I paid $29 for two movie tickets yesterday. Popcorn and drinks cost another $20 more

[Liberal_in_LA]

Killing the golden goose: Exhibitors raise 3-D ticket prices sky-high

March 26, 2010 | 12:34 pm

I heard this was happening last week, but I have to admit that I couldn't believe my ears. Why would exhibitors, now that people have been flocking to see movies in record numbers, largely thanks to the soaring popularity of 3-D movies, want to kill the golden goose by raising prices for 3-D films, some by increases as much as 26%?

According to an in-depth story in the Wall Street Journal, a 3-D Imax movie at New York City's AMC Loews Kips Bay will now cost $19.50, up from $16.50. At an AMC theater in Danvers, Mass., a Boston suburb, 3-D ticket prices are going up 20% from $14.50 to $17.50. Ticket prices at local L.A. theaters are also going up, often by at least as two extra dollars a ticket.

According to the Journal, prices will take effect today at many of the biggest theater chains across the country. Why the steep price hike? Exhibitors say that film tickets are a bargain. One exhibition vet that I spoke to said that, adjusted for inflation, ticket prices aren't much different today than they were in the 1980s. He compared that to the ticket prices for sporting events, in particular Major League Baseball and NFL games, which have skyrocketed in recent years, as have tickets for Broadway shows, which now average close to $100 a pop.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/03/killing-the-golden-goose-exhibitors-raise-3d-ticket-prices-skyhigh.html

[Greyhound]

1. But $50K per year is "good money". K&R

[proud patriot]

2. I love our Drive-ins -2 movies $6.75 per person

we bring our own dinner snacks and drinks .

However we did go pay and see avatar in the Theatre CRAZY expensive

[Echo In Light]

9. The last drive-in in our area dried up back in the late 80s

... many a good time was had there while it lasted, though

[JuniperLea]

3. Much like the insurance industry...

When people stop buying because they can't afford the price, hike it up for the rest of the people so a whole new batch can't afford the price and stop paying, then they will have to hike up the price again, and so on, and so on, and so on...

Idiots.

Wouldn't it be better to LOWER the price so MORE people could see the flick and create the opportunity for the flick to make MORE money?

Pft... I'm no longer in a hurry to see films... I can wait for NetFlix to buy it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. I'm a Netflixer also but 'Alice in Wonderland' in 3D was stunningly beautiful

Forget the story... the Wonderland world won't look as good on home TV.

[JuniperLea]

6. Yeah, there are a few that need the big screen...

I figure this one is all about the look anyway.

How'd you like it?

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. I liked it. Story was changed but that was ok. Alice, Red Queen(Bonham)

White Queen(Anne Hathaway)were the real stars of the film, not Johnny Depp.

[JuniperLea]

27. I may have to break down and see it...

The signs showing the characters are plastered all over LA... driving south on the 110 especially! I'm just curious enough to brave the theater;)

[walldude]

45. Helena Bonham Carter was the standout for me... Just great..

But in my house the consensus was that even though we loved Alice, the best part of the movie was the trailer for TRON LEGACY 3D!!!

[Liberal_in_LA]

87. She stole her scenes with that great big head. saw the tron preview, wasn't sure

what the heck it was about but it sure looked action packed.

[Hekate]

40. Excellent. It was turned into a coming-of-age story for an older Alice.

I had to be dragged to it by a friend, but I'm glad I went.

Hekate

[JuniperLea]

62. Oh good!

Thanks!

[elocs]

63. I am also a Netflixer and I saw "Alice" in Chicago a couple of weeks ago.

To tell the truth, 3D movies do look great but after 10 or 15 minutes I forget all about the 3D.

In my city we have a second run movie theater that only charges $3, so that's a deal. It's also the old theater which I first went to the movies at when I was a kid back in 1959 so it's nostalgic for me.

[Liberal_in_LA]

88. Back in the day, 3D was sporadic thru the movie, U were told when to put the glasses on and off,

Now the 3D is 100% throughout the movie, I thought I'd get a headache but didn't.

[Touchdown]

82. Depends on what you mean by "TV".

Is a front projector running to a 100" screen in a room with 7 speakers and 2 subwoofers surrounding 6 seats a TV?

BTW: That's not my set up, but I know a few people with something like that.

[BeyondGeography]

4. And we can't have bargains for people anymore, can we?

Another wrong cultural turn.

[anigbrowl]

10. Who says?

Movie tickets are expensive here in San Francisco too, but there are discounts for early shows, seniors and so forth. Plus you can buy discounted tickets at costco and other places. Or did you mean something else?

