What is the difference between multiplex and single screen

In fact it was a transition from middle class entertainment to upper middle class and upper class entertainment as there was a drastic change in the entry ticket. The increase in ticket discouraged many people for going to see the movies in these posh multiplexes where not only the ticket is significantly higher but the eatables are also prohibitively expensive.

Now, less people may be going to view movies but due to high price of tickets the revenue generation is all right. So for film industry there is not much problem. Another interesting thing is now internet and TV are slowly merging with each other and only those people will be going to see movies outside, who have interest in going for outings with friends and having bites of some modern snacks in the multiplexes.

The ease of seeing movies in the comfort of the house is a major factor which is changing the pattern of movie goers to a large extent. The ease of seeing movies in the comfort of home can never match the experience of seeing a movie in a theater. Movies are made to be watched in the theater. You can fully enjoy a movie only inside a theater, when the lights go off, enjoying the emotions of a movie with an audience from various walks of life.

Also, the notion that increasing price of tickets in multiplexes is not harming the industry. As the footfalls go on decreasing, to make up for the loss, the ticket prices need to go up. The people will become more choosy and only watch a movie after seeing the reviews. An industry where the success ratio is just five percent, that would be lethal. We need to take inspiration from China which has now become a super power when it comes to Cinema.

Even Hollywood movies are looking at China to make up for their revenues. Its largely because of the number of single screens that China has come up with during the last decade. With a more cinema frenzy population than China, we also need to look in that direction.

Cinema needs to survive. Single screens with affordable pricing are the only option for that. Internet and TV have certainly invaded our homes and eaten into most of the time. People rather prefer to enjoy a movie on internet resources such as Netflix or their favorite TV show on Television rather than spending bucks going out in the traffic to a theater.

Agreed, there are so many challenges for theaters. The government also needs to step in to save the industry that has given so much. Piracy needs to be controlled. China again has taken rapid steps to curb piracy. It is the reason they have a size able amount of movie going public. China is about to overtake the whole of North America in coming years in movie business.

Why can't we do it? We can certainly with a few measures. Points: 3. The role of multiplexes has assumed a significant importance now a days since the audience feel comfortable with the environment which such houses provide. Moreover, the clarity of the movie with a matching sound in the compact environment providing flexible temperature of AC make the picture enjoyable one. Though money is important and the charges of tickets of multiplexes are comparatively on the higher side than that of Cinema - halls but then the comforts in the former cases would be superior and hence viewing a picture in multiplexes would certainly enhance pleasure.

Again, I would beg to differ on the view that multiplexes provide better facilities than Single screens. I can certainly give a list of a number of single screen theaters that are providing better if not equal facilities that a Multiplex can provide and that too at an affordable price.

Sound clarity, AC etc are also of equal quality as compared to the multiplexes. And what about the exorbitant rates that the Multiplex canteens? There cannot be an argument on that. You can go to a Multiplex and the same food items costs at least thrice in the Multiplex than the single screen. The normal audience cannot be taken for a ride.

In a country where most of the population is either in the poverty line or comes under middle class, we need to encourage more single screens. While I do agree that the upper middle class and the elite class would certainly prefer Multiplexes, taking into consideration the set up of our nation and the incoming of a common man, Single screens are the way forward. A single screen theater can work in any area or environment, be it a village, a small town or a posh upmarket area.

However, the multiplex can mostly run only in an upmarket area or a commercially viable area. Also, most multiplex complexes make up their revenues through alternate sources like shopping malls etc inside the buildings. A single screen is a dedicated place which is only devoted to cinema. For a country like India, Single screens are the best option.

Also, more single screens would mean more employment as compared to a multiplex. The burden on the pocket is less. Ask anyone who has seen cinema during the 90's in a single screen and now in a multiplex, the difference is clear. Single screens provide the ultimate theater going experience, whereas multiplexes for me provide a commercial experience. Movie watching is an experience, not just a visit to a theater.

Only a Single screen theater can offer it. Points: If you go to any metro city, the multiplexes offer you great comfort and are also superbly maintained. You positively get to rub shoulders only with the elite crowd in such environs.

You will not find guys smoking or breaking any rule, like making the place dirty, which is likely in a single screen theatre. Now coming back to each question you have raised.

Since the advent of information technology has brought in a huge change, the single screen theaters are also closing down. They have all become huge shopping complexes in most cities. The multiplexes offer something different. For example, you can hang out with your girlfriend, do some little shopping and also do a huge amount of window shopping for a full three hours on a lazy Sunday, have lunch within the complex and then happily go on to view a movie in air-conditioned comfort. In summer, this becomes a huge habit for the young IT crowd.

This is exactly what will happen to every city. Now, the profits come from the cities only. There is quite a bit of disposable income and people like to freak out on the weekends. For just around Rs. These huge shopping malls are simply superb places where you can spend hours.

There is so much of chatting going all around. Please do note that there is no rule in the smaller non-AC theaters. The Management charges at least eighty rupees, almost as a right. This is what happens. The growth of multiplexes will spread to even tier 2 and tier 3 towns such as Coimbatore, Mysore, Vizag, Hubli, Kanpur, Vijayawada, Kurnool, Calicut and so on.

This trend will continue to happen. In fact, the entire film industry will depend only on this for profit. To give you a simple example.

The Kamalhassan's movie, named Viswaroopam 2 is just a very average movie. The climax is now literally structured to give a boost to the actor's innings in politics. He is shown as a secular person. However, this has found resonance only among the city crowd and the huge amount of money is coming only from there.

