Back in the day, watching a movie at home required us to pry off our bunny slippers and go to the video store. Once movies came directly to us (via mailed DVDs and, soon after, speedy internet connections), all we had to do was zap a bag of microwave popcorn. By the time we got on-demand streaming, 75 percent of Americans said they'd rather watch films at home than in the theater.
To coax movie lovers off the couch, theaters have spent the past decade adding luxe upgrades and amenities. They offer a premium viewing experience — 4K laser systems project razor-sharp images and vivid colors onto jumbo screens; immersive sound creates a 3-D audio experience — paired with the comforts of home, including cushy, king-size recliners, full food and beverage menus and, at some avant-garde venues, dog-friendly screenings.
Moviegoers also have contributed to the homelike comfort — by bringing their own blankets.
"Watching movies at home, people tend to 'nest' in a chair or couch, with a blanket," said Jim Nowicki, marketing director for Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatres, which runs the ShowPlace Icon in St. Louis Park. "They want to create the warm, comfortable feeling of home at the theater."
Blanket bringing is something of a sleeper trend, said Mike Wedel, the general manager of Emagine Willow Creek movie theater in Plymouth. Although it's been building for years, it dovetails nicely with the arrival of the plush recliners that have quickly become the industry standard.
Mary Pukit Morrow's family of five, including exchange student Liva Engere, all brought blankets to a recent screening of "Crazy Rich Asians" at Willow Creek to ward off the air-conditioned chill.
"It feels like you're at home," Engere said of the recliner-blanket combo. She also noted the blankets' additional utility as a snack saver: "If popcorn falls onto the blanket, you can still eat it."
Taking the cue from its guests, Emagine theaters even started selling their own branded fleece blankets three years ago.
