“I suspect two things are happening; adults are getting tired of animation and want real stories”...
It’s not about what adults want, it’s all about the children and impressionable young “adults”.
Yeah, but the adults have the big money, and they’re opting out.
For us, it’s simple. For less than $200 we got a really nice surround sound system at Wally World. We rent movies from Netflix. Now we can enjoy all the movies we want without dealing with jerks (I’ll never forgive the woman who cackled all the way through “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”). I’m 5’1” and I don’t have to worry about a 6 foot giant sitting down in front of me. We can push pause when we need to use the restroom or get a snack. We don’t have to pay $6.00 for a one dollar package of liquorice. We get to wear our jammies and snuggle up on the couch. Hubby can enjoy a beer instead of a soda.
At one time, date night meant a movie for us. Now it still does, but we’re a lot less frustrated with the experience. I see no reason to ever go to the movies again. Theater viewing will be completely dead soon unless they come up with something else to draw us back.