Movie ticket prices have really gotten out of control in the last ~five years.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ooccoo said:
With home theaters and TV series I just do not see the point of spending so much for a movie unless it is something you absolutely want to see on an even bigger screen. Honestly à lot of TV shows are better than movies too, and you can't beat the comfort of your own place. And I'm not even talking about the outragious prices for sodas and popcorn.
Click to expand...
I've got a 100" screen at home with recliners but there's still something about the theater I enjoy. Nothing like a good comedy with a packed theater.
 
Something has got to give eventually, right? I've noticed some theaters trying to make things better by improving seating and serving alcohol, but still horrible value. I've been waiting for some new company to come around and shake things up a bit. If someone came around and offered a no frills experience at a much lower price I would probably go see a lot more movies. I use to go all the time, now I probably go see 5-6 movies a year.
 
Yeah, this is partially why I only go to the theater a few times a year. Last year was just Star Wars and the flagship MCU, so far this year is shaping up to be the same.

Movies come out on Blu-ray/iTunes super fast these days so it really doesn't make waiting a big deal. Stuff's out there for rental like 3 months after theatrical release.
 
We get our tickets from Costco ($25 for two tickets, two pops and a popcorn) or from the Scene program using our Visa. Though they recently changed it so the premium shit is WAY more points now.
 
Yup here in the netherlands at the movie theater called pathe you pay nearly 13 to 15 euro's for a ticket since Avatar and still today a surge of 3d movies and i am tired of it. I try to avoid it when i can and go in the morning so it will be 8 euro's with that i am ok but it is insane how much more it has become..don't forget the food and drinks are even more expensive at the theater.
 
Prices in the one cinema in my home town were ridiculous. Until of course a competitor opened up a couple streets away and suddenly they can afford £4.50 for everybody.

I'm happy for a decent deal finally but it goddamn shows how easy it is for them to rip us off.
 
I went with getting a projector and surround setup at home. So much better than dealing with the cinema.
 
Here in Houston the Edwards West Oaks charges $10 for a regular ticket but you get it for $9 with their reward card. And if you go for matinee you still get a $1 off that price as well. And you build up reward points for everything that can be used for free tickets
 
Saw Jungle Book in Imax 3d on a Friday night - $18
Saw Star Trek in 2d on a Saturday morning - $10

Usually I try to go on a weekend morning or just grab the blu ray when it's out...unless I am going with someone.
 
Yeah I rarely go anymore unless it's a movie I'm super pumped for. Probably only go 2-3 times per year. I don't mind waiting a few months for redbox. Plus I think I prefer watching at home anyways, and I don't have a fancy home theatre or anything. I like being able to eat whatever I want, pause if necessary, etc.
 
Depending on the theater I go to it can vary from paying $6.50 to $12 and some change. Went to see Suicide Squad at my local small theater on Friday and that was $9.50 for a 6pm showing, which doesn't seem so bad when you compare it to prices for 3D and IMAX showings.

I don't even bother buying food at the theaters, paying way too much for stale popcorn and watered down soda alongside a ~$10 seat for 1.
 
SDR-UK said:
Vue? I need to see the receipts. Vue near me had me paying £9.90 to see Central Intelligence the other week. Straight up regular seats not their VIP nonsense and no drinks either.
Click to expand...

q0BDO84.jpg


Cardiff though.
 
I never went as much to the cinema as I wanted because of the pricing. When my old goto cimema went to a completely new building I got myself an unlimited subscription for just under $30 a month. It's great.
 
Around $6 for me, but I usually go for the early showings if I can or Tuesdays, which are about $4 (for 2D, I avoid 3D). That's still a bit on a higher side for me and when you say about tickets costing around $15 I'm surprised that anyone buys them.
But then again, earnings here are lower too.
 
