Prior to the widespread adoption of home video technologies like VHS, film viewership was primarily a communal activity. Audiences experienced movies almost exclusively in dedicated venues such as theaters, cinemas, and occasionally, drive-ins. These public screenings were the dominant means of film consumption for decades, shaping the cultural impact and social experience of cinema.
This theatrical model fostered a shared cultural experience, contributing to the phenomenon of blockbuster hits and influencing fashion, language, and social trends. The absence of individual control over playback cultivated a sense of occasion and anticipation surrounding film viewership. Furthermore, the large-scale projection and sound systems available in theaters offered a level of immersion and spectacle unavailable in later home viewing formats for quite some time. The historical context of moviegoing before home video provides valuable insight into the evolution of both the film industry and audience behavior.
