What happens to all the reels of film after they have finished showing at a cinema?

Answer 1

The reels make the loop through the first and second run theaters and then they typically go back to the distributor to be destroyed. A few select copies that have not been damaged too much (breaks, scratches and gaps are common) are archived for secondary markets. Foreign cinemas get different copies as they need either subtitles or foreign language dubbing before being released.

Answer 2

They have to send them back to the comapny that produced them to be used in overseas cinemas. The owner of the cinema can (for a hefty price) buy a copy of the reel to keep, but most cineplexes never do that. It's more common amongst smaller theaters that wish to show the movie again at a later time.

Answer 3

I am a manager at a movie theater, so I can relate to this question quite personaly.
We break the movie down into the smaller reels, and put it back into the "cans" that the studio sends it to us in. Then the cans go to the second run theaters (you know, your dollar theaters ans such) or back to the studio. Where sometimes they use them to make collectibles.

Answer 4

The projectionist takes them home to his wife who stews them with olives and tomatoes then serves the result as a form of cinephile pasta!

(with a dry chianti...)

Answer 5

They are shipped to the next movie house.

Answer 6

i don't know where or who, but they have warehouses full of all the films ever made. the same with newspapers. sorry for the short answer.

Answer 7

sent back to the distributers and they sell them on to private picture houses

or clear them with acid and use them again