CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://use.typekit.net" crossorigin> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://p.typekit.net" crossorigin> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,100..900;1,100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no"> <link media="screen" href="https://use.typekit.net/fdo4xio.css" rel="preload" as="style" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'"> <meta content="Roger Ebert" name="application-name"> <meta content="#FFFFFF" name="msapplication-TileColor">  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-T9HKKFWR');</script>   <script type="text/javascript">document.pageTypeLabel="single-post";</script>  <style> @font-face { font-family: "sw-icon-font"; src:url("https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/fonts/sw-icon-font.eot?ver=4.5.4"); src:url("https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/fonts/sw-icon-font.eot?ver=4.5.4#iefix") format("embedded-opentype"), url("https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/fonts/sw-icon-font.woff?ver=4.5.4") format("woff"), url("https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/fonts/sw-icon-font.ttf?ver=4.5.4") format("truetype"), url("https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/fonts/sw-icon-font.svg?ver=4.5.4#1445203416") format("svg"); font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-display:block; } </style>   <title>The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater | MZS | Roger Ebert</title> <meta name="description" content="The physical box office is the place where the movie theater meets the world beyond."/> <meta name="robots" content="follow, index, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1, max-image-preview:large"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater | MZS | Roger Ebert" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The physical box office is the place where the movie theater meets the world beyond." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Roger Ebert" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/RogerEbert/" /> <meta property="article:section" content="MZS" /> <meta property="fb:admins" content="162770253735982" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="784" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="424" /> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/png" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-08-12T13:30:38-05:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater | MZS | Roger Ebert" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The physical box office is the place where the movie theater meets the world beyond." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ebertchicago" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@mattzollerseitz" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Matt Zoller Seitz" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Time to read" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="5 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="rank-math-schema">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/#person","name":"Roger Ebert","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/RogerEbert/","https://twitter.com/ebertchicago"]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/#website","url":"https://www.rogerebert.com","name":"Roger Ebert","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/#person"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png","url":"https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png","width":"784","height":"424","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":"1","item":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/category/mzs","name":"MZS"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":"2","item":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater","name":"The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater"}}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater#webpage","url":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater","name":"The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater | MZS | Roger Ebert","datePublished":"2024-08-12T13:30:38-05:00","dateModified":"2024-08-12T13:30:38-05:00","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png"},"inLanguage":"en-US","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater#breadcrumb"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/matt-zoller-seitz","name":"Matt Zoller Seitz","description":"Matt Zoller Seitz biography & movie reviews | Roger Ebert","url":"https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/matt-zoller-seitz","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/661047c4821039e01d129df2bbad69b4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/661047c4821039e01d129df2bbad69b4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Matt Zoller Seitz","inLanguage":"en-US"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/mattzollerseitz"]},{"@type":"BlogPosting","headline":"The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater | MZS | Roger Ebert","datePublished":"2024-08-12T13:30:38-05:00","dateModified":"2024-08-12T13:30:38-05:00","articleSection":"Features, MZS","author":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/matt-zoller-seitz","name":"Matt Zoller Seitz"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/#person"},"description":"The physical box office is the place where the movie theater meets the world beyond.","name":"The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater | MZS | Roger Ebert","@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater#richSnippet","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater#webpage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png"},"inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater#webpage"}}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//widget.justwatch.com' /> <script id="roger-ready"> window.advanced_ads_ready=function(e,a){a=a||"complete";var d=function(e){return"interactive"===a?"loading"!==e:"complete"===e};d(document.readyState)?e():document.addEventListener("readystatechange",(function(a){d(a.target.readyState)&&e()}),{once:"interactive"===a})},window.advanced_ads_ready_queue=window.advanced_ads_ready_queue||[]; </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='social-warfare-block-css-css' href='https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/js/post-editor/dist/blocks.style.build.css?ver=6.7' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='rank-math-toc-block-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-rank-math-toc-block nav ol{counter-reset:item}.wp-block-rank-math-toc-block nav ol li{display:block}.wp-block-rank-math-toc-block nav ol li:before{content:counters(item, ".") ". ";counter-increment:item} </style> <style id='rank-math-rich-snippet-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! * Plugin: Rank Math * URL: https://rankmath.com/wordpress/plugin/seo-suite/ * Name: rank-math-review-snippet.css */@-webkit-keyframes spin{0%{-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg)}100%{-webkit-transform:rotate(-360deg)}}@keyframes spin{0%{-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg)}100%{-webkit-transform:rotate(-360deg)}}@keyframes bounce{from{-webkit-transform:translateY(0px);transform:translateY(0px)}to{-webkit-transform:translateY(-5px);transform:translateY(-5px)}}@-webkit-keyframes bounce{from{-webkit-transform:translateY(0px);transform:translateY(0px)}to{-webkit-transform:translateY(-5px);transform:translateY(-5px)}}@-webkit-keyframes