Are movie pricing themselves out?

[Darth Snoopy]

When we go to the movies...my significant other's purse is my best friend!

I swear you can hide a diner, a waitress & a short order cook in that thing!

I think she shops where Felix the cat does!

 

[barbelith]

Its their property ... so they can monopolize whatever they want. But, it seems to me a bad practice to throw out/ lock horns with a paying customer.

You're not really a theater's paying customer if you don't buy food. Theaters make a pittance on ticket sales as the lion's share is kicked back to the studio under the distribution agreement. That's why food prices are so high in the first place - it's where theaters have to turn to make almost all of their money. You need to sell a hell of a lot of tickets to pay rent when your cut is two bucks per...

 

[ortiz344]

You're not really a theater's paying customer if you don't buy food. Theaters make a pittance on ticket sales as the lion's share is kicked back to the studio under the distribution agreement. That's why food prices are so high in the first place - it's where theaters have to turn to make almost all of their money. You need to sell a hell of a lot of tickets to pay rent when your cut is two bucks per...

...then maybe they need to start selling dvds/posters/shirts whatever, because thier concession prices are past laughable now.

 

[barbelith]

...then maybe they need to start selling dvds/posters/shirts whatever, because thier concession prices are past laughable now.

Those things aren't really competitive at retail anymore thanks to Amazon and the like. I'm not going to defend the high prices; I don't buy food at theaters, but I also recognize the result of that could eventually be my local theaters closing their doors.

One of my friends runs a small theater (four screens) several states over, and despite packed screenings the only way they can stay in business is "theater pricing" on concessions. They're lucky to see two bucks per ticket, and that doesn't pay the rent, let alone the staff. Now expand that to a massive multiplex and imagine what their overheads are.

The only real way to see concession prices go down is if studios change their ticket share requirements, and that's just never going to happen. Either that, or bend over and get ready for the $25 ticket.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

I only go to the theater for the big movies of the year

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Go to early shows and stay away from the snack bar. I usually watch a movie every week and only spend $6.

yeah really, cut the crap out & it'll be cheap. the movies are barely 1:30-2 hours these days

 

[DarthNeil]

yeah really, cut the crap out & it'll be cheap. the movies are barely 1:30-2 hours these days

Well the full movie in the dark time is actually more like 2 hours when you add in the half hour of commercials that now play in theatres prior to the trailers and the main dish... That's always pleasing.

 

[Bamboota]

The price + atmosphere =

Going to the theater is a chore for me. Not fun at all.

I disagree.

 

[Mighty_Jabba]

You're not really a theater's paying customer if you don't buy food. Theaters make a pittance on ticket sales as the lion's share is kicked back to the studio under the distribution agreement. That's why food prices are so high in the first place - it's where theaters have to turn to make almost all of their money. You need to sell a hell of a lot of tickets to pay rent when your cut is two bucks per...

Interesting fact: when Revenge of the Sith was released, cinemas had to pay 120% back to the distributor for every ticket sold for the first two weeks.

 

[King Darkness]

That's King when he snuck his pizza in to see Avatar. He's gonna try to get a whole ham in when he sees a movie over Easter.

The question is, will he hide it under a top hat, under his shirt or stuff it down his pants?

Down my pants of course!

I am a strict opponent of wearing pants, but once in a great while they do come in handy.

 

[The Craw]

i once tried to sneak in a hot dog wrapped in foil. i shoved it down my pant leg. unfortunately that was the day they were checking with metal detectors. that's me on the left, right before the arrest.

 

[King Darkness]

Thats such a great scene

 

[The Craw]

yeah, you're right. i did create quite a scene.

 

[King Darkness]

 

[ortiz344]

Those things aren't really competitive at retail anymore thanks to Amazon and the like. I'm not going to defend the high prices; I don't buy food at theaters, but I also recognize the result of that could eventually be my local theaters closing their doors.

you would be surprised how many people dont realize you can get stuff at amazon or ebay for like 40 % off some stores prices.

I do have limits to what i will pay...$10 movie tix and $8 popcorn is pretty close

aside:
i also find appetizers at restraunts priced almost as bad. Do people not realize that they are paying 9 -10 for nachos? You can buy an actual entree for that or at least a burger platter? &- for mozz sticks, are they serious?

 

[hairlesswookiee]

aside:
i also find appetizers at restraunts priced almost as bad. Do people not realize that they are paying 9 -10 for nachos? You can buy an actual entree for that or at least a burger platter? &- for mozz sticks, are they serious?

Lol...I argue this with my friends all the time. I'd rather save that $8-10 and just have another beer.

The GF and I only see matinees now. I hate going to see a movie on release night when there's a bunch of idiotic hoodlums talking/making noise throughout the entire movie. Also, I refuse to spend $10 for a movie ticket. Especially when they refuse to give student discounts now???

 

[Nacho]

The wife and I went to see Shutter Island on Sunday and
yeh the prices are a joke.
Tickets $17 each and a medium popcorn and drink combo
to share was $11. Total $45 AUD.

 

[Michael Crawford]

I used to see a flick every week when I was back in college. Over the years, that's decreased, and not I only see a half dozen movies a year in the theater.

But I had to build a home theater to still get the experience. Without it, I'd still be seeing a lot of flics in the theater just because you can't beat a big screen and great sound.

Even with the HT, there are still some flicks that just need to be seeon at the theater. Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Iron Man 2 - these are flicks you really need to see at the theater.

I also like taking my kids. It's one of those things that me and them do together on a regular basis that they'll look back on and remember as an event, long after I'm gone. There's only so many of those opportunities, especially as part of regular life, so they're worth grabbing even when they are overpriced.

 

[Darth Waller]

I also like taking my kids. It's one of those things that me and them do together on a regular basis that they'll look back on and remember as an event, long after I'm gone. There's only so many of those opportunities, especially as part of regular life, so they're worth grabbing even when they are overpriced.

I still remember going to work with my dad and seeing The Empire Strikes Back around noon back in 1980. I will never forget that.

So I'm the same way as you in regards to wanting to take your kids to the theater. It may be expensive, but the possible memories are priceless.

 

[darthviper107]

Well, it also depends when you go, usually people go at the times that the prices are highest. My parents always wait until it goes to the cheap theater (few weeks after release) and then it's just a couple dollars.


I can't wait that long though