[BeyondGeography]

13. These are kids movies and they're targeting families

The one thing that most people could afford to do with their kids and the film industry imposes a pricing issue on people during an economic downturn. I find it sad.

[anigbrowl]

34. Hmmm....

As a filmmaker myself, I'm not sure I'd be supportive of rating-based pricing. It's already a lot more difficult to raise funding for a movie that's going to be R rated than one aimed at a G or PG audience. I agree it sucks that prices are going up during an economic downturn, and wonder if this is really in the long-term interests of theater operators, but on the other hand they too are dealing with the effects of recession the same as any other kind of business.

Something to bear in mind is that the film production business is not the same as the film exhibition business. Years and years ago the government forced film studios to sell off their theaters for anti-trust reasons, so that the studios could not keep competitors' films out of distribution. But that's another story.

[BeyondGeography]

44. It's a small sample, but the comments after the article are pretty much all vociferously opposed

Seems pretty obvious their timing couldn't be worse.

[hlthe2b]

7. I am trying hard to adopt the more civil customs of the French...

who don't even sell food and drink at movie theaters.... No more $$$$ for that heart attack in a bucket and diabetes in a sloshing megacup of HFCS- filled soft drinks.

Bring a small sigg bottle of water within your concealed bag and if questioned, it is your "critically timed medication." ;)

As to the exorbitant price of the tickets, I can only offer one word.... matinees. ;)

[iamjoy]

18. Except For Matinees...

You used to be able to get a discount if the show started before 5. Now the discount only applies if it starts before 3pm. Of course, the way shows are timed, often you only get the matinee discount for the first show of the day.

[Love Bug]

20. The 3D surcharge still applies to matinees

eom

[paulsby]

65. the french are better the french are better!

another du mantra.

fwiw, i always bring my own food/drink if i am going to eat/drink

call me a rebel.

[hlthe2b]

72. They are healthier...

and eating three meals (traditionally unprocessed) with few snacks in between appears to be partly credited for that trend. So, yes, from that point of view, they are arguably "better."

[paulsby]

73. they are most definitely healthier

i just note all the time, that the french are ALWAYS compared favorably with US citizens. i have not ONCE read a thread or post (apart from one of mine) that compares us favorably to them on ANY topic (except nuclear power, i guess, but it is never phrased as such).

frankly, my diet, as a strength athlete, is much closer to a mediterranean standard than the classic american diet.

i eat very little processed sugar or butter, lots of greens, eggs, goat cheeses, olives, olive oils, pork (bork bork bork), beef, fresh vegetables, etc.

i think we are better than the french in many ways (much better freedom of speech, more individual liberty in general,less cultural paranoia (see the french ministry of culture where the govt. can FINE companies for using non-french words etc in advertising, etc.), and they are better than us in many ways (better healthcare, better food, etc.)

it's just that statements in the former phrase get cries of NATIONALISM etc. whereas the latter are a-ok here.

it's the double standard.

i also prefer their attitude towards alcohol, teaching kids to drink (at least semi-responsibly) at an earlier age. that is how i was brought up. in most US jurisdictions, fwiw, it is legal for parents to serve their under 21 children alcohol - in moderation

mine did

[hlthe2b]

74. I'm frankly not too worried about being "better." Rather..

I'd like to think we could pick and chose aspects from other cultures to make us the best that we can be as your own adoptions underscore... And, yes, the French have a lot to offer to that discussion... But, I don't think that takes away from American culture... Credit where credit is due, that's all.

[paulsby]

75. i agree

i am just saying that is never expressed here

where was the last post, let alone thread, where somebody said words to that effect "man, the french could learn a lot from the US citizens about X" where X is a positive?

it just doesn't happen here barely at all, if ever

whereas the converse happens like clockwork

i've been to france, surfed france, love france.

but i love my country too, and i think we fucking rock!

[hlthe2b]

76. well, we can start a trend...

For all our problems, I think we bring a lot to the international community. Wines that rival many of the best French, leading the world in cultural norms and changes--given the influence of American music, movies, and theater-- our athletic (Olympics and Tour de France, anyone) and scientific prowess. The jury may be out in terms of our tolerance towards immigrants and other cultures, but I certainly don't think we do a lot worse than the French on that score--as a start.

But, yes, I see what you say... But on a more global level, after 8 years of Bush* devastation on all areas of American culture, institutions, and outlooks, it is hard not to focus on areas where we desperately need to change (and where Canada and Europe may have left us in their wake).