loading{0%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 50% ,20% 50%}20%{background-size:20% 20% ,20% 50% ,20% 50%}40%{background-size:20% 100%,20% 20% ,20% 50%}60%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 100%,20% 20%}80%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 50% ,20% 100%}100%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 50% ,20% 50%}}@keyframes loading{0%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 50% ,20% 50%}20%{background-size:20% 20% ,20% 50% ,20% 50%}40%{background-size:20% 100%,20% 20% ,20% 50%}60%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 100%,20% 20%}80%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 50% ,20% 100%}100%{background-size:20% 50% ,20% 50% ,20% 50%}}:root{--rankmath-wp-adminbar-height: 0}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper{overflow:hidden}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper h5.rank-math-title{display:block;font-size:18px;line-height:1.4}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-review-image{float:right;max-width:40%;margin-left:15px}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-review-data{margin-bottom:15px}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper{width:100%;padding:0 0 20px 0;float:left;clear:both;position:relative;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-total{border:0;display:block;margin:0;width:auto;float:left;text-align:left;padding:0;font-size:24px;line-height:1;font-weight:700;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star{float:left;margin-left:15px;margin-top:5px;position:relative;z-index:99;line-height:1}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star .rank-math-review-result-wrapper{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;position:relative;color:#e7e7e7}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star .rank-math-review-result-wrapper .rank-math-review-result{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;white-space:nowrap;color:#ffbe01}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star .rank-math-review-result-wrapper i{font-size:18px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:1px;font-style:normal;padding:0 2px;line-height:inherit}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star .rank-math-review-result-wrapper i:before{content:"\2605"}body.rtl #rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-review-image{float:left;margin-left:0;margin-right:15px}body.rtl #rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-total{float:right}body.rtl #rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star{float:right;margin-left:0;margin-right:15px}body.rtl #rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-total-wrapper .rank-math-review-star .rank-math-review-result{left:auto;right:0}@media screen and (max-width: 480px){#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-review-image{display:block;max-width:100%;width:100%;text-align:center;margin-right:0}#rank-math-rich-snippet-wrapper .rank-math-review-data{clear:both}}.clear{clear:both} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--color--primary-light: #F8F6F1;--wp--preset--color--primary-grey: #CCCCCC;--wp--preset--color--primary-gold: #C0A574;--wp--preset--color--secondary-bronze: #945B48;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 16px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 30px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 44px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <style id='dominant-color-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img[data-dominant-color]:not(.has-transparency) { background-color: var(--dominant-color); } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='main-css-css' href='https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/dist/css/main.min.css?ver=1732774188' type='text/css' media='' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='social_warfare-css' href='https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/css/style.min.css?ver=4.5.4' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=latest" id="jquery-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/roger-ebert/template/custom-facets/custom-facet.js?ver=1732774161" id="custom-facet-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="advanced-ads-advanced-js-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var advads_options = {"blog_id":"1","privacy":{"enabled":false,"state":"not_needed"}}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/advanced-ads/public/assets/js/advanced.min.js?ver=1.56.1" id="advanced-ads-advanced-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="advanced_ads_pro/visitor_conditions-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var advanced_ads_pro_visitor_conditions = {"referrer_cookie_name":"advanced_ads_pro_visitor_referrer","referrer_exdays":"365","page_impr_cookie_name":"advanced_ads_page_impressions","page_impr_exdays":"3650"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/advanced-ads-pro/modules/advanced-visitor-conditions/inc/conditions.min.js?ver=2.28.0" id="advanced_ads_pro/visitor_conditions-js"></script> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.rogerebert.com/?p=243658' /> <meta name="generator" content="dominant-color-images 1.1.2"> <meta name="generator" content="performance-lab 3.6.1; plugins: dominant-color-images, speculation-rules, webp-uploads"> <meta name="generator" content="webp-uploads 2.3.0"> <link rel="pingback" href="https://www.rogerebert.com/xmlrpc.php"><script type="text/javascript"> var advadsCfpQueue = []; var advadsCfpAd = function( adID ){ if ( 'undefined' == typeof advadsProCfp ) { advadsCfpQueue.push( adID ) } else { advadsProCfp.addElement( adID ) } }; </script> <meta name="generator" content="speculation-rules 1.3.1"> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="AdvallyRules" src="https://cdn.adligature.com/rogerebert.com/prod/rules.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" id="AdvallyStyles" href="https://cdn.adligature.com/rogerebert.com/prod/rules.css"></link> <script type="text/javascript"> // Handle LazyLoaded content including ads document.addEventListener('facetwp-loaded', function(e) { advally.scanNew(); }); // Set custom targeting for page var advally = advally || {}; advally.cmd = advally.cmd || []; advally.cmd.push(function() { advally.Page.setTargeting('wp-page', document.pageTypeLabel); }); </script> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-favicon-196x196-1-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-favicon-196x196-1-192x192.png" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-favicon-196x196-1-180x180.