Indie Movies Losing Ground in Detroit after Beloved Cinema Houses Close Down

In Detroit, movie lovers mourn the loss of their favorite indie movie theaters. The long-standing Main Art Theater in Royal Oak, which met its demise in 2022 despite vigorous efforts from locals to preserve it, and the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township, which bid its final goodbye in 2024, are sorely missed.

The Cinema Detroit, another cherished spot, continues to operate in a pop-up format, having forfeited its rented space in 2023, and yet to find a new brick-and-mortar home.

Across the country, these independent movie theaters, aka ‘indie cinemas’ and ‘art houses’, confront not only industry-wide struggles but also specific challenges unique to their niche.

In an era where streaming sites are gaining immense popularity, indie cinemas stand out by offering a diverse selection of independent, foreign, classic, documentary, and offbeat films. Imagine a quiet, cozy neighborhood coffeehouse that serves unique brews in comparison to the mega, mainstream coffee chains. That’s the charm of indie cinemas; they offer offbeat, intriguing concepts.

However, these beloved indie cinemas, most of which operate as nonprofits, have been grappling with numerous issues, such as rising costs, competition from streaming sites, and dwindling donations. These challenges were further amplified in 2023 when Hollywood strikes resulted in production delays and a fewer number of new releases in 2024.

While the mainstream multiplexes regain their success with blockbuster releases, indie houses find it hard to bounce back. This is primarily because their audience mainly comprises people over the age of 60, only about 60% of whom have returned to theaters amidst all these changes.

An encouraging finding, however, is that a younger audience is discovering indie cinemas. New attendees, on average, are 38 years old, and the overall audience is younger too, at an average age of 50

The loyalty patrons feel toward indie cinemas rivals none. Their audiences are passionate about the curated programs and appreciate the almost concierge-style service. But this love must translate into more consistent financial support for the cinemas to sustain operation in the long run.

The pandemic changed everything for indie cinemas. For instance, the Maple Theater saw a significant drop in its audience size after the lockdowns. From seeing 120,000 visits a year, they dropped to just about 65,000 after COVID-19.

But it’s not all gloomy for the indie cinema scene in Detroit. It may have lost three beloved houses, but the city residents are resourceful, and the community has responded. From the strength of the indie popup events like Cinema Lamont and the Senate Theatre’s showcase of retro favorites to the hope of revival of old sites like the Berkley Theater, Detroit is fighting to keep its indie cinema scene alive.

While the challenges to keep an independent movie theater afloat through thick and thin are colossal, Detroit’s movie community strives to keep the flame of indie cinema alive amidst these changes.