I'm a moderate cinephile, and I've noticed that cinemas showing only blockbusters have emptied out, while indie theaters running theme marathons stay packed. Does a film's cultural staying power depend more on its artistic merit or on the communal viewing experience? I saw a 1970s classic with a packed house last week, and the collective gasps made it feel new. But then I streamed a quiet masterpiece alone and it still shattered me. Where does the real value in film lie—in the work itself or in how we watch it?