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-favicon-196x196-1-270x270.png" /> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-243658 single-format-standard no-sidebar">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-T9HKKFWR" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="page" class="site"> <header id="masthead" class="site-header fixed w-full bg-white top-0 left-0 right-0 menu-top z-50"> <div class="border-b border-[#cccccc] border-solid max-w-full w-full"> <div class="max-w-[1440px] m-auto flex p-6 sm:px-8 justify-between items-center"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com" rel="home" class="w-[200px] sm:w-[270px]" aria-label="Roger Ebert homepage"> <img width="270" height="47" fetchpriority="high" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/roger-ebert-logo.svg" alt="Roger Ebert Logo"> </a> <a href="/search" class="ml-auto mr-0 sm:mr-5 block lg:hidden" aria-label="Site search"> <img width="21" height="21" fetchpriority="high" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/search-thin.svg" alt="Search Icon"> </a> <a href="/prime" class="gold-button lg:ml-auto mr-2 lg:mr-4 hidden sm:block"> Signup </a> <form action="/search" method="get" accept-charset="UTF-8" class="relative hidden lg:block"> <label for="search" class="sr-only">Search in https://www.rogerebert.com</label> <input type="text" placeholder="Search Keywords..." name="q" id="search" class="px-5 bg-primary-light text-sm py-2.5 border border-primary-gold montserrat-500 rounded-full text-base" value="" /> <input type="image" class="absolute right-4 top-3.5" alt="Search" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/search-icon.svg" /> </form> <div class="mobile-menu overflow-hidden visible w-10 relative h-5 flex items-center justify-end cursor-pointer xl:invisible xl:w-0"> <span></span> </div> </div> </div> <nav id="site-navigation" class="main-navigation fixed bg-white w-full left-0 right-0 top-24 m-auto flex px-2 xl:px-8 py-4 justify-center items-center invisible opacity-0 bottom-0 right-2/4 top-[84px] sm:top-[96px] xl:absolue xl:bottom-auto xl:right-auto xl:visible xl:opacity-100"> <div class="menu-primary-menu-container"><ul id="primary-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-214879" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214879"><a href="/reviews">Movie Reviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214880" class="great-movies menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214880"><a href="/great-movies">Great Movies</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214881" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214881"><a href="/streaming">TV/Streaming</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214882" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214882"><a href="/interviews">Interviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214883" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214883"><a href="/collections">Collections</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214884" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214884"><a href="/chazs-blog">Chaz's Journal</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214885" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-214885"><a href="/contributors">Contributors</a></li> </ul></div> </nav> </header> <div id="content" class="site-content"> <div class="row">  <div class="roger-top-leaderboard" id="roger-1896449872"><div class="AdvallyTag" id="AdvAd-TopLeaderboard"></div></div> <div id="primary" class="content-area col-8"> <main id="main" class="site-main"> <header class="page-header m-auto max-w-[1440px] px-6 sm:px-8 flex flex-col justify-center md:grid md:grid-cols-12"> <div class="pt-8 pb-6 xl:pt-12 sm:pt-12 sm:pb-9 xl:pb-14 col-start-1 col-end-13 lg:col-start-3 lg:col-end-11"> <nav aria-label="breadcrumbs" class="rank-math-breadcrumb"><p><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/mzs">MZS</a></p></nav><h1 class="page-title mt-2 text-4xl sm:text-5xl sm:mt-4">The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater</h1> <div class="flex items-center mt-3 sm:mt-5 flex-wrap text-sm"> <div class="flex items-center mb-3 sm:mb-0 mr-4 w-full sm:w-auto text-black font-bold font-heading-sans"> <div class="w-[32px] h-[32px] rounded-full mr-3 overflow-hidden"><img width="128" height="85" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-Zoller-Seitz.jpg" class="h-full object-cover" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-Zoller-Seitz.jpg 1200w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-Zoller-Seitz-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px" /></div> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/matt-zoller-seitz">Matt Zoller Seitz</a> </div> <div class="font-heading-sans text-meta-grey"> August 12, 2024 </div> <div class="font-heading-sans text-meta-grey ml-4"> 5 min read </div> </div> </div> </header> <section class="m-auto max-w-[1440px] px-6 sm:px-8 flex flex-col justify-center md:grid md:grid-cols-12"> <div class="col-start-1 col-end-13 lg:col-start-3 lg:col-end-11"> <div class="mt-2 mb-6 md:mb-12 lg:mb-16"> <div class="mb-4"><img width="784" height="424" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png" class="h-full object-cover not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater.png 784w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater-768x415.png 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater-568x307.png 568w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater-320x173.png 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater-324x175.png 324w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Box-Office-is-Everything-In-Praise-of-the-Window-at-the-Front-of-the-Theater-256x138.png 256w" sizes="(max-width: 784px) 100vw, 784px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="424242" style="--dominant-color: #424242;" /></div> <article id="post-243658" class="post-243658 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-mzs category-features"> <div class="entry-content text-lg sm:text-xl leading-7 sm:leading-8 mb-7 sm:mb-9"> <p>When I was in college I worked at a Dallas movie theater, the Inwood. It was an art house theater that mainly showed foreign films, independents, and some repertory titles. During my workdays there, most of the time I was working at the concession stand. But sometimes they'd put me in the box office. </p><div class="roger-post-inline-1" style="float: left; " id="roger-1976970999"><div class="AdvallyTag" id="AdvAd-PostFloat-Left"></div></div> <p>In case anybody very young is reading this, the box office is the place where the phrase "box office"—as in how "much money a movie made last week"—comes from. It's the boxy little booth at the front of the movie theater with a window where people trade money for tickets. </p> <p>The box office is the place where the hermetically sealed wonderland of the movie theater connects with the world outside. </p> <p>Removing that—along with marquees on the theater itself and out on the road leading to the theater—shifts movie theaters into the "out of sight, out of mind" category," which I think is ultimately bad for business. </p><div class="roger-post-inline-2" id="roger-193533963"><div class="AdvallyTag" data-nameprefix="AdvAd-PostInline"></div></div> <p>I get why most movie theaters thought it was a good idea to close their box offices. In order to have a functioning box office, you have to put a person in it, and that's an employee who could be working inside, probably at the concession stand, where a lot of theaters have enabled ticket sales (which means you can buy a ticket and then get popcorn and a soda).</p> <p>Plus, people usually order tickets online now, and most theater chains let you choose where you sit in advance, and it's more time consuming to deal with that at a box office window, and a little bit more stressful, because there might be people lining up behind you while you try to figure out which row you want to sit in. </p><div class="roger-post-inline-2" id="roger-37171683"><div class="AdvallyTag" data-nameprefix="AdvAd-PostInline"></div></div> <p>Probably these chains think of physical box offices as vestigial appendages of another time. But this is short-term thinking. </p> <p>Bringing back staffed box offices, combined with functioning marquees both on the theater itself and roads leading to the theater, amounts to a coded form of marketing or advertising. It says, "This is a movie theater. There are movies here, and the titles are listed right where you can see them." </p> <p>People might still go to the movies on impulse, if they have the opportunity, and they are more likely to just suddenly decide to see a movie if (1) they can see what's playing at the movie theater and (2) there's a person right in front of them, and they can walk right up to them and buy a ticket from them.