One of the most overlooked aspects of movie viewing is the physical setting where the film is seen. Whatever theater is closest gets their money. Movie going has become so routine, so second-nature, that few patrons care about the quality of the experience.
Convenience is more important than getting the most out of a film.
It's not the same experience, to be sure, but try explaining that to someone who sees only a handful of movies in a year. The multiplex is here to stay. The edifices only still exist in places where there's an active effort to preserve them for posterity. Gargantuan theaters don't make money. This year, maybe only Independence Day .