studio Ghibli Fest, which brings back classics from the Japanese anime studio. Its release of “Coraline,” including 3-D screenings, set a new high mark for Fathom.

“The interest in classic movies has really gone up,” Ray Nutt, chief executive of Fathom says. “This year we’ll see a 75% increase year over year in this category.”

When Fathom started out, they mainly looked to play films on quiet days in cinemas, like Mondays and Tuesdays. But they’ve steadily expanded. Earlier this year, one of their biggest hits was a run of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy over Saturday-Sunday-Monday. Upcoming classics includes anniversary showings of “Rear Window,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Mean Girls” and “The Fifth Element.”

“We joke around here a lot about what is the definition of a classic movie,” says Nutt. “It used to be something like 50 years or whatever, and now we’re talking about ‘Coraline’ at 15.”

Some streaming services tend to hide older film from their home pages. But in such a digital sea of content, how new a movie can sometimes be less relevant. (“Titanic” and “The Equalizer” have both charted this summer on Netflix’s most-watched lists.) The differential between theater and home is becoming less about what’s new and more about the viewing experience. Do you want to see “Jaws” on your couch while flipping through your phone, or on a big screen with an audience collectively on the edge of their seats?

Mark Anastasio, the program director of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, a six-screen non-profit cinema in Brookline, Massachusetts, was struck by the appeal older films had when the Coolidge was reopening from pandemic closure. At the time, there were paltry first-run films to play.

“But the interest in the repertory never went away,” says Anastasio. “We’ve got six screens here. It used to be that once or twice a week we’d run an older film at 7 p.m. And we’ve now increased our repertory offerings so that we’re showing an older movie every single night of the week, including Saturday and Sunday nights. And the demand is there.”

Now, Anastasio is finding he can program increasingly creatively, reaching deeper into filmmaker catalogues — and the crowds keep turning up. This week he had a packed house for Spike Lee’s “Inside Man” in 35mm, the other day Friedkin’s 1977 thriller “Sorcerer” was a success. The Coolidge’s upcoming plans include three weeks of 70mm screenings (“Lawrence of Arabia,” “Inception”) and a “Schlock and Awe” series of William Castle films, complete with their original gimmicks, like seats that buzz during “The Tingler.”

Such programming isn’t new for urban arthouses but it’s expanding. Increasingly, older films are being shown on screens usually reserved for first-run movies. Some of that is out of necessity.

“There’s about 20-30% less films being majorly distributed now than there were just five years ago,” says Jeremy Boviard, the general manager of the four-screen Moviehouse in Millerton, New York. “There’s definitely more holes in certain programming weekends.”

Boviard has had to be more selective about what appeals to Hudson Valley moviegoers, but some choices really click. Last year, that included the 40th anniversary of Jonathan Demme’s Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense.” It was released by A24, which prides itself on cutting-edge contemporary films but has begun experimenting with re-releases. “Stop Making Sense” made more than $5 million domestically.

What's hot in theaters? Old movies — and some that aren't so old (5)

The trend isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. Studios now regularly comb through their archives and patiently await notable anniversaries. For Kent, it’s a positive development in what she otherwise calls “a dark age for cinema.”

“I feel like people still crave that experience,” says Kent. “I went to see on the weekend Dreyer’s ‘Ordet’ and Bergman’s ‘The Seventh Seal.’ Especially in ‘Ordet,’ it’s such a transcendent film. The audience, we were collectively experiencing it. I could hear people crying at the end. It’s the reason that we went to the cinema in the first place — to have an experience. Not to sit on our couch while we’re looking at our phones watching some sort of content. It’s not bringing out the best in us or in the work.

“For me,” she adds, “I take it very seriously, because I think we need it.”

What's hot in theaters? Old movies — and some that aren't so old (2024)

FAQs

What is the best old movie to watch? ›

The 100 Best Classic Movies of All Time
  1. 12 Angry Men. 19571h 36mApproved. 9.0 (882K) Rate. ...
  2. Psycho. 19601h 49mR. 8.5 (729K) Rate. ...
  3. Citizen Kane. 19411h 59mPG. 8.3 (470K) Rate. ...
  4. Sunset Boulevard. 19501h 50mApproved. ...
  5. Casablanca. 19421h 42mPG. ...
  6. Gone with the Wind. 19393h 58mG. ...
  7. Lawrence of Arabia. 19623h 38mPG. ...
  8. 2001: A Space Odyssey. 19682h 29mG.

What is the most old movie? ›

The Roundhay Garden Scene is the world's oldest film.

There had been still images shot and then cut together before then, like the Passage de Venus (whose date is indeterminable but is estimated at 1874).

Do movie theaters care about age? ›

AMC Requires Adult Supervision For Guests Under 17 in R-Rated Movies. AMC policies specific to R-Rated titles include children under 6 are not allowed at R-Rated movies after 6pm at any theatre. Guests under 17 must be accompanied by a guardian who is 21 or older.

