You're speaking my mind. My home projector and sound system are the budget versions, and still offer better quality experience than the theater. They already paid for themselves in savings for tickets and the popcorn.

I still go to movies sometimes, but it's got to be an experience: either a theater packed with like minded fans, or with a group of friends with whom I then go for a few pints over a game of pool.

I really like the movie experience myself. One, it's nice to go out (I need every excuse I can on wfh days). It's a nice little event or date night. I also think paying to go out and being with other people forces one to pay attention, talk less, and scroll on phone less. You get more of the artist's vision and will probably catch more details. Also, my sound system can't be that good because I live in a condo with neighbors who would complain if I upped my sound system too much. I also love watching movies with other people sometimes. The experience with a good Marvel movie when other people cheer, or with a comedy or horror and hearing other people laugh or jump is pretty great.

To me, the main problem is the money. Movie theaters are just so crazy expensive nowadays. Every theater needs to be a luxury experience to make it worth it. Theaters should be enforcing quiet and no cell phones, because it's crazy to spend that much doe a night out and have someone's little phone light or talking ruining it.

I will say I like the occasional movie at the theater near me.

Yes, it sucks that my schedule is bound by their showtimes, but hey, at least it means I'm unplugged and actually "present" for the movie.

The theater has online ticket sales where you pick your seat, you come in sit down in that fairly nice power recliner, wait staff come to take your order and bring decent food, and you can get more at will. The bathrooms are all individual private rooms, and the whole experience has a lot of cinaphile touch, including generally thoughtful "preshow" content. Like for a Disney movie there was lots of history of Disney and classic shorts. For a movie based on a 90s anime they rolled 90s era anime trailers for all sorts of content.

I do see at least some theaters have upped their game and offer a rather premium experience compared to "wait in line, wait in line again for crappy concessions, then walk on sticky floor to hopefully find a well placed seat and then fold it down and just live with it because how Else were you going to see this movie?"

God damn I was going to go to the movies later but now I won't.