Are 3D Movies a fad or will they be the future in 2012 and beyond?

Well, this didn't age well now did it?

A little bit of background nonsense

Back when I first wrote this (yes, way back in 2012 when the world still thought 3D was going to change cinema forever), I felt the need to confess my extensive experience with 3D technology. Which was:

Watching a couple of movies in the ’80s with those cardboard red-and-green glasses that made everything look like a migraine in progress.
Staring at a massive 50” 3D TV in an electronics shop for all of five minutes before realising my eyes were not designed for such punishment.

That was it. Hardly the résumé of a seasoned tech reviewer. Still, in the spirit of honesty, I admitted even then that maybe I should try a full movie before dismissing the “future of cinema.” Spoiler: I didn’t.

Note: I have extensively rewritten this blog post to bring it up to date but look back fondly at one of my earliest Blog writing attempts. I hope you get a kick out of it as much as I did rereading it.

If you like this post, maybe you would also like to read My 7 Favourite Directors – and How They Changed the Movie World and see if my list matches your own.

Why I was so grumpy about it

I’ve never been one to embrace new gimmicks. First-generation tech is almost always flawed — remember early mobile phones the size of bricks? Plasma TVs that buzzed like beehives? Or Blu-ray players that made you buy the same movie again after already upgrading from VHS to DVD?

By 2012 I had finally started leaving DVDs behind and moving to Blu-ray — and I was actually happy with it. But then along came the 3D push, arriving just as Blu-ray had settled on the throne of HD. It felt like the movie industry was standing at my door shouting: “Hey, nice Blu-rays you’ve got there. Want to buy them again, but slightly blurrier and with glasses this time?”

My “qualifications” to complain

I’ve been collecting movies since VHS days, which I believe gives me the sacred right to moan about these things. Every generation has meant buying Star Wars (and a few other favourites) all over again: VHS, DVD, Blu-ray. Logical enough — better picture, better sound.

But 3D? What’s the selling point? That I get to sit at home with funny glasses on, hoping not to spill tea in my lap when an explosion “flies” at me? Sorry, no thanks.

When I wrote this, Star Wars was about to launch in 3D. I had just bought the Blu-ray box set and knew another upgrade was coming. Did I care? Not really. Would I watch it once for curiosity’s sake? Probably. Would I sit at home in 3D full-time? Not a chance.

Where 3D Fits Into the Bigger Picture of Movie Collecting

Looking back now, it’s funny how 3D arrived right in the middle of a much bigger shift — the fight between physical media and streaming. While 3D fizzled out, the real long-term debate was happening elsewhere. I talked about this more in my post Streaming vs Collecting: Why I Always Keep My DVDs & Blu-rays, especially when it comes to ownership, picture quality and the fear that movies can disappear from streaming platforms overnight.

And if there’s one format war that still gets collectors riled up, it’s the future of discs themselves. Are DVDs, Blu-rays and 4K sets on their way out, or are they making a quiet comeback as more people get fed up with subscriptions? I dug into that in Is Disc Media Dying — or Just Waiting for Its Comeback?, and it’s interesting how much of it ties back to this 3D conversation from years ago.

Public opinion (back then)

I wasn’t alone. A UK YouGov poll in September 2011 found:
● 41% called 3D a gimmick.
● 19% said it actually improved a film.
● The rest shrugged and said it made no difference.

And here’s the kicker: even if 3D tickets were the same price as 2D, a third of cinema-goers still said “nah, we’ll stick to normal.” That’s like offering free sprinkles on an ice cream and people saying, “I’d rather not.”

What do you think?

So here I am, looking back from 2025. Did 3D movies change the world? Nope. Did they even change our living rooms? Definitely not.

The writing was already on the wall: 3D was a fad, a stepping stone on the way to the next “future of cinema” gimmick. Maybe holographic TV? Don’t laugh — I actually wrote that line in 2012 and, who knows, it might still happen.

In the end, 3D was the movie industry’s cash cow for a few years, but the audience never really bought in. We wanted better stories, not headaches and plastic glasses.

So what do you think — did 3D die the death it deserved, or do you secretly miss it?

Thanks for Reading,

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a movie enthusiast from Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been collecting DVDs and Blu-rays for years, and along the way my shelves have become a mix of favourites, hidden gems, and titles I occasionally decide to resell.

I’m not a professional critic — just someone who enjoys good films, well-made discs, and the odd rant about the quirks of collecting. This blog is where I share my thoughts, reviews, and experiences as a fan.

💬 Note from the Author
This blog is a hobby project where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and the ups and downs of being a collector. If you enjoyed this post, you might also like my other writing:

David Condon Finds – my lifestyle and review blog
David Condon Woodcraft – my main website focused on woodturning and handmade pieces

If you’d like to support the blog, you can do so through the Buy Me a Coffee button below. It helps keep this little side project alive — thank you!

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