Angelenos Flee Wildfires for Comfort in Movie Theaters: A Surprising Escape!

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Similar to numerous Los Angeles residents, Cheyenne Shannon’s daily life was disrupted when the destructive Palisades Fire erupted on January 7, and later, the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Cheyenne resides in Culver City and has never been close to evacuation herself, but she, like many others, knows people who have been temporarily or permanently relocated due to these events. The ongoing disaster brought back memories of the pandemic and the anxiety of being confined indoors again. Furthermore, for thousands of individuals working in the entertainment industry, such as Shannon, a talent agent representing music video directors, it served as a reminder that more productions may permanently leave L.A.

Shannon’s approach to handling tough times? She immerses herself in movies whenever she can. Last week, she managed to watch three films, ending with “The Brutalist,” directed by Brady Corbet and featuring Adrien Brody as a Holocaust survivor and architect. We met during the movie’s intermission – it runs for 3 hours and 34 minutes – in the lobby at AMC Century City 15. “It’s been a very difficult week,” Shannon admits. “Going to the movies helps me escape from everything and get lost in another story, yet still leave feeling victorious in some way.

On that particular weekend, Shannon wasn’t alone among Angelenos seeking solace from the barrage of grim headlines and the irresistible urge to scroll through doom-laden posts. Remarkably, AMC’s Century City theater, nestled in the high-end Westfield mall, almost managed to retain its position as the highest-grossing cinema in the nation during the Jan. 10-12 weekend, despite being near the Palisades Fire and neighboring areas under evacuation advisories or orders.

Apart from Century City, Los Angeles wasn’t the only city in the U.S. with one of the top five-grossing theaters. In fact, New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square took the lead ($227,000), followed closely by Century City ($221,000). The third and fourth spots were held by AMC Burbank 16 ($178,000) and AMC The Grove 14 ($145,000), while Orlando’s AMC Disney Springs 24 came in fifth ($142,000), as reported by studio sources with exclusive data access. Business saw a significant boost on January 10th due to school closures.

The Bay Theater in the Palisades, a longstanding emblem of the community’s attachment to movie theaters, was among the rare structures that endured (though it’s currently closed). It’s situated within a small shopping center managed by the influential developer Rick Caruso. To safeguard the commercial area that encompasses newer buildings, allegedly constructed with fire-resistant materials, he employed private security crews.

In the midst of the destructive wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, some local cinemas that managed to stay open served as a refuge or momentary getaway for their patrons, according to Paul Dergarabedian, chief analyst at Comscore.

An additional benefit: Many theaters are now equipped with advanced air filtration systems, which were installed during the pandemic period. This is particularly attractive given the current poor air quality caused by fires.

Despite not being entirely unaffected, it’s important to note that the Greater L.A. moviegoing market typically holds the top position in the country. However, during the weekend of January 10-12, it dropped to second place, trailing behind New York. Several significant cinemas suffered significant losses due to heavy smoke and close proximity to the fires. For instance, ticket sales at Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk plummeted by 51%, while AMC The Americana at Brand 18, located near Altadena, experienced a 37% decrease in sales. The ArcLight at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, which borders an evacuation area as the fire spread, was virtually deserted (some sources suggest business has not been the same since Regal took over).

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel the weight of the current situation in Los Angeles, a city that’s been hit hard by those devastating fires. These blazes have left many without their homes, and it’s a tough time for everyone. On the flip side, it seems like the movie industry is holding its breath too. After a rough year in 2023, they’re counting on this year to be a blockbuster, so to speak.

Being the heart of cinema, LA plays a crucial role in this narrative. Theater owners and studio executives are keeping their fingers crossed that the allure of a movie night — an affordable escape compared to other forms of entertainment — will remain strong as the city embarks on its recovery journey. It’s a delicate dance, balancing the needs of the people with the needs of the industry, but it’s one we’re all hoping for the best in.

By late afternoon on January 11th, the scene outside AMC Century City was a somber reflection of the encroaching Palisades Fire, with various fronts pushing forward. Although the sky immediately overhead was clear, the massive plume of smoke rising from the hills to the north was disquieting. Four lively boys and their caretaker were giggling and playfully bumping into each other as they attempted to decipher the workings of an automatic ticket machine for a mid-afternoon screening of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3“. All four had been evacuated from their homes. The eldest, who is 12 years old, hails from Palisades. His family’s house hadn’t been destroyed yet, though he was unsure about the extent of smoke damage at that moment. “I think we’re safe because we live in a small valley. It hovered over us and moved on,” said the reserved adolescent. The other three boys reside in Mandeville Canyon, Brentwood. As the youngest, age 10, explained their outing, “There wasn’t much to do, so my mom suggested, ‘Why don’t we take them to a movie?’

Many people I conversed with attended the event primarily to watch “The Brutalist“. They commented that the movie’s narrative of sorrow, reconstruction, and determination mirrored the ongoing situation in L.A., as Shannon pointed out. Moreover, considering the film’s extended duration, including trailers and a 15-minute intermission, it provided a lengthy and comforting break from the evolving crisis. Notably, this movie has been a strong contender for the Oscars, taking home top awards at the Globes, such as best drama motion picture, best director, and best actor.

A trio of elderly ladies, donning masks, were part of the crowd heading to Century City to catch a movie. One of them shared that she had resided in the Palisades for a span of 27 years and had raised her family there. By January 11th, she learned that her old house was still standing, but she appeared quite distressed as she discussed the enormous devastation, with over 1,200 structures being engulfed in flames, and hundreds more sustaining damage. When inquired about why they were wearing masks within the theater – most people removed them upon entry – she explained that herself and her companions felt anxious about potential virus exposure. However, she emphasized her desire to make a statement and escape the confines of home: “I’m not going back to living as we did during COVID.

A resident of Santa Monica, a young woman attending the theater, chose to leave and stay with a friend in West Hollywood due to evacuation orders. Later, she opted to venture out and watch the movie “The Brutalist“. She commented, “Why not add to the sadness?” as the film’s duration exceeded four hours. “What else do we have to do?” she continued, expressing her desire for an escape from the current situation.

This tale was initially published in the January 17th edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. If you’d like to get the magazine delivered, simply click [here] to subscribe.

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2025-01-17 19:25