[TeMPOraL]

I'd say it's about social objects. One of the important thing about culture in general is the feeling of sharing it, which in particular means knowing that you'll have someone to talk with about what you jut experienced. That's why I believe culture tends to gravitate towards the same small set of works (with additional "notable works" in ever expanding amount of genres), and it doesn't matter whether or not it's a good work - it has just to be decent enough and get popular fast enough to stick.

As for old vs. new movies, I guess I go to cinemas because a) good, big screen and loud audio gives an experience that I can't reproduce at home, and b) cinemas generally don't play old movies! And even if they did, then c) old movies I can stream/Torrent on-demand, it's the new movies that are difficult to get. As for the reason to go see them vs. wait until they're streamable on-line, it's social objects again - when I go and watch the new Avengers movie while it's still in cinemas, I can join the conversation with my friends who just watched it too.