[Q] Since netflix launched, how many theatres have closed, and how far down has theatre attendence dropped ?

[duck.ai]

Theaters: The U.S. had roughly 7,200 theater locations in 1996; a recent industry estimate puts the current total at about 5,100–5,400. That’s a net decline of roughly 1,800–2,100 locations. [patricksisson.com]

Attendance: Ticket sales were about 1.35 billion in 1997 and 769 million in 2025—down roughly 43%. From Netflix’s 2007 streaming launch, when sales were about 1.41 billion, the drop is roughly 45%. The peak was 1.57 billion tickets in 2002, making the decline from that peak about 51%. These are tickets sold, not unique moviegoers. [Pew Research Center]

Those figures show a long-term decline, but they don’t show that Netflix alone caused it. Attendance was already falling from its 2002 peak, and the pandemic caused a particularly sharp drop. [Pew Research Center]

Streaming killed Blockbuster, and its bleeding theatres like a vampire.

People on constrained time/money budgets would rather just queue up a movie on the TV.

No drive time, no gas expense, no standing in line, no dealing with the public, no sticky floors, no $10 boxes of candy with 2 ounces in it. Popcorn for $0.25 at home, and plenty of time for sleep before work/activities the next day.

I don't think movie theatres will disappear, but they have lost their utility status. It used to be the only option, and now, for many, its the least attractive option.