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It is a big morning in movie history. Two long-awaited films are finally open to the public. Their choices will decide the result of "the box office fight of the century."

In the white corner there is Oppenheimer, a dark, intense drama about J Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist whose team created the atomic bombA bomb that rapidly releases nuclear energy. .

In the pink corner we have Barbie: a brightly coloured comedy.¹ It is about a plastic doll who leaves her fantasy home to enter the real world.

The two are very different. Yet critics are waiting with bated breath for the result of their clash. Which will win?²

The "Barbenheimer" rivalry suggests that cinemas are going strong. Cities are full of posters advertising both. When you search for Barbie on Google, the screen sparkles and turns pink.

Yet the excitement around these new films hides a less rosy reality for cinemas. Film director Sam Mendes says: "the great era of movies... is dying".

Streaming has brought thousands of films to our laptops and televisions. During the pandemic, people got used to watching movies on smaller screens. And the cost of livingThe money that someone needs to afford basic food, housing and clothes. crisis is stopping many people buying tickets.

Cinemas face their own rising costs. The American chain Cineworld announced bankruptcyWhen a person or group has no money left and cannot pay off their debts. last year. Its UK branch is preparing to do the same, threatening 128 cinemas with closure.

Even the stars are worried about the future. Big-name actors and writers are currently striking for better pay and protection against AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. . 

There have been some wins. 2019 was the best year for cinemas since 1971. The 10 biggest opening weekends in film history all happened since 2011.

Cinemas could stay alive by changing. Netflix film head Scott Stuber says: "I think theatres will evolve and host social events", such as big sporting events, e-game tournaments and television screenings.

Yes: There is some hope, but the trend is downward. Take it from someone who knows, the great film director David Lynch: "Feature films are in a bad place, series have taken their place." 

No: The world moves quickly. The post-pandemic decline could be a blip. As London cinema founder Tyrone Walker-Hebborn says: "People do love it, they just need to get back in the habit."

Or... Cinema's golden age is over. But it still has a role for those who support it. The golden age of opera ended a century ago, and it still survives. Cinema could be the same.