Screensaver
New York’s small-cinema scene reclaims the magic of movie experiences.
In-home streaming conveniences have changed how consumers access films. However, unique movie-going experiences still seem to hold tremendous value to city dwellers. There are films that deserve to be seen in movie theaters, especially when one-of-a-kind movies and special events are involved. Furthermore, the darkness, sounds, smells, and overall experience of losing oneself in a film is hard to replicate outside of a theater. In New York, traditional cinema and streaming services seem to be getting along, bringing about a small-cinema revival.
The iconic Paris Theatre in Midtown first welcomed guests in 1948. Before it closed its doors in the summer in 2019, it was the city’s last remaining single-screen cinema and a symbol of specialized and prestige films. In November, Netflix signed a long-term lease to reopen the historic venue, reviving the brick-and-mortar arthouse by premiering the platform’s exclusive films and hosting events. For Netflix, the takeover of the classic cinema could be seen as an opportunity to expand beyond laptops and into the real world.
On the Lower East Side, The Metrograph offers state-of-the-art digital projection, a bookstore, and five-star food alongside screenings of curated films since 2016. In Greenwich Village, the Quad, the city’s first multiplex, reopened in 2017 with upgrades from branding to facilities and tech. On the Upper West Side, dedicated enthusiasts added to its cultural scene a nonprofit cinema, the New Plaza, a tribute to Lincoln Plaza Cinema, which closed in 2018.
Sources: The Verge (November 25, 2019) | Netflix (November 25, 2019) | The Monocle Minute (January 3, 2020) | Image: Marion Curtis | Netflix