Movie-goers discuss summer blockbusters at Seaford Cinemas

Movies that come out during the summer appear to follow a different set of rules than other films when it comes to box office success. There is just something about these movies that allows them to spike in audience approval when they are released during the summer as opposed to any other time of year. Residents of Seaford and the surrounding area discussed this at Seaford Cinemas on Merrick Road.

“There aren’t many big summer movies this year,” said Susan Bendheim, who works at Seaford Cinemas. “Industry wide, it is down 20 percent and there are too many R-rated movies. There are not enough family or children’s movies.”

Family movies for this summer include “Earth to Echo,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which will come out this weekend. However, currently at Seaford Cinemas and other theaters, 40 percent of the movies are rated R and 70 percent are rated at least PG-13. Nevertheless, movie goers still anticipated a handful of films this year, speaking about what makes a good summer blockbuster worth getting excited about.

“The movies that do well are the ones with the most famous people in them,” said Cassie Pensa, 18, of Seaford, as she exited a screening room with a group of her friends. “We just saw ‘Sex Tape,’ and I’m looking forward to ‘If I Stay,’ ‘Lucy,’ and ‘The Hundred Foot Journey.’ ”

In addition to a star-studded cast, other residents had similar ideas in mind when it came to box office success.

“Action!” said Marcel Pederson, 17, of Seaford.

Another movie goer, Jimmy Consenza, 17, of Seaford, said he feels the best movies are the ones with a good story and good characters.

“Basically ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,’” said Pederson.

The two friends said they were excited for movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy” to come out this summer and that the movie they look forward to most in general is the second “Avengers” film.

According to movie goers, flicks that come out around the summer tend to have an esteemed list of celebrity stars, tons of action and effects, and an appeal to what the audience knows by adapting other stories or being the sequel to another movie. Disregarding this, some went back to the basics in their opinion of what makes a movie a summer blockbuster. “The plot is pretty much the whole movie,” said Erin Russo, 14, of Massapequa. “If a movie has an interesting concept, I’m more excited to see it.” Russo said she is looking forward to the movie “Lucy” because it seems like a really captivating story with a good plot.

Whether or not this summer is good for movies, residents still enjoyed the ones they found intriguing whether it be for the cast, story, action or just because they wanted to spend a night with friends at Seaford Cinemas.