It has gone away from smaller towns within just four days. The crowd in smaller cities does not want anything. An entire family can watch it for less than one hundred rupees. There is so much of cost cutting there. In Tamil, the movies by say Manirathinam, who is an all India director, have a big urban or city focus and are the stories cater to the IT crowd.

The same movies are either made in Hindi, or dubbed and released in Hindi. Sometime ago, there was one such movie on the concept of living together. This trend will continue. Movies will be made, but the ones that cater to the urban, city or metro city based audiences will win the race. The multiplexes will continue to make in the money, as the "snob" value is so great and this will become even more pronounced in the years to come.

Though I respect his personal views in the above comment, I strongly disagree. A particular movie like Viswaroopam cannot be taken as an example for encouraging multiplexes. And multiplexes for the IT crowd cannot be an argument. I can assure that there are hundreds of IT guys who are also hardcore fans of a particular movie star who want to enjoy the movie in Single screens.

Non AC theatrers or AC single screen theaters have rates also according to the convenience they provide. And the concept of smoking in theaters is not confined to Single screens itself.

This is going on everywhere in every walk of life. You can even find huge set of people smoking right under any IT company. This seems a vague argument. Certainly, multiplexes can be built in cities or upmarket areas. However, imagine the plight of a common man who earns a daily wage of or How can he afford to pay Rs just for a ticket price?

This section of society and the middle class form the major chunk of the population in India. If we still would like to ignore them and build more multiplexes, the day is not far away when movie going would only be an elite experience. Movies are for everyone, from the elite to the one's who fight for the daily survival. This question has no single correct or wrong answer.

Both single and multiplex have a role to play depending on the circumstances and other factors. Perception: The perception that one is better over the other will depend on the age of the viewer and personal choice, for me the good old nostalgia of watching a move in a single screen dedicated theatre, seeing the huge cut-outs and buying snacks in the small modest food counter all at a very affordable price.

Geographic location: In many major metros multiplex are proving a success because of the swanky looks, the decor and their proximity to the favourite hangouts of the teens and the youth.

More importantly, in the cities where land is a precious commodity, the single theatre owner would not be able to be profitable with the one screen that runs one morning show of one movie and three regular shows of a different movie. The same would work out in a rural area, where the crowd is smaller, the life is different from the metro and still, the charm of a single theatre is viable and practical. Expectations of the owners. There would be some franchise runners who would like to earn money running a mutliplex or just keep the single screen theatre running as long as possible for the love of it.

So, to your specific questions Is the old age single screen theatre or the modern multiplex the way going forward? Yes, multiplex would be the way forward as a change is inevitable in any walk of life. Both would be good for any single movie, for the pure finance numbers, multiplex would bring in more. Which is better for the movie-going public? This would depend on the above discussions, for me in the metros, the multiplex is better because it is easily accessible, we finish some Sunday chores and shopping, have food before or after watching a movie in a multiplex.

For the film industry to grow, it is better to adapt and go with the flow of change, so a planned transition from single screen to multiplex depending on the location would be better for the film industry. We can have a few single screens as nostalgic landmarks in the city or metro that can be supported financially and kept running by the city corporation as a local heritage building.

People making a comment that single screens should be kept as nostalgic landmarks and multiplexes are the way forward seem to be highly secluded from the real India. A nation which has the maximum amount of people living in villages and smaller towns can never agree with a Multiplex format.

Imagine a village or small town and a Multiplex is opened there. Would there be any chance for the Multiplex to make business? Whereas a Single screen can run anywhere right from a distant village to a posh upmarket area. There lies the difference. We also need to take into account our countries economic and social conditions. Way forward can only happen if people from every walk of life are given the right to entertainment.

Multiplexes will deny them the right to entertainment with sky high prices. A 70mm full screen can not be implemented easily with multiplexes so still you will find atleast one single screen theater in metropolitan city. As expected single screen can accommodate more audience so it will have more income for a movie but overall income will be for multiplexes.

Points: 8. Am afraid the author of this thread is so much sold on the concept that single screen theatres are far better and they also provide good viewing experience at very less costs. The truth is that in almost every city and even small towns the single screen theatres are history. Audiences do not flock to the theatres like they did some years ago. If the movie is just run of the mill, one can notice that the single screen theatres have less than fifty people watching the movie be it a village or a small town or a big city.

Only movies with somewhat emotionally absorbing stories run and help the producers keep their heads above water. Take the example of the much hyped Kaala which was released after the 68 year old Rajnikant announced his entry into politics. It bombed. The B and C centres took it off the screens within four days. It was the usual stuff. The storyline was not absorbing. On the contrary, a simple movie like Thenpaandisingam which spoke about the virtues of joint family in a rural setting became a hit.

It is into fourth week in some places and that itself is a big deal, when it is so difficult to carry a movie for a pretty long time. When you have four movies releasing every week and some unknown director and producer fighting it out there, unless the storyline is good it can never succeed in the smaller centers.

The multiplexes are totally different. They virtually hand hold the young crowd and its snobbish values. It is consumerism at its best. Amidst the luxury of watching a movie in a multiplex and snacks and drinks being served at your very seat, we have, perhaps, forgotten the old — world charm that the single screen cinemas still contain. Aura Also Read - Rejoice! Be it the Regal cinema at Colaba or New Excelsior at Fort, the aura of a single screen cinema in all these different theatres are alike.

It is almost enthralling to watch enormous curtains as they pull up and give the audience a sense of pleasing embrace. The seats may not be as comfortable as what the multiplexes provide, but these old — timers sure do promise you an unforgettable experience.

One must hear many complaints about the rising price of next to about everything today.