James Toth, in his review of Only in Theaters for Cyclopes at the Cinema, explores the hurdles encountered by the Laemmle family amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while also praising the enchantment of movie theaters as vital venues for storytelling. He underscores the importance of event cinema screenings by stating, “I think anyone who has seen a movie in a theater agrees. There’s something special about it: from the beautiful, large spaces to the collective energy of the crowd giving itself over to the fictional dream.”