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[Dan]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/06/film.summer.boxoffice.ap/index.html

Teamed with such familiar favorites as "Shrek," "Spider-Man" and "Harry Potter" sequels, "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Dodgeball" helped lift the industry to an all-time summer haul of just under $4 billion from the first weekend in May through Labor Day, according to box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

That's up 3 percent from the previous record of $3.9 billion set last summer.

But like summer 2003, higher admission prices meant fewer tickets were sold. Exhibitor Relations estimates moviegoers bought 637.8 million tickets domestically this past summer, down 0.76 percent from 2003.

Heh, hardly surprising. This is why studios compare their films' opening and extended grosses to unadjusted older grosses. They need some way of making the uninformed public believe the industry is growing. Of course, the truth isn't quite the same.

To their credit, that 3% rise in revenue is probably a bit more than the inflation rate. Then again, the ticket prices I'm paying went up 20% over last year... so they're not winning any brownie points with me.

 

[Mrbob]

Yeah. Higher ticket prices and extremely high concession prices don't exactly make me want to go to the movies a ton.

Between buying tickets for me and my girlfriend, and then some concessions like soda and popcorn, a normal trip to the theater usually costs me 20-25 bucks. I can pick up the DVD on release day for 15 and play it on my big screen tv and home theater system at home.....

 

[Boomer]

You don't have a girlfriend, Cub-lover.

 

[Alucard]

I rarely want to run out to the theater on opening day anymore. It has gotten ridiculously expensive, and I wouldn't be surprised if 2-3 years from now, admission costs $20 for the bigger theaters. (Silver City in Canada)

I miss $2 Tuesdays.

 

[Priz]

Yeah. Higher ticket prices and extremely high concession prices don't exactly make me want to go to the movies a ton.

Between buying tickets for me and my girlfriend, and then some concessions like soda and popcorn, a normal trip to the theater usually costs me 20-25 bucks. I can pick up the DVD on release day for 15 and play it on my big screen tv and home theater system at home.....

There's a theater here where it's $1.50 on Tuesdays, with times where at least 2-3 of the screens having double features. You can't even rent stuff that cheap! They just got in "The Village" and "Harold and Kumar" (both which opened on the same weekend too) as well as "Zatoichi"... so we'll go most tuesday nights and see this or that. Usually get something small snack or drink-wise, run less than $5 for drink + snack or popcorn total.

The other night we ended up going to see Suspect Zero. Went to see it with this woman I know at the Century Great Mall. $9.50 per ticket plus she had a hot dog at the theater + popcorn and drinks plus a few extra snacks (I had a ice cream bar). The concessions alone ran around $27.

I guess I'm getting too spoiled by the cheap theater. Makes me want to wait now for most stuff.

 

[NotMSRP]

I usually stay for a few more movies. It helps justify the absurd ticket prices. Also, I never buy from concession stands. I walk into the theatre with my backpack stuffed.

 

[Dan]

I can pick up the DVD on release day for 15 and play it on my big screen tv and home theater system at home.....

Yeah, I've gotten to the point where if there's a film I know I'll enjoy and doesn't particularly benefit from a massive screen then I'll just wait and buy the DVD. Saves me money and I don't have to deal with a lot of the annoying patrons of theaters. Besides, DVD releases are coming faster and faster.

 

[OmniGamer]

Also, I never buy from concession stands. I walk into the theatre with my backpack stuffed.

Yep yep.

 

[MIMIC]

I have a serious problem. I can't stay away from the concession stand; I spend upwards of $8 there everytime I go.

 

[OmniGamer]

I have a serious problem. I can't stay away from the concession stand; I spend upwards of $8 there everytime I go.

...what do you buy there?

 

[Brian Fellows]

I wish I didnt work nights. I love going by myself to weekday afternoon matinees. The movie ticket, medium popcorn, and medium sprite for 10 bucks. Plus the theatre are 90% empty

 

[Shinobi]

Also, I never buy from concession stands. I walk into the theatre with my backpack stuffed.

Fucking right...no one ever checks 'em anyway.

I was thinking of seeing several movies during the summer...I wound up watching just two. The idea of paying 10 bucks for a movie simply isn't palatable. Though having said that, there's one chain that charges $8.50 regular price and $4.25 for matinees and Tuesday evenings. I'll have to give them a try.

 

[Warm Machine]

In my city (Vancouver) ticket prices have actually dropped. All theaters used to charge $14 admission during the evenings. There were $8 cheap tuesdays before. They've since dropped cheap tuesday and taken all admissions aside from matinees to $10.