Why is 3D just catching on now?

3D has been around for years on top of years...and its just picking up steam now? Did Avatar really have that much of an impact? I find that weird...why didn't anybody care that much about 3D 5 years ago?

Not not picking up any more steam now than it did when it was "big" in for a time in the 80s and again in the mid 90s. 3D TVs aren't selling well. The fad will likely disappear soon.

Not not picking up any more steam now than it did when it was "big" in for a time in the 80s and again in the mid 90s. 3D TVs aren't selling well. The fad will likely disappear soon.

Pirate700

Probably because nobody charged an extra $5 for a 3-D movie ticket until recently.

It's a ploy by theatres and movie companies to make more money. It really offers very little in terms of overall experience. Hopefully it dies out.

I haven't seen a recent 3d movie, but I'd assume because they actually look really good.

The introduction of 3D we see in cinemas today is a side effect of the introduction of digital projection. Old film projectors would have needed two separate projectors for polarised 3D, much like you see in a 3D IMAX cinema. With digital projection it can be done with just the one projector. Red and blue glasses 3D can be done on a standard projector, but it's a ridiculously stupid way to watch a movie. Until digital projectors were widespread enough, polarised 3D just wasn't worthwhile for mainstream content. And now as a result of it appearing in cinemas, it is appearing elsewhere too.