</p><div class="roger-post-inline-2" id="roger-1560568565"><div class="AdvallyTag" data-nameprefix="AdvAd-PostInline"></div></div> <p>This person can also answer questions about the (potential) moviegoing experience, like, "What's this movie about?" or "Is this movie appropriate for my child?" or "Which of the movies playing at this theater is your favorite?" I used to answer these questions and others all the time when worked inside of a box office. My job as the box office person wasn't just to take money and hand back change plus a ticket. It was to sell people on the<em> idea of going to see a movie</em>. I enjoyed it. It was one of the most enjoyable parts of working in a theater, actually. There were times when I'd even tell potential customers, in all sincerity, "I've seen this movie three times, and I can pretty much promise you that you're going to enjoy it." </p> <p>If they didn't enjoy it, I'd give them a refund. Movie theaters give refunds for almost any reason! (I thought I'd put that out there, in case you didn't already know it.)</p> <p>There are a lot of factors that explain why movie theaters have struggled post-pandemic. But I think it would be an error to downplay one very subtle but insidious one: the physical space that is the movie theater has become psychologically cut off from the rest of the world; from pedestrian life, or whatever version of it exists in suburbs or malls; and from the reality that people buy stuff on impulse. </p><div class="roger-post-inline-2" id="roger-58416579"><div class="AdvallyTag" data-nameprefix="AdvAd-PostInline"></div></div> <p>I think theaters are leaving money on the table by not having functioning box offices plus physical signage that tells the public "There is a movie theater here" and "Here is a list of the movies you can see here" and offering them an opportunity to buy a ticket without going through the hassle of opening up their phones and searching for the name of the movie theater and then searching for the name of the movie and seeing what the showtimes are and...I am getting tired even TYPING all of that. Why would anyone out in the wild go through the hassle? </p> <p>They wouldn't. They'd just keep walking.</p> <p>So why not make things easy on them? </p><div class="roger-post-inline-2" id="roger-2030838476"><div class="AdvallyTag" data-nameprefix="AdvAd-PostInline"></div></div> <p>The tools are already in place.</p> <p>Right now, with some rare exceptions, the only people who go into a movie theater are people who made the decision to go into a movie theater hours or days earlier. The industry, in the name of convenience and profitability, has trained people out of moviegoing, except as a predetermined act. A huge swath of potential customers is now being excluded from the possibility of spontaneously deciding to go to THE MOVIES, as opposed to a specific movie.  </p> <p>There's a theater at a mall in my town, the NorthPark, that still staffs its box office windows. People can buy tickets at the box office and then go over to an employee stationed at the base of the escalator leading upstairs to the multiplex who scans their ticket and says "Theater five, on your left," or whatever. </p><div class="roger-post-inline-2" id="roger-1326961603"><div class="AdvallyTag" data-nameprefix="AdvAd-PostInline"></div></div> <p>I see people walking up to the NorthPark box office and making chit-chat with employees every time I'm at the mall. A lot of the time these people walk away with tickets and go upstairs. </p> <p>If there was no box office, the theater wouldn't have made that money. And if there was no marquee, they might not have thought to approach the box office, inclined to see a movie and just needing a nudge.</p> <div class="swp-content-locator"></div> </div> </article> <div class="swp_social_panel swp_horizontal_panel swp_flat_fresh swp_default_full_color swp_individual_full_color swp_other_full_color scale-100 scale-" data-min-width="1100" data-float-color="#ffffff" data-float="none" data-float-mobile="none" data-transition="slide" data-post-id="243658" ><div class="nc_tweetContainer swp_share_button swp_twitter" data-network="twitter"><a class="nc_tweet swp_share_link" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The+Box+Office+is+Everything%3A+In+Praise+of+the+Window+at+the+Front+of+the+Theater&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater" data-link="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The+Box+Office+is+Everything%3A+In+Praise+of+the+Window+at+the+Front+of+the+Theater&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater"><span class="swp_count swp_hide"><span class="iconFiller"><span class="spaceManWilly"><i class="sw swp_twitter_icon"></i><span class="swp_share">Tweet</span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="nc_tweetContainer swp_share_button swp_facebook" data-network="facebook"><a class="nc_tweet swp_share_link" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater" data-link="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater"><span class="swp_count swp_hide"><span class="iconFiller"><span class="spaceManWilly"><i class="sw swp_facebook_icon"></i><span class="swp_share">Share</span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="nc_tweetContainer swp_share_button swp_linkedin" data-network="linkedin"><a class="nc_tweet swp_share_link" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater" data-link="https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater"><span class="swp_count swp_hide"><span class="iconFiller"><span class="spaceManWilly"><i class="sw swp_linkedin_icon"></i><span class="swp_share">Share</span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="nc_tweetContainer swp_share_button swp_pinterest" data-network="pinterest"><a rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="nc_tweet swp_share_link noPop" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogerebert.com%2Fmzs%2Fthe-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater" onClick="event.preventDefault(); var e=document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8'); e.setAttribute('src','//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999); document.body.appendChild(e); " ><span class="swp_count swp_hide"><span class="iconFiller"><span class="spaceManWilly"><i class="sw swp_pinterest_icon"></i><span class="swp_share">Pin</span></span></span></span></a></div><div class="nc_tweetContainer swp_share_button total_shares total_sharesalt" ><span class="swp_count ">0 <span class="swp_label">Shares</span></span></div></div> <div class="p-6 sm:p-8 bg-primary-light my-10 sm:my-12 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start justify-start sm:items-center gap-4 sm:gap-6"> <div class="rounded-full author-avatar w-[72px] h-[72px] overflow-hidden"> <img width="128" height="85" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-Zoller-Seitz.jpg" class="h-full w-full object-cover" alt="" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="low" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-Zoller-Seitz.jpg 