Part 4/17:
Much of the industry rhetoric hinges on the idea that cinemas hold a unique cultural power—"the story of cinema is iconic," they declare. Yet, the reality is that the core message is hollow. A Tom Cruise video message at CinemaCon waxed poetic about "the importance of putting people on the big screen," but the industry absentmindedly undermines this message by refusing to acknowledge that movie-watching experiences now largely happen at home. The sophistication of home entertainment technology means viewers can now enjoy movies with superior clarity, comfort, and privacy—making the theater experience less compelling, not more.