A Golden Age

It was just a couple of years ago, during the height of the COVID pandemic, when it seemed very likely that the days of movie theaters were numbered, or at least the idea of a small-town cinema was beginning to look endangered.

At the time, of course, nobody was going out much, and gathering places like theaters were largely closed. But that crisis started to feel like a death knell: In 2020, global box office revenue went down by 70 percent. That came on the heels of an evolving climate for moviegoing. Streaming services offering 4K resolution on home television screens the size of drywall panels, often paired with booming surround sound systems, started to make it seem like “going to the movies” was a thing of the past, and the big screen was going to give way to the 65- and 75-inch viewing at home.

How wrong that turned out to be — especially on the South Fork.

Sure, the entire industry has been slowly bouncing back. In 2022 and 2023, blockbuster movies were all the rage (remember the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon in midsummer 2023?), and while most national movie screens are still in the process of rebounding from the pandemic, going to the movies remains a popular activity.

But here on the South Fork, we’re experiencing a low-key “Golden Age” for the silver screen. It began with the rebirth of the Sag Harbor Cinema after the devastating fire in December 2016. At the time of the fire, it felt like a last blow to a beloved but declining centerpiece of Main Street. But a nonprofit organization was formed to rescue and reimagine the historic space, which began as a vaudeville and burlesque theater in the 1890s. Along with its trademark art deco neon sign, its screens blazed to life — a new life that includes first-run features, classics and revivals, and special guests to supplement viewing with talks and presentations. There’s even a rooftop bar that’s a splendid place to gather to talk about films.

Soon, both Southampton Village and Westhampton Beach followed suit. The Sunset Theater followed a similar model by reviving the old Hampton Arts Cinema space in Westhampton Beach, and the Southampton Playhouse did likewise with the historic cinema on Hill Street in Southampton Village, adding the smallest IMAX theater in the country. Both include refreshments well beyond popcorn and Raisinets.

But their menu on screen is even more tantalizing. All three have a great mix of old and new. Visitors to Southampton can enjoy a summer series, “Playhouse Rocks 2025,” which includes concert films and music documentaries, past and present. In Sag Harbor, there is “The New Hollywood: An American Revolution,” and the “Lighthouse Project,” a film and panel discussion series. And the Sunset Theater has been shuffling the deck to present perfect summer fare, including an upcoming showing of “Jaws” to celebrate its 50th anniversary. This kind of varied list of offerings used to require a trip to Manhattan, or at least many miles to the west.

Meanwhile, the UA theaters in East Hampton and Hampton Bays have survived and are still pulling in crowds. The latter has pivoted to more films catering to Spanish-speaking audiences, filling a niche that has existed for too long.

All told, movie lovers have never had more opportunity to dive headfirst into both new and classic cinema on the big screen — where it arguably should always be seen — and to keep alive an American tradition of moviegoing. In fact, it’s fair to say there has never been a better time to love movies and live on the South Fork. Enjoy this Golden Age, and celebrate another element that makes the cultural scene of the South Fork so unique and appealing.