A big part of what’s changed is the “home theatre” experience.
The theatre had a lot to offer when a “big TV” was a 32” 4:3 CRT. Now you can put together a 50+” LCD and meh 5.1 setup for a much more accessible price than that 32” cost 25 years ago.
This is one thing theaters will never be able to compete with home viewing. Catch a matinee on a weekday while kids are in school, and you have a shot at being the only one in a showing, but it's not a reliable experience. I've done this before, I think for one of the avengers movies while I had a few weeks off between jobs and it was a great experience. Choice of seats and no one to spoil the experience.
Other people is the main reason I don't like going to the movies.
The theatre had a lot to offer when a “big TV” was a 32” 4:3 CRT. Now you can put together a 50+” LCD and meh 5.1 setup for a much more accessible price than that 32” cost 25 years ago.
Theatres haven’t made that kind of leap.