Ok, here in flyover country, we got tickets for IF for 10 bucks each. And if we waited until Bargain Tuesday, they'd be 7/6 with free Marcus Rewards card.
Convincing people to go to a big room filled with strangers, who might be noisy and rude, to watch something that will be available at home in a couple of months when people can buy high-grade home cinema systems for a comparable experience, with the ability to pause when they need to pee.
In Wollongong, where I’m from, a university film club that started back in the 70’s is still doing weekly screenings of current films for $5. Less if you buy in advance, or every screening for a year with an $80 membership.
I used to see SO many movies. Now that I’m not living there, very few.
Tix where I live are often around that or less (particularly if you hit a matinee and don't do 3D/imax), but I know that's somewhat anomalous. A soda or a bucket of popcorn (note I said OR, not AND) cost more, but that's absolute insanity in and of itself.
When my kids were little we lived at the movies, 4 of us could go with snacks and drinks for $40 or less
It was always packed on the weekends - there was an excitement to it - now its just $$$ and annoying and empty
I know other jerks in the audience are a big factor in the theatrical experience, but I don't think you can price out a jerk. My point is, a jerk ruining a $10 experience is a lesser risk than a jerk ruining a $20+ experience.
The only theater in my little town won't even do matinee discounts or mid-week promo discounts that the rest of their chain does. They also haven't replaced the seats since Jurassic Park.
In the UK, the Odeon chain has a sign up where you pay £15-£18 a month and can go as often as you like. It's a game changer for me. There are also reduced price screenings if you're not bothered about opening weekend.
Spending 18 dollars total for popcorn (I didn’t finish) and an ICCEE on top of the 12 dollar ticket made me realize I need to rethink my priorities and spending habits. Now I’m not sure if I’m gonna be at the theaters as much anymore when I have a nice 4K tv
When I was a young boy, my father took me...to several $1 movie theaters in Hollywood. We went and saw Relic and Batman Forever probably 50x a piece. We need $5 movie houses that play the older new releases.
Every time I get a gift card for movie tickets I have a great time no matter how poor the projection or noisy the audience or disappointing the film. Even the insane cost of concessions matters not.
So I think this is the primary issue.
I mean I feel like the collapse of box office totals is pretty straight forward. All the essentials of life doubled in price because of inflation and corporate greed. Folks can't afford to be spending 20-30 per ticket and another 50 on popcorn and cokes every weekend like they used to.
So how much are they? I realize I've been to the cinema in the US maybe once in the past decade (have been overseas, and during start of the pandemic in Alaska). One of the last I went to was Rogue One at the Sony IMAX in Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, and anything since has been a downer
We’ve got a cinema chain in the uk that’s about $8.87 a ticket. The problem then becomes piss-poor presentation, blown speakers that don’t get replaced, and the place is still half empty 🫠
Do they not get yet that no one can afford anything? No economics geniuses out there putting the big puzzle pieces together that if no one can afford to live, no one spends any money?
Sports used to be entertainment for working class people, then ticket prices priced them out. Movies were the last cheap entertainment option for people, now even that has become ridiculously overpriced.
I'm always like "Should I pay 20 dollars per person to see the movie now, or wait a few months for it to be on the streaming service I already pay for?" Tough choice
I used to see any kind of movie in the theatre. Now, exactly because of the cost, I only go when the big screen and sound require it. And I hate that it’s the case.
As I get older, I also realize that one reason my teenage/20s self went to see movies (besides the greater gulf between theaters and standard def TV) was to get out of the house/apartment. And now that I am middle aged & comfy at home, getting out of it is more of a minus than a plus.
Yep, not having to spend $80 just for a ticket and concessions. Especially when theaters around here are trying to stop people sneaking in outside snacks by saying no purses/bags allowed. And they need to count online streaming metrics, not just how many people bought tickets for the theater.
