Right on the money for why over-25's with kids don't go out to see many movies any more. And this goes double for dramas - a moderately priced home theatre will easily approach what you get in a multi-plex, quality-wise. If I'm going to deal with the logistics of going out, I'm going to choose the movies most enhanced by a huge screen and sound system - and that means comic book movie most times.
So, here's my stupid suggestion: make prestigious straight-to-DVD dramas, work out a deal with distributors to charge a little more (to separate out your movies from the garbage straight-to-DVD releases), and effectively do an end-run around the theatre system, which you'll never beat in a world with DVDs & home theatres anyway. This also may take the stigma off releasing NC-17 movies, if they're marketed right.
So, here's my stupid suggestion: make prestigious straight-to-DVD dramas, work out a deal with distributors to charge a little more (to separate out your movies from the garbage straight-to-DVD releases), and effectively do an end-run around the theatre system, which you'll never beat in a world with DVDs & home theatres anyway. This also may take the stigma off releasing NC-17 movies, if they're marketed right.
* Please add "& blu-ray" everytime you see "DVD"