First run films now show in Multiplex Theatres, many of which are located in communities that didn t exist thirty years ago. Another difference in first run films now is that they no longer have legs like they used to. Legs were what enabled a film to be first run for months and occasionally years at a time. Jaws played for over a year at the Coliseum Theatre in the 1970 s. The average movie now plays first run for maybe three weeks.
Sequels can come out now within the time that an old movie with legs was still in first run.
Today there are a lot more movie screens in operation than there ever were. There are now more screens in the University District then there used to be downtown, and they are all, even the Neptune much of the time, showing first run films. What s more, since the first run films they show have no legs there is a need for even more new films to keep something on those screens. That all adds up to a great opportunity for independents to make feature films that not only reach a screen, but that will actually make money. There is a reason why so many mediocre films are being produced today.