1200w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Matt-Zoller-Seitz-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px" /> </div> <div class="text-lg flex-1"> <h5 class="font-heading-serif text-2xl mb-1"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/matt-zoller-seitz">Matt Zoller Seitz</a></h5> <p>Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor-at-Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for <em>New York</em> Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="border-t border-[#cccccc] border-solid pt-8 sm:pt-14 pb-0" id="content-lower"> <div class="m-auto max-w-[1440px] px-6 sm:px-8 flex flex-col justify-center md:grid md:grid-cols-12"> <div class="col-start-1 col-end-13 lg:col-start-3 lg:col-end-11"> <h4 class="text-2xl mb-8 md:text-3xl w-full text-center font-heading-serif" id="comments-header">Leave a comment</h4> <div id="disqus_thread" class="mb-8"></div> <script> var DISQUS_TITLE = "The Box Office is Everything: In Praise of the Window at the Front of the Theater"; var DISQUS_URL = "https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater"; var DISQUS_IDENTIFIER = "/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater"; var DISQUS_DISABLE_ADS = false; </script> <noscript> Please enable JavaScript to view the <a href="https://disqus.com/?ref_noscript" rel="nofollow"> comments powered by Disqus. </a> </noscript> </div> </div> <div class="max-w-[1440px] px-6 pb-2 sm:pb-6 ml-auto mr-auto relative flex flex-col xs:px-4"> <hr class="wp-block-separator single-template has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-default"> <h4 class="text-2xl mb-5 sm:mb-6 md:text-3xl w-full text-center font-heading-serif">Related articles</h4> <div class="w-auto flex-1 grid-cols-1 grid sm:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-4"> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:px-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/features/cc40-criterion-box-set-review" class="image-hover relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full aspect-video overflow-hidden"> <img width="500" height="281" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-500x281.jpg" class="w-full feature-image aspect-video object-cover not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-768x432-jpg.webp 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-320x180.jpg 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-324x182.jpg 324w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-256x144.jpg 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/lkaz1S74ULIH8RWRdh0utcYXdfQWOe_original-jpg.webp 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="aeaba6" style="--dominant-color: #aeaba6;" /> </div> <div class="uppercase montserrat-700 text-primary-gold mt-4 text-sm"> Features </div> <h3 class="text-2xl xs:text-xl sm:text-2xl z-10 mt-2">Criterion Releases Gorgeous Box Set for Their 40th Anniversary</h3> <div class="text-meta-grey mt-2"> 1 day ago </div> </a> </article> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:px-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/features/miyazaki-howl-and-matters-of-the-heart" class="image-hover relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full aspect-video overflow-hidden"> <img width="500" height="281" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-500x281.jpg" class="w-full feature-image aspect-video object-cover not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-768x432-jpg.webp 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-320x180.jpg 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-324x182.jpg 324w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-256x144.jpg 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HowlsMovingCastle-jpg.webp 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="846751" style="--dominant-color: #846751;" /> </div> <div class="uppercase montserrat-700 text-primary-gold mt-4 text-sm"> Features </div> <h3 class="text-2xl xs:text-xl sm:text-2xl z-10 mt-2">Miyazaki, Howl, and Matters of the Heart</h3> <div class="text-meta-grey mt-2"> 2 days ago </div> </a> </article> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:px-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/features/appreciating-the-brushstrokes-pre-computer-animation-and-the-human-touch" class="image-hover relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full aspect-video overflow-hidden"> <img width="500" height="281" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-500x281.jpeg" class="w-full feature-image aspect-video object-cover not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-500x281.jpeg 500w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-768x432-jpeg.webp 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-320x180.jpeg 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-324x182.jpeg 324w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-256x144.jpeg 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speed-Racer-67-jpeg.webp 928w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="976649" style="--dominant-color: #976649;" /> </div> <div class="uppercase montserrat-700 text-primary-gold mt-4 text-sm"> Features </div> <h3 class="text-2xl xs:text-xl sm:text-2xl z-10 mt-2">Appreciating the Brushstrokes: Pre-Computer Animation and the Human Touch</h3> <div class="text-meta-grey mt-2"> November 21, 2024 </div> </a> </article> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:px-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/features/lost-souls-bringing-out-the-dead-at-25" class="image-hover relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full aspect-video overflow-hidden"> <img width="500" height="281" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-500x281.jpg" class="w-full feature-image aspect-video object-cover not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-500x281.jpg 500w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-768x432-jpg.webp 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-320x180.jpg 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-324x182.jpg 324w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-256x144.jpg 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bringing-Out-the-Dead-1-website-jpg.webp 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="6a5944" style="--dominant-color: #6a5944;" /> </div> <div class="uppercase montserrat-700 text-primary-gold mt-4 text-sm"> Features </div> <h3 class="text-2xl xs:text-xl sm:text-2xl z-10 mt-2">Lost Souls: Bringing Out the Dead at 25</h3> <div class="text-meta-grey mt-2"> November 18, 2024 </div> </a> </article> </div> </div> <div class="max-w-[1440px] ml-auto mr-auto relative flex flex-col px-6 xs:px-4"> <hr class="wp-block-separator single-template has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-default"> <h4 class="text-2xl md:text-3xl w-full text-center font-heading-serif">Popular reviews</h4> <div class="w-auto pt-4 pb-2 sm:py-6 flex-1 grid-cols-1 grid xs:grid-cols-2 grid sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4"> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:p-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-crow-remake-film-review-2024" class="image-hover cursor-pointer relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full relative aspect-9/14 overflow-hidden"> <div class="absolute z-10 bg-black/50 left-0 w-full h-full top-0 flex items-center justify-center"> <img width="84" height="80" class="h-20 w-auto" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg" alt="subscribe icon"> </div> <img