Part 10/15:
The economic outlook appears bleak for theaters, which are now largely dependent on legacy franchises and nostalgia, with little hope for rejuvenation unless studios radically rethink their approach. Audience engagement is waning as ticket sales plummet—halving from pre-pandemic levels—and consumer habits shift further toward streaming. Industry insiders warn that reliance on streaming services as a primary revenue source is unsustainable; many of these ventures are hemorrhaging money, with giants like Apple and Amazon continually losing billions.