The Palmeri family ventured out on a rainy, cold Tuesday night in December to watch “Zootopia 2” at the Sayville Theater.

The small, independent theater is the preferred movie venue for the family, said Shirley resident Amanda Palmeri, who watched the animated comedy with her three daughters — ages 8, 5 and 2 — as well as her husband and in-laws.

"It’s smaller, more family oriented," Palmeri, 35, said after the movie. "It’s affordable for us as a family of five and plus. We do enjoy coming here. It’s homey.”

Sayville Theater has managed to reach 74 years of age, despite closing for 20 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the number of movie theaters on Long Island — and across the United States — shrinks.

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The decline in movie theaters , particularly small i

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