width="256" height="379" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/large_crow-256x379.jpg" class="w-full feature-image object-cover aspect-9/14 not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="The Crow movie poster" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/large_crow-256x379.jpg 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/large_crow-190x281.jpg 190w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/large_crow-122x180.jpg 122w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/large_crow-320x474.jpg 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/large_crow-jpg-avif.webp 400w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="191614" style="--dominant-color: #191614;" /> </div> <h3 class="text-2xl z-10 mt-4 inline"> <span>The Crow</span> </h3> <div class="montserrat-500 mt-2 text-meta-grey text-sm"> Matt Zoller Seitz </div> <div class="w-full flex justify-start items-center mt-3"> <div class="star-box"> <img src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5 filled star25"> <img width="99" height="20" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5"> </div> </div> </a> </article> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:p-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sirocco-and-the-kingdom-of-the-winds-2023" class="image-hover cursor-pointer relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full relative aspect-9/14 overflow-hidden"> <div class="absolute z-10 bg-black/50 left-0 w-full h-full top-0 flex items-center justify-center"> <img width="84" height="80" class="h-20 w-auto" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg" alt="subscribe icon"> </div> <img width="256" height="376" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sirocco-and-the-Kingdom-of-the-Winds-1-256x376.png" class="w-full feature-image object-cover aspect-9/14 not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sirocco-and-the-Kingdom-of-the-Winds-1-256x376.png 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sirocco-and-the-Kingdom-of-the-Winds-1-218x320.png 218w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sirocco-and-the-Kingdom-of-the-Winds-1-122x180.png 122w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sirocco-and-the-Kingdom-of-the-Winds-1-322x474.png 322w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sirocco-and-the-Kingdom-of-the-Winds-1.png 472w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="737e7e" style="--dominant-color: #737e7e;" /> </div> <h3 class="text-2xl z-10 mt-4 inline"> <span>Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds</span> </h3> <div class="montserrat-500 mt-2 text-meta-grey text-sm"> Matt Zoller Seitz </div> <div class="w-full flex justify-start items-center mt-3"> <div class="star-box"> <img src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5 filled star40"> <img width="99" height="20" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5"> </div> </div> </a> </article> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:p-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/falling-stars-review" class="image-hover cursor-pointer relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full relative aspect-9/14 overflow-hidden"> <div class="absolute z-10 bg-black/50 left-0 w-full h-full top-0 flex items-center justify-center"> <img width="84" height="80" class="h-20 w-auto" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg" alt="subscribe icon"> </div> <img width="256" height="379" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-256x379.jpg" class="w-full feature-image object-cover aspect-9/14 not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-256x379.jpg 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-768x1138-jpg.webp 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-190x281.jpg 190w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-122x180.jpg 122w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-320x474.jpg 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/unnamed-jpg.webp 800w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="121f52" style="--dominant-color: #121f52;" /> </div> <h3 class="text-2xl z-10 mt-4 inline"> <span>Falling Stars</span> </h3> <div class="montserrat-500 mt-2 text-meta-grey text-sm"> Zachary Lee </div> <div class="w-full flex justify-start items-center mt-3"> <div class="star-box"> <img src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5 filled star25"> <img width="99" height="20" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5"> </div> </div> </a> </article> <article class="px-0 py-4 xs:px-2 sm:p-4"> <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mountains-film-review-2024" class="image-hover cursor-pointer relative rounded flex flex-col justify-end"> <div class="w-full relative aspect-9/14 overflow-hidden"> <div class="absolute z-10 bg-black/50 left-0 w-full h-full top-0 flex items-center justify-center"> <img width="84" height="80" class="h-20 w-auto" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg" alt="subscribe icon"> </div> <img width="256" height="379" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-256x379.webp" class="w-full feature-image object-cover aspect-9/14 not-transparent wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-256x379.webp 256w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-768x1137.webp 768w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-216x320.webp 216w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-122x180.webp 122w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-320x474.webp 320w, https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mountains-2-jpg.webp 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-has-transparency="false" data-dominant-color="be8b77" style="--dominant-color: #be8b77;" /> </div> <h3 class="text-2xl z-10 mt-4 inline"> <span>Mountains</span> </h3> <div class="montserrat-500 mt-2 text-meta-grey text-sm"> Carlos Aguilar </div> <div class="w-full flex justify-start items-center mt-3"> <div class="star-box"> <img src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5 filled star35"> <img width="99" height="20" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg" alt="star rating" class="h-5"> </div> </div> </a> </article> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> </div> </div> <section id="subscribe" class="newsletter-subscribe bg-black mt-6 md:mt-12 py-12 lg:py-16 xl:py-20 w-full"> <div class="wrapper m-auto max-w-[1440px] px-8 text-center flex flex-col justify-center md:grid md:grid-cols-12"> <img width="80" height="86" class="mx-auto col-start-6 w-[80px] col-end-8 mb-5 lg:mb-6" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/thumb-up-subscribe.svg" alt="subscribe icon"> <h4 class="text-white text-3xl mb-6 lg:mb-7 col-start-2 col-end-12 lg:col-start-3 lg:col-end-11">The best movie reviews, in your inbox</h4> <form action="https://rogerebert.