There is nothing like settling into a comfy seat at the movie theater with a bucket of popcorn when the lights dim and the feature film begins. For the next two or so hours you are transported from life’s troubles.

Movie theaters across Kitsap County, like those around the country, experienced a series of gut punches in recent years. Shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry was then tasked of winning back customers who had turned to streaming platforms like Netflix, which allowed folks to get top-notch entertainment while lounging on their home couch.

However, several Kitsap movie house operators are voicing confidence their theaters are rebounding. For some venues, Hollywood blockbusters are a boon to the bottom line, for others concession stand sales or bringing in live performances have been invaluable.

“Since the theaters reopened, every year our business has grown from 18 to 23%. We are not back to the level of revenue when we closed but we are creeping back up again,” said Jeff Brein, managing partner of Far Away Entertainment, which operates Bainbridge Cinemas and the Historic Lynwood Theatre.

Bainbridge Cinema is a five-auditorium venue that features first-run films while Lynwood is an art house that showcases cultural films. Lynwood also occasionally presents live entertainment, such as Marie Muldaur and SNL alumni Chris Kattan.

Movie picture studios getting back to regularly releasing quality movies is helping drive the rebound of movie houses, Brein said. “If you look at what is planned in the way of product, and nothing unforeseen occurs, all of the experts are saying that this year we will return to pre-pandemic levels.”

The pandemic was not the only reason Hollywood was unable to put out new product. “Even when we opened back up, people had been used to sitting at home and watching Netflix and Amazon and other streaming services. (Theaters) also had the pleasure of enjoying a writers’ strike, then a directors’ strike, then an actors’ strike. Then the fires came and curtailed production as well. The point here is — the build back to what we’ll call normal has not yet occurred because of all of these market conditions,” Brein said.

Tracyton Movie House, a locally owned facility in Bremerton that runs first-run movies, is also seeing more patrons return. “We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” said James Alford, Tracyton co-owner, who reports revenues are up by at least 10%-15%.

Blockbuster movies are the key to the success of the three-screen theater. Major revenue producers over the years include “Barbie,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and more recently “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Wicked.”

Tracyton ticket buyers can have a meal while watching movies – samplings include, wings, chicken sandwiches, chili, clam chowder, and fish and chips. There is also a full bar that allows adults to buy some interesting beverages. “We can even spike your Icee with Vodka,” Alford said with a smile.

Concession stands in addition to the standard fare of popcorn, candy and pop offer movie-related treats like Harry Potter chocolate magic wands and frogs. At a Sonic movie, kids can get popcorn in a Sonic bucket, basically, the character’s head pops open.

Last summer, the owners converted one of the movie auditoriums into a game arcade complete with Skee-Ball, air hockey and other amusements. “The kids will make sure the parents take them to our place instead of another place because of the arcade. It’s just a smile factory,” Alford said. “Much like the in-theatre dining, (the arcade) added another facet of the business in order to be successful in the volatile movie industry.”

The facility occasionally presents live performances in the Redwood theater, the largest of the facility’s three movie halls. Live events have included a stage performance of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show and concerts by the heavy metal band, High on Fire, and swing-era jazz/modern rock group, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies.

Meanwhile, at the Admiral Theatre, in downtown Bremerton, the venue primarily presents live entertainment but in recent years has significantly increased the number of films it runs. In the past, Admiral, owned by the city of Bremerton, ran about five movies a year. However, following the pandemic that number has increased by about 40. “In that last three years, we’re definitely seeing movie sales pick up,” said Nate Murphy, Admiral’s operations director.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations led to the increase in screenings. Murphy said he convinced his movie distributor to cut in half the licensing fee on the condition the Admiral showed more movies. The lower fee allowed the Admiral to do $5 movie nights for second-run movies, or those that have been out a year or longer. Examples include: the Indiana Jones and Star Trek movies, “E.T.,” “Jaws,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Saving Private Ryan.”

To attract more people, the Admiral came up with a $20 ticket for a family or group of eight to watch titles like “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” That resulted in a $2.50 per person admission. Attendance at retro movies has grown nearly 200% with average viewership rising from 25 by about 70%, Murphy said.

Fans have not returned everywhere countywide. Roxy Theatre, described as “Kitsap County’s only nonprofit art house cinema,” reports last year movie ticket sales were flat, per Michael Goodnow, Roxy’s executive director. So the Bremerton entertainment outlet started offering more live performances and reduced the number of movie screenings. “We are a different model than other theaters in town,” Goodnow said.

While most of its offerings are still movies, The Roxy has moved from doing 12 live events a year to upwards of 48. “We are doing this just to make us a sustainable organization,” he said. “We look at ourselves as like an art venue, so not just a cinema. Recently, we had the Quincy Jones Square Jazz Festival. It got a great response.”

The Roxy also found financial success from its monthly Candlelight Concerts with a string quartet. “Every square inch of the stage has LED candles. It’s gorgeous. They have performed the music of Queen, Coldplay, Adele and Taylor Swift. We think it’s really cool that we can bring that to Bremerton. You don’t have to get on a ferry to Seattle. You can just come downtown,” he said, adding drag shows, comedians and an array of music groups make up other live shows.

Bringing in additional live entertainment helped increase concession revenue, which includes alcohol purchases. Last year concession sales increased nearly 50% since people tend to spend more at the counter at a live event compared to a movie, Goodnow said.

Roxy movies will continue to be a mainstay. “Our bread and butter are dramas. Predominantly we show independent film or art house films. We’re not trying to be the go-to for mainstream movies. We have got plenty of folks doing a great job of that,” Goodnow said.

Goodnow strives to make going to the Roxy an experience. For example, when “The Big Lebowski” is shown viewers are invited to slip on a bulky sweater or bowling shirt like “dude” Lebowski wears. Princess Bride attendees dress up as the characters. “Last year we showed the Birdcage. Beforehand, we had three drag performers perform numbers from the movie. It set the tone for the whole experience,” he said.

Making the filmgoing experience special is what movie-house owners say will bring viewers back. “You cannot duplicate a movie theater experience at home. It’s a lot more fun to watch a movie in an auditorium with a couple of hundred people and participate in the screams or laughter,” Brein said. “And, nobody’s going to make as good a popcorn as we do in theaters. You can put all your Orville bags in the microwave. Have fun with that. But we’ve got that recipe down pat.”

Roxy Theatre courtesy photo

Tracyton Movie House courtesy photo

Bainbridge Cinemas courtesy photo