Analysis: Can cinema survive its ‘seismic’ year?

The rise of streaming has been accelerated by the pandemic, and it is unclear whether the big screen can regain its exalted position post-pandemic

Global box office returns for this year are set to be 71.5 per cent down on 2019. Picture: Getty

The death of the traditional film-going experience has been heralded more times in the 100 or so years since its inception than you can shake an overpriced bag of popcorn at.

Every time a new way to watch films comes along, be it the invention of television, the advent of physical media like VHS and DVD or, most recently, the streaming revolution, endless column inches are generated asking if this is now truly the end ...