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=53d28014f6494e01798442219&amp;id=9ac9effdc7" class="mailing-list--form validate js--newsletter col-start-2 col-end-12 lg:col-start-3 lg:col-end-11" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" method="post" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" novalidate="" target="_blank"> <div class="mailing-list--input flex flex-col md:flex-row justify-center items-center"> <input class="py-3 px-6 w-full flex-auto mb-6 md:mb-auto md:mr-2.5 border border-primary-gold montserrat-500 montserrat-500 rounded-full text-white text-base md:text-lg bg-transparent required email" id="mce-EMAIL" name="EMAIL" placeholder="Enter your email" type="email" value=""> <input class="cursor-pointer py-3 px-6 border md:ml-2.5 border-primary-gold bg-primary-gold montserrat-700 uppercase text-base md:text-lg text-white rounded-full transition-colors hover:bg-secondary-bronze hover:border-secondary-bronze" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe"> </div> <div id="mce-responses"> <div class="response" id="mce-error-response" style="display:none"></div> <div class="response" id="mce-success-response" style="display:none"></div> </div> </form> </div> </section> <footer id="site-footer" class="site-footer"> <div class="w-full max-w-[1440px] m-auto pt-6 pb-0 sm:pt-10 text-center sm:text-left px-2 sm:px-4 flex flex-col sm:grid sm:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-6"> <div class="px-4"> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]"> Movie Reviews </div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-movie-reviews-container"><ul id="menu-footer-movie-reviews" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-215041" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215041"><a href="/great-movies">Roger's Greatest Movies</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215042" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215042"><a href="/reviews">All Reviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215043" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215043"><a href="/cast-and-crew">Cast and Crew</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]"> Ebert Prime </div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-ebert-prime-container"><ul id="menu-footer-ebert-prime" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-215044" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-215044"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/prime">Sign Up</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="px-4"> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]"> Movie Genres </div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-genres-1-container"><ul id="menu-footer-genres-1" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-214957" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-214957"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/action">Action</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215063" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215063"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/amazon-prime">Amazon Prime</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215064" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215064"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/comedy">Comedy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214959" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-214959"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/documentary">Documentary</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215065" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215065"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/drama">Drama</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215066" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215066"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/horror">Horror</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215074" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215074"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/hulu">Hulu</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="px-4"> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]"></div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-genres-2-container"><ul id="menu-footer-genres-2" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-215068" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215068"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/mystery">Mystery</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215069" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215069"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/netflix">Netflix</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215070" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215070"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/romance">Romance</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215071" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215071"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/science-fiction">Science Fiction</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215072" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215072"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/suspense">Suspense</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215073" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-genre menu-item-215073"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/genre/thriller">Thriller</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="px-4"> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]"> Blogs </div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-blogs-1-container"><ul id="menu-footer-blogs-1" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-215045" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215045"><a href="/reviews">Reviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215046" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215046"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/chazs-blog">Chaz's Journal</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215051" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215051"><a href="/great-movies">Great Movies</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215049" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-215049"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/mzs">MZS</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215047" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215047"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/far-flung-correspondents">Far Flungers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215048" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215048"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/interviews">Interviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215050" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215050"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/tributes">Tributes</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="px-4"> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]"></div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-blogs-2-container"><ul id="menu-footer-blogs-2" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-215057" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215057"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/video-games">Video Games</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215052" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215052"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/black-writers-week">Black Writers Week</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215053" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-215053"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/features">Features</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215056" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215056"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/streaming">TV/Streaming</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215055" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215055"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/roger-ebert">Roger Ebert</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215054" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-215054"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/category/festivals">Festivals & Awards</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> <div class="px-4"> <div class="font-heading-serif footer-menu-heading text-xl mb-1 mt-4 sm:min-h-[28px]">Ebert Co.