Hello. This is Realworld, the playable content platform. We've previously introduced you to the transformation of movie theaters that have lost audiences to OTT platforms. There were cases of amplifying the movie-watching experience by creating special theaters with 4D or enhanced sound systems, or completely converting screening rooms into climbing gyms or golf driving ranges. This time, we've prepared an international case study. We'd like to introduce Cosm, a Shared Reality venue in the United States that immerses audiences into the world of movies.
Overwhelming Immersion That Draws Audiences into Movies: Cosm
Cosm, located in Los Angeles and Dallas, is currently re-releasing the movie 'The Matrix.' Wait, The Matrix from way back when? But the title is quite unique. It's not just 'The Matrix' but 'The Matrix in Shared Reality.'
As a venue that brands itself as a 'Shared Reality venue,' Cosm is equipped with an environment designed for immersion. While Cosm offers various solutions including domes, halls, and decks, what sets it apart from traditional movie theaters is its dome-shaped screening room. Cosm features an 85-foot (approximately 26-meter) diameter 12K LED dome display with a surround sound system, reminiscent of Las Vegas's circular performance venue, 'Sphere.'
The dome display interacts with and extends the original movie footage within the frame, providing audiences with an experience as if they're inside the Matrix world. For example, during Neo and Morpheus's combat training scene, the display transforms into a training ground, and during fight scenes, bullets fly and debris scatter right before your eyes. The sense of presence seems far superior to traditional movies.
You can understand why Cosm calls this space a 'Shared Reality venue' given that the massive display allows you to share the experience with people around you. While existing VR content may offer excellent immersion, it can't be experienced without dedicated devices, and it's difficult to share that experience with others. However, Cosm's content allows you to experience movies together with family and friends.
Perhaps that's why the seating arrangement is impressive, with various configurations like 2-seaters and 4-seaters, unlike the tightly packed seat layouts of traditional movie theaters. However, the ticket prices seem burdensome due to the limited number of seats and the unique movie format. While prices vary by date and time, they appear to be around $40-50 per person (approximately 55,000-70,000 won).
Cosm for Various Purposes: The Future of Movie Theaters?
Cosm's dome display isn't just for movies. Vivid sports broadcasts using the massive screen provide an experience like cheering at the actual venue. If you can't visit the actual stadium, watching at Cosm seems like a great alternative.
Could Cosm really become the future of movie theaters? Jay Rinsky, founder of creative agency 'Little Cinema,' who collaborated with Cosm on 'The Matrix in Shared Reality,' answered this question in an interview with the LA Times:
'I'm really optimistic that this will become the new movie theater. I think there will be about 100 theaters like this within 5-10 years. As the scale grows, major studios will also release works specialized for this format.'
Following Los Angeles and Dallas, Cosm is preparing additional locations in Detroit and Atlanta. Doesn't Cosm represent a new evolutionary form for movie theaters struggling against OTT platforms? If we can provide the unique sense of presence that movie theaters offer—something you can't experience at home—and an environment where such immersive experiences can be shared, wouldn't that give people a reason to return to movie theaters? We conclude with the hope that more immersive experience spaces like Cosm will emerge. Thank you.