Where I live 2D tickets are like $14.50 or so. No idea about 3D because I never want to see movies in 3D (and really don't want to spend more). 3D is such shit IMO. Pay more for what I consider a worse experience.. eugh. It sucks that most blockbuster movies have such reduced 2D showings nowadays.
 
We still have a 2nd-run theater around here that's 2 bucks per showing, anytime. Granted that means waiting a month or so for the film to leave the 1st run theaters but the option is there.

Not like growing up in the 90's when there were always multiple Dollar Theaters in town, we'd get dropped off at 7 on a Friday night and watch 3 movies back to back to back for a single buck.
 
I've grown to appreciate matinees. Usually way quieter and my anxiety doesn't flare up since there aren't as many people.

Of course my SS matinee yesterday was packed. I blame the crappy weather.
 
$5.50 here on Tuesdays at the cinemark theater near my house in Orlando, so I end up going to an early show when it's never busy if there is something that catches my interest. I love their updated leather recliner seats. Most theater companies have ridiculous pricing, though. Regal is out of their mind with the pricing they have. I am not even sure they have matinees.
 
I can buy 10 UV codes for VUDU for the price of two movie tickets. My VUDU collection is nearing 300 movies now! I would much rather wait six months and enjoy a movie at home with good old nd beverages anyhow.
 
I just go to Matinee's, $5 at any Cinemark theater. I live in Columbus, OH. If it's their XD shit it's $7-8:50 for matinee's.
 
$9 for 2D, $5 on Tuesdays. Popcorn and drink (refillable) is about $14, so I can usually go to the movies for between $20-$25 and have a good time. Love going to the first showing of the day because the theatre is almost always empty, even for big blockbusters that came out the Friday before.
 
Go to the matinee. That's what I do.

Much cheaper, no one at the cinema, and when you leave you have the rest of the say to do things. Amazing.
 
The prices are even more crazy when the movies come out on blu ray and Amazon so quickly now, may as well save some money and wait to own it fully.
 
I notice some chains like AMC try and defeat the matinee by placing the Imax 3D, Digital 3D or Dolby EX screenings earlier and the regular 2D later. So you can't get a sub $10 ticket for some movies.
 
Ticket prices I'm somewhat ok with. They're definitely mad overpriced but whatever. It's the food and other shit that is absolute insanity.
 
Ticket prices are what has killed mid-tier movies and is why we only have blockbusters and flops now. If it's not an "event movie" no one is going to spend that kind of money on it. Sad thing is, the smartest thing for them to do would be to release a movie in 3D with no surcharge, but the theaters themselves think the surcharge makes them more money (it doesn't, it just reduces the number of times people go to the theater). Actual ticket sales haven't increased in years, we just keep hearing about bigger numbers because the price of tickets just keeps going up. The entire industry is a mess.
 
BronsonLee said:
BLAME AVATAR
Click to expand...

The main factor is that worldwide cinema is dominated by Universal, Disney, Fox, Sony and WB. Especially the current leader Disney asks for bigger cuts. The theatre chains in every country comply. The market has been massively contracting ever since Star Wars happened.
 
Isn't this because studios are demanding much much more from the movie theater chains? I read not too long ago that the reason theater food is priced so high is because that's really the only source profit they have since ticket prices predominantly go to the studio.
 
AstroNut325 said:
Isn't this because studios are demanding much much more from the movie theater chains? I read not too long ago that the reason theater food is priced so high is because that's really the only source profit they have since ticket prices predominantly go to the studio.
Click to expand...

I thought this has been the standard for many many years though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

TMNT the movie released 35 years ago today!
2
51
2K
T8SC replied
NBA's top 100 dunks of the last 25 years
20
992
fallingdove replied
The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, John “Paddy” Hemingway, passed away at 105 years old
35
1K
Tams replied
You can remake 1 franchise from the last 25 years
41
1K
GeekyDad replied
Last Samurai Standing (Netflix samurai battle royale movie)
14
820
Badlucktroll replied
Top Bottom