What is the coolest movie in history? ›

The best movies to watch
  1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Film. Science fiction. ...
  2. The Godfather (1972) Film. Thrillers. ...
  3. Citizen Kane (1941) Film. ...
  4. Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) Film. ...
  5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Film. ...
  6. La Dolce Vita (1960) Film. ...
  7. Seven Samurai (1954) Film. ...
  8. In the Mood for Love (2000) Film.
Aug 7, 2024

What is the number 1 greatest movie? ›

Top 100 Greatest Movies of All Time (The Ultimate List)
  1. The Godfather. 19722h 55mR. 9.2 (2M) Rate. ...
  2. The Shawshank Redemption. 19942h 22mR. 9.3 (2.9M) Rate. ...
  3. Schindler's List. 19933h 15mR. ...
  4. Raging Bull. 19802h 9mR. ...
  5. Casablanca. 19421h 42mPG. ...
  6. Citizen Kane. 19411h 59mPG. ...
  7. Gone with the Wind. 19393h 58mG. ...
  8. The Wizard of Oz. 19391h 42mG.

What movie has 100% rotten tomatoes? ›

To date, Leave No Trace holds the site's record, with a rating of 100% and 252 positive reviews.

What movie is considered the best of all time? ›

Citizen Kane (1941) stood at number 1 for five consecutive polls, with 22 votes in 1962, 32 votes in 1972, 45 votes in 1982, 43 votes in 1992, and 46 votes in 2002. It also topped the first two directors' polls, with 30 votes in 1992 and 42 votes in 2002.

What is the top 10 most watched movie? ›

Most Watched Movies Of All Time
  • Jaws. 19752h 4mPG. ...
  • Fight Club. 19992h 19mR. ...
  • Pulp Fiction. 19942h 34mR. ...
  • Forrest Gump. 19942h 22mPG-13. 8.8 (2.3M) Rate. ...
  • Shrek. 20011h 30mPG. 7.9 (747K) Rate. ...
  • Transformers. 20072h 24mPG-13. 7.0 (682K) Rate. ...
  • Back to the Future. 19851h 56mPG. 8.5 (1.3M) Rate. ...
  • Citizen Kane. 19411h 59mPG. 8.3 (470K) Rate.

Why are movies good for seniors? ›

Advantages of Movie Watching for Elders

Movies also stimulate the mind in many ways. They can challenge memory recall, provide clues for problem-solving, and enhance creativity. In addition, movies help to reduce loneliness and isolation by providing a shared experience with others.

What age do people stop aging in the movie in time? ›

Plot. In 2169, people are genetically engineered to stop aging on their 25th birthdays and are given one free year to live. Everyone has a timer on their forearm that shows their remaining time; when it reaches zero, the person "times out" and instantly dies.

What does NC-17 mean? ›

no children under 17. . If a movie has the label NC-17, no one aged 17 or under is allowed to see it in a movie theater in the US. The movie was originally rated NC-17, before some cuts were made.

What's the most forgotten movie? ›

Best Forgotten Films
  1. The Mission. 19862h 5mPG. 7.4 (67K) Rate. ...
  2. Wavelength. 19831h 27mPG. 5.6 (948) Rate. ...
  3. Titus. 19992h 42mR. 7.1 (22K) Rate. ...
  4. Rob Roy. 19952h 19mR. 6.9 (46K) Rate. ...
  5. Communion. 19891h 47mR. 5.5 (7.7K) Rate. ...
  6. Hamlet. 19964h 2mPG-13. 7.7 (40K) Rate. ...
  7. Mask. 19852hPG-13. 7.2 (33K) Rate. ...
  8. Open Range. 20032h 19mR. 7.4 (79K) Rate.

What is the best old movie in the world? ›

1. Citizen Kane (1941)

What is the best looking movie of all time? ›

The 10 Most Visually Stunning Movies of All Time
  • The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) ...
  • Barry Lyndon (Stanley Kubrick, 1975) ...
  • Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978) ...
  • Stalker (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979) ...
  • Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (Paul Schrader, 1985)
Mar 5, 2024

What is the best oldest movie? ›

What Are The Top 10 Oldest Films? (That Still Survive)
  1. Roundhay Garden Scene (1888) The one that started it all. ...
  2. Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888) ...
  3. Accordion Player (1888) ...
  4. Monkeyshines No. ...
  5. London's Trafalgar Square (1890) ...
  6. Mosquinha (1890) ...
  7. Dickson Greeting (1891) ...
  8. Duncan films (1891)
Feb 8, 2022

What is the 1st best movie ever? ›

1. Citizen Kane (1941)

What is arguably the best movie of all time? ›

The 11 arguably best movies of all time
  1. 2001: A Space Odyssey. 19682h 29mG. 8.3 (729K) Rate. ...
  2. The Fountain. 20061h 37mPG-13. 7.2 (250K) Rate. ...
  3. Fight Club. 19992h 19mR. ...
  4. Baraka. 19921h 36mNot Rated. ...
  5. Apocalypse Now. 19792h 27mR. ...
  6. Terminator 2: Judgment Day. 19912h 17mR. ...
  7. Casablanca. 19421h 42mPG. ...
  8. Requiem for a Dream. 20001h 42mNC-17.

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