Theatre (film)

Theatre, in the context of film, refers to a physical location, often a building, designed and equipped for the presentation of movies to a public audience. This contrasts with watching films in a home setting via television, streaming services, or home cinema setups. The theatre experience typically involves a large screen, a darkened room, surround sound systems, comfortable seating, and a concession stand selling refreshments.

The primary function of a film theatre is to provide a shared viewing experience. Audiences gather together to watch a film simultaneously, contributing to a sense of collective reaction and engagement that is often absent in individual viewing environments.

Beyond the screening space itself, the term "theatre" can also encompass the broader business of film exhibition, including aspects such as film selection, scheduling, marketing, ticketing, and customer service. A single theatre may consist of multiple screens (multiplex) or a larger complex (megaplex), each showing different films or different showtimes of the same film.

Increasingly, film theatres are focusing on enhancing the viewing experience to attract audiences in the face of competition from streaming and home entertainment options. This includes offering premium formats such as IMAX, 3D, Dolby Cinema, and dine-in services.