PriyankaNEW YORK — When Jennifer Kent’s groundbreaking horror film “The Babadook” first graced theaters a decade ago, it premiered on a mere two screens. Fast forward to today, and its return will be celebrated across 500 cinemas nationwide.
“It’s surreal, but in the most delightful way. I can hardly believe it’s been 10 years already. It’s a joy to revisit this chapter of my life,” Kent remarks from her home in Australia. “Considering its initial release was so limited, I’m immensely proud that the film continues to resonate with audiences.”
“The Babadook,” a haunting exploration of parenthood that redefined contemporary horror cinema, is just one of many films making a triumphant return to theaters this year. A glance at movie theater marquees reveals a blend of new releases and cherished classics.
In an era where nearly all content is accessible at home with a few clicks, the allure of experiencing older films on the big screen is unparalleled. Repertory cinema, once confined to arthouses, has now found a place in mainstream multiplexes.
People are flocking to theaters not just for the latest blockbusters but also for beloved films from the past. For instance, Laika Studios’ 2009 stop-motion masterpiece “Coraline” by Henry Selick has grossed over $25 million in just two weeks—a remarkable feat for a 15-year-old film. Earlier this year, Disney’s re-release of “Star Wars: Episode One – The Phantom Menace” raked in $19.4 million globally.
This fall, theaters will celebrate anniversaries of classics like “Shaun of the Dead,” “Paris, Texas,” “Whiplash,” “Hoop Dreams,” and “Interstellar.” While it’s common for restored classics to make theatrical comebacks (such as “Seven Samurai” and “The Conversation”), the trend of re-releasing relatively recent films on a large scale is gaining momentum, drawing enthusiastic crowds.
“The Babadook,” initially an independent film that garnered cult status through rave reviews—William Friedkin even hailed it as an instant classic—stands poised to surpass the $1 million it earned in North America a decade ago.
“It has found a new generation of fans,” says Nicole Weis, vice president of distribution for IFC. “Many of them never had the chance to see it in theaters. Re-releasing it allows them to experience the film as it was meant to be seen—on the big screen.”
While theater attendance hasn’t fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, part of the issue is the reduced number of films being released nationwide for various reasons. The movie calendar took a significant hit due to last year’s prolonged work stoppages.
To bridge these gaps, the nation’s top theater chains—AMC, Regal, and Cinemark—joined forces in 2005 to create Fathom Events. This initiative distributes live broadcasts of events like the Metropolitan Opera and special events such as the annual Studio Ghibli Fest, which brings back classics from the esteemed Japanese anime studio. Fathom’s release of “Coraline,” including 3D screenings, set a new record for the company.
“The interest in classic movies has surged,” says Ray Nutt, chief executive of Fathom. “This year, we’ll see a 75% increase in this category compared to last year.”
Initially, Fathom focused on filling quieter days in cinemas, like Mondays and Tuesdays. However, they’ve steadily expanded their offerings. Earlier this year, their screening of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy over a Saturday-Sunday-Monday run was a major success. Upcoming classics include anniversary showings of “Rear Window,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Mean Girls,” and “The Fifth Element.”
“We often joke about what defines a classic movie,” Nutt adds. “It used to be something from 50 years ago, but now we’re talking about ‘Coraline’ at 15.”
While some streaming services may bury older films within their vast libraries, in today’s digital age, how recent a movie is can be less important than the viewing experience itself. For instance, both “Titanic” and “The Equalizer” have recently topped Netflix’s most-watched lists. The difference between watching at home and in theaters is increasingly about how you want to experience the film. Do you want to see “Jaws” while casually scrolling through your phone on your couch, or on a big screen with an audience collectively on the edge of their seats?
Mark Anastasio, program director at the Coolidge Corner Theatre—a six-screen nonprofit cinema in Brookline, Massachusetts—noticed the enduring appeal of older films when reopening after pandemic closures. At that time, there were few new releases available.
“But the interest in repertory films never waned,” Anastasio observes. “We have six screens here. It used to be that we’d show an older film once or twice a week at 7 p.m. Now we’ve increased our repertory offerings so that we’re showing an older movie every night of the week, including weekends. And the demand is there.”
Anastasio now finds he can curate more creatively, diving deeper into filmmaker catalogues—and audiences keep coming back. Recently, he had a packed house for Spike Lee’s “Inside Man” in 35mm, and William Friedkin’s 1977 thriller “Sorcerer” was also a hit. The Coolidge’s future plans include three weeks of 70mm screenings (“Lawrence of Arabia,” “Inception”) and a “Schlock and Awe” series featuring William Castle films with original gimmicks like buzzing seats during “The Tingler.”
Such programming isn’t new for urban arthouses but is expanding across more theaters. Older films are increasingly shown on screens typically reserved for new releases, partly out of necessity.
“There are about 20-30% fewer films being widely distributed now compared to five years ago,” says Jeremy Boviard, general manager of the four-screen Moviehouse in Millerton, New York. “There are definitely more gaps in programming on certain weekends.”
In this evolving landscape, classic and recent beloved films continue to captivate audiences, proving that great cinema stands the test of time whether viewed anew or revisited on the silver screen.
