... [Edward] Norton calls on moviegoers to be vocal about ensuring movie theaters are running projection and sound at top quality because in most cases around the country they are not.
“A lot of filmmakers and cinematographers that I know that have really started to look into this say that more than 60 percent of American theaters are running their projector at almost half the luminosity that they’re required by contract to run it at,” Norton said. “They are delivering crappy sound and a dim picture, and no one is calling them on it.”
Norton continued, “If [movie theaters] were delivering what they’re supposed to be delivering, people would be going, ‘Wow, this is amazing, I do not get this at home’…Well, I want people to literally walk into their theater and find the manager and say, ‘If this looks dark, you’re giving me my money back. Because I’m paying — and at the ArcLight, I’m paying premium — for a premium experience.'”
Good, and necessary advice from Mr. Norton here. Be sure to address and complain about any issues you may experience to the manager of the theatre you're attending, be that technical issues or otherwise. And don't let anyone bring along your problem to the manager; instead go to him or her directly in whatever way possible - either (preferably) face-to-face, by mail or telephone.
A majority of theatres may have 4K projectors by now, but that's not at all to say they're showing their films in 4K. In fact, most don't. From what I'm aware of most films still have a 2K digital intermediate (their native image resolution), and even films with 4K DI's are usually shown in 2K at the theatres, because their 4K DCP counterpart is a more expensive package.
I remember a few years ago when I called the biggest theater chain here in Denmark asking them whether they were showing their films in 4K, if the DI allowed, and I was told "We have 4K projectors installed," the person saying that feeling quite comfortable it settled the matter. When I inquired further whether that meant they were actually showing films in 4K there was a moment of silence, until: "I'll have to ask the manager about that." I never heard back from them on this, even though I requested it repeatedly. Years have passed, and I'm now being told, when I recently asked a technician prior to a film viewing, that on rare occasions they are now showing films in 4K. Another theater chain, Cinemaxx, have shown their films in 4K whenever possible for years already.
A great home theater.. that is, a very capable 2-channel home set-up with proper dynamic range/headroom, extension to at least 25-30Hz (preferably via separate subs), lots of radiation area, etc. with a great and big OLED screen from the likes of LG or Sony (or a great 4K projector), not least sourced via UHD discs, will pale most commercial cinemas (expect perhaps some IMAX venues).