</div> <div class="footer-menu font-heading-sans text-sm"> <div class="menu-footer-ebert-co-container"><ul id="menu-footer-ebert-co" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-215058" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215058"><a href="/about">About the site</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215059" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215059"><a href="/contact-us">Contact us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215060" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215060"><a href="mailto:advertising@ebertdigital.com">Advertise with us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-215061" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-215061"><a href="/contributors">Contributors</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="flex gap-4 items-center justify-center sm:justify-start mt-4"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RogerEbert" aria-label="Find us on Facebook"> <img loading="lazy" width="18" height="18" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/facebook.svg" alt="Facebook logo"> </a> <a href="" aria-label="Find us on YouTube"> <img loading="lazy" width="21" height="16" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/youtube.svg" alt="YouTube logo"> </a> <a href="" aria-label="Find us on Twitter (X)"> <img loading="lazy" width="18" height="18" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/x-icon.svg" alt="Twitter (X) logo"> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="w-full max-w-[1440px] m-auto gap-8 justify-center items-center py-10 pb-0 px-4 flex flex-col md:flex-row"> <div class="in-memoriam flex text-center md:text-right items-center md:items-end lg:items-center lg:justify-center flex-col lg:flex-row"> <span class="font-heading-serif text-2xl lg:mr-4">“Roger Ebert Loved Movies”</span> <a href="/memoriam" class="underline font-heading-sans text-sm">In Memoriam 1942 - 2013</a> </div> <img loading="lazy" width="398" height="136" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/roger-pic.png" alt="Photo of Roger Ebert In Memoriam"> </div> <div class="w-full flex flex-col sm:flex-row justify-center footer-terms text-center py-8 border-t border-line-grey font-heading-sans text-sm"> <span>Ebert Digital LLC © Copyright 2024</span> <div class="menu-footer-terms-container"><ul id="menu-footer-terms" class="w-full sm:w-auto sm:flex sm:ml-3"><li id="menu-item-214948" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-214948"><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/terms-of-use">Terms of use</a></li> <li id="menu-item-214952" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-privacy-policy menu-item-214952"><a rel="privacy-policy" href="https://www.rogerebert.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </footer> </div> <script type="speculationrules"> {"prerender":[{"source":"document","where":{"and":[{"href_matches":"\/*"},{"not":{"href_matches":["\/wp-login.php","\/wp-admin\/*","\/*\\?*(^|&)_wpnonce=*","\/wp-content\/uploads\/*","\/wp-content\/*","\/wp-content\/plugins\/*","\/wp-content\/themes\/roger-ebert\/*"]}},{"not":{"selector_matches":"a[rel~=\"nofollow\"]"}},{"not":{"selector_matches":".no-prerender"}}]},"eagerness":"moderate"}]} </script> <script type="text/javascript">var algolia = {"debug":false,"application_id":"40M9V88SHV","search_api_key":"6a93834cc03da63576a3caf9b5c19c06","powered_by_enabled":false,"query":"","autocomplete":{"sources":[],"input_selector":"input[name='s']:not(.no-autocomplete):not(#adminbar-search)"},"indices":{"searchable_posts":{"name":"prod_wp_searchable_posts","id":"searchable_posts","enabled":true,"replicas":[]}}};</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/dist/js/main.min.js?ver=1732774188" id="main-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://widget.justwatch.com/justwatch_widget.js?ver=1.0.0" id="justwatch-widget-js" defer="defer" data-wp-strategy="defer"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="social_warfare_script-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var socialWarfare = {"addons":[],"post_id":"243658","variables":{"emphasizeIcons":false,"powered_by_toggle":false,"affiliate_link":"https:\/\/warfareplugins.com"},"floatBeforeContent":""}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/social-warfare/assets/js/script.min.js?ver=4.5.4" id="social_warfare_script-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="advanced-ads-pro/front-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var advanced_ads_cookies = {"cookie_path":"\/","cookie_domain":""}; var advadsCfpInfo = {"cfpExpHours":"3","cfpClickLimit":"3","cfpBan":"7","cfpPath":"","cfpDomain":"www.rogerebert.com"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/plugins/advanced-ads-pro/assets/js/advanced-ads-pro.min.js?ver=2.28.0" id="advanced-ads-pro/front-js"></script> <script>window.advads_admin_bar_items = [{"title":"Advertising Wrapper Includes","type":"ad"},{"title":"Ad Wrapper","type":"placement"},{"title":"Top Leaderboard","type":"ad"},{"title":"Top Leaderboard","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline 1","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 1","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline Reusable","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 2","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline Reusable","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 2","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline Reusable","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 2","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline Reusable","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 2","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline Reusable","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 2","type":"placement"},{"title":"Post Inline Reusable","type":"ad"},{"title":"Post Inline 2","type":"placement"}];</script><script type="text/javascript"> var swp_nonce = "4d6f1eb807";function parentIsEvil() { var html = null; try { var doc = top.location.pathname; } catch(err){ }; if(typeof doc === "undefined") { return true } else { return false }; }; if (parentIsEvil()) { top.location = self.location.href; };var url = "https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/the-box-office-is-everything-in-praise-of-the-window-at-the-front-of-the-theater";if(url.indexOf("stfi.re") != -1) { var canonical = ""; var links = document.getElementsByTagName("link"); for (var i = 0; i < links.length; i ++) { if (links[i].getAttribute("rel") === "canonical") { canonical = links[i].getAttribute("href")}}; canonical = canonical.replace("?sfr=1", "");top.location = canonical; console.log(canonical);};var swpFloatBeforeContent = false; var swp_ajax_url = "https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; var swp_post_id = "243658";var swpClickTracking = false;</script><script>!function(){window.advanced_ads_ready_queue=window.advanced_ads_ready_queue||[],advanced_ads_ready_queue.push=window.advanced_ads_ready;for(var d=0,a=advanced_ads_ready_queue.length;d<a;d++)advanced_ads_ready(advanced_ads_ready_queue[d])}();</script> </body> </html>