I think it is a complex problem, and maybe we should experiment by fixing a few and see how that helps, rather then the whole.
Accessibility and pricing
It's not just the ticket price, it's also the addition costs of parking (unless the mall offers free parking for the audience) or public transport. Many local, smaller cinemas have closed down, so people spend time and money to get to a cinema. With public transport being unreliable, I have to think twice if I want to make the journey to the cinema, or wait until the movie becomes available from other sources.
Timings are also not the best, even though some films will have multiple showings a day, they might be when people are still at work or they finish too late.
I wouldn't mind the current prices for the cinema, if there was one more local to me, where I can just walk to. I doesn't even have to be a big fancy one, just you know like the old school one screen cinemas. They were fine in our childhood, why are they not fine now?
People
This seems to be a growing trend lately everywhere, that people don't know how to behave in public. Last few times I've been to the cinema, people were constantly chatting, kicking my seat, kids been let in to screenings for mature audiences, people on their phones constantly and especially in the dark setting a glowing white screen is very disturbing, let alone when the phone rings and someone actually picks it up and holds a full conversation! Staff doesn't care about it all because they are underpaid. Which is not an excuse, I was underpaid too, still did my job to my best.
Honestly if people can't behave, I would introduce lockers which you must use and have to leave your phone there. And "but I'm waiting an important call, but what if my kids at home need me? etc" is not an excuse. Why are you going to the cinema then if you can't enjoy the experience fully? We didn't have mobile phones or mobile internet back in the days and we got along just fine... Surely we can do without them for a couple of hours.
Facilities
Most cinemas are dirt and full of rubbish because once again people can't keep their surroundings clean and staff doesn't care or doesn't have time between the screening to clean up the mess. Since cinemas have so many screens now, there shouldn't be back to back screenings, give time for cleaning as well.
What else does a cinema offer? Nothing really. Overpriced drinks and junk food. Nothing special about it really, and if I really wanted to have snacks during the movie, I would rather bring my own bottle of water and a pack of crisps.
Most cinemas still have some very small and uncomfortable seats, why would someone go there when their sofa in the living room is more comfortable? We would need more cinemas which have reclining seats, maybe wider rows and tables where you can put your food and drink comfortably, or those big sofas some expensive theatres have.
What if the cinema shop would sell merchandise related to the movies? Posters, books, T-shirts, mugs, all the stuff you can buy at places like Forbidden Planet. You can buy merchandise at a concert venue or theatre, why can't we do the same in the cinema? Again it would provide another income source for the movie makers and the venue as well, and making these items more accessible for fans.
Special screenings
I'm not even sure if this is a thing anymore, but I used to go to midnight premiers which were great atmosphere and a fan gathering really. In London often actors attended these too. Last time I've been to the cinema, it was for Gundam Seed Freedom, which only had one weekend screenings in the UK. It was in Japanese with subtitles, and probably due to that plus having a very niche audience it was a much better experience than being among the usual cinema audience.
There used to be marathons like when the latest part of The Hunger Games came out, there was a special screening which included the previous movies as well, and then you could watch the new one. Since we have so many relating movies now like the Marvel MCU, this could be a thing again.
What's going on with the 3D and Imax screenings? There was a huge hype around them for a while, but now there seem to be less and less of them.
Or could also be special screenings for different audience types, like family friendly screenings where it's not a problem if kids are running around and chatting, but then have some "quiet" screenings as well, where there is no noise of munching on food, no phones, no kids, no loudly talking adults.
Content and advertisements
Lots of movies these days are remakes. While some of them can be good, as they give an old classic a refreshed look, others just seem to be trying to live from the prestige of the original while don't really provide anything new. We need more fresh, unique ideas. Less money spent on shiny effects and more effort put into telling a story.
I love the trailers before the movies, that used to be my source of what to watch next. But I absolutely hate all the adverts and there seems to be more and more. Last time there was 40! minutes of adverts and trailers before the movie started. I try to go later, but then have to fumble around in the dark looking for my seat, because some cinemas didn't even bother to upgrade their lighting to display a row number visibly on the stairs as you go up. How should I know on the spot if they start counting their rows from the bottom or the top and which side the seat numbering starts?
Alternative screening
Before covid at least in London they used to show theatre plays or concert recordings in the cinema as well, which gave you a chance to see something you have missed or couldn't attend because of the location being far away. I haven't really seen them doing these anymore, which is a shame, because they were a very good use of the space.
