Why Portland's indie theaters are thriving over national chains
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While national movie theater chains have shuttered locations nationwide, small, independent theaters in Portland are seeing a resurgence in cinema-hungry patrons.
Why it matters: The rise of streaming and the aftermath of the pandemic have not shaken the city's anti-establishment resolve to preserve its cultural history.
- "Portlanders know if you're only going to what's new or what's being kind of green-lit by major studios, you're missing out on a whole universe of cinema," Christen Zatz-Gilman, deputy director of the Hollywood Theatre, told Axios.
Driving the news: This month, Regal Cinemas closed its Centennial neighborhood 13-screen multiplex, the third of the corporation's Portland-area theaters to shutter in the last three years.
Zoom in: There are nearly two dozen independent theaters in Portland, and you probably don't have to go far to find one. They are embedded in the city's architecture and show everything from art house films to cult classics and even blockbusters.
- Several have remained single-screen since opening in the early 20th century (like the Bagdad and Moreland), while others have upgraded to host more people and provide amenities like recliners and row-side food and beverage service.
State of play: The film industry is still recovering from when production slowed and fewer movies were hitting the big screen due to the pandemic and last year's writers strike.
- The output of new releases is starting to pick up, says Tom Ranieri, owner-operator of Cinema 21, yet what helped sustain Portland's indie cinemas during those dark times was their programming.
- Ranieri noticed an uptick in younger audiences seeking out screenings of films from the '70s and '80s in theaters and finding Cinema 21's Saturday morning classics series.
- Many other independents in town have a similar model and screen different films from a variety of genres and decades every night, Ranieri added, suggesting there's a wide audience here for it.
Yes, but: Challenges remain, such as technology restraints, building maintenance costs and competition for first-run films.
- Some new releases require specialized equipment like IMAX or 70mm projection, which can be expensive, as are building renovations and upkeep costs for older, historic theaters with aging infrastructure.
- Plus: Major movie studios might prioritize booking their new releases at larger chain theaters, making it harder for independent theaters to access the year's most anticipated films, Zatz-Gilman said.
The bottom line: Portland's independent theaters have pivoted from surviving to thriving thanks to the city's "belief in the power of cinema," Zatz-Gilman said, but continued long-term investment and patronage are needed to ensure their staying power.