[paulsby]

77. and there are areas where i think we are far ahead

one of them is speech

it DISGUSTS me to see the path that canada et al have taken in regards to "hate speech". the bardot case in france was another tragedy.

i think the world could learn a lot from us in that regard. we still hold true to voltaire's standard. and france doesn't

how ironic is THAT?

[hlthe2b]

78. Good point... n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. You could buy a DVD player and the DVD for that price

Mega-screen movie theaters will be out of business within a decade.

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. Every movie previewed during 'Alice' was a 3D movie. There's a bunch coming

down the pike. It's going to be impossible to reproduce the experience at home.

[walldude]

26. And there is a deal in place to assure theaters that no high-end 3D

will appear on DVD or Blu-Ray for years. All you will get at home is the crappy blue/red or now green/red 3D.

I'm a family of 5, it costs me well over $100 to see a movie and that's if we only buy drinks.

[MattBaggins]

60. Try Bittorrent

[Touchdown]

84. You got a link to this "deal".

I keep pretty up on the Home Theater front, and I never heard of this "deal".

Please elaborate. I have only heard the opposite.

[Heywood J]

98. That's likely because there's no standard for 3D TV

at home. Each studio basically wants to use a different system, and that's going to hold things up for years anyway. We're still on the "march to create a task force to study the issue and come up with recommendations to consider when forming a standard" stage for 3D TV. Considering all the people who invested $800-$3000 in new HD sets and won't want to replace them when the inevitable format war comes, it may be a while before this becomes mainstream.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_TV#Standardization_efforts

ETA: I forgot about the number of people who invested in Blu-Ray players when they were $300-500 and won't want to throw that down the toilet when 3D BDs come out and require HDMI1.4 or hardware to interpret the extra data.

[villager]

29. "Coraline" in 3-D looked reasonably good in my living room

... I just have to make sure I don't lose the glasses that came with the DVD! ;-)

[Liberal_in_LA]

31. Another change...they weren't particularly concerned with getting the 3D glasses back. No one

monitored the return of the things.

[Hekate]

49. Right. Now they demand their glasses back. I took two pair before they started doing that...

I figured I'd paid for them because I was charged separately -- but they must have twigged to that reasoning. :eyes:

Hekate

[walldude]

42. Funny you mentioned Coraline, I watched it last night with my son..

And yes the 3D is much better than the old days, but compared to what we are seeing in theaters, it's not nearly as good... I have a couple other 3D blu-rays and they are all decent quality. The 3D works and it doesn't give me a headache but the colored 3D really messes up the films coloring. The Coraline disk is a good example, they washed out the colors in the 3D version, if you watch the 2D the colors are brilliant, the 3D is mostly greys...

[villager]

81. Points to be sure, Walldude, and I won't compare it to seeing "Avatar" in theatres

(I haven't seen "Alice" yet), but the question is when is the home 3-D "good enough," that it's worth saving the extra $40?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

54. For that kind of money, I won't even attempt it....

Citizen Kane looked great in 2-D and black & white. When they make a better film, let me know.

[Tesha]

70. Just wait until Ted Turner "dimensionalizes" it! *THEN* you'll see what "Citizen Kane" really...

...should be.

Tesha

(Do I really need a :sarcasm: tag?)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

94. No need for a tag. I could feel the snark from here!

;)

[Tesha]

67. You haven't seen the 3D TV demos then.

The experience using a 3D Blu-Ray disc player is going to be startlingly
close to the experience in a non-IMAX theatre, just without the sticky
floors.

Tesha

[Touchdown]

83. 3D capable televisions are already on the shelves.

And I would like to know about this "deal" where the blu-rays are to be kept away for a "long time". Never heard of it.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I refuse to do it. nt

[mrcheerful]

12. Well thats why I haven't been to the movies since they closed the drive ins

it's cheaper to have cable and a soft bed then a hard seat and disruptive folks around you. You could go to the drive in for less then $5 a car load vs at the time $10 for 2 at the walk in, when they closed drive ins many folks got cable and waited for the new shows. Then again I have never been that interested by any movie to want to be the first person on the block to see it. To be honest the last PPV I watched made me decide that even that was a waste of time and money, the damn ads were more interesting then the movie ended up being.

[Capitalocracy]

15. Because they can.

Or at least, they think they can.

OK, if it's worth $100 each person, get James Cameron to come do an Avatar puppet show live and see how much money you make. That's such a BS argument and they know it, they're just using it as an excuse to raise the prices. And people will probably pay it, but they KNOW nobody's going to show up if they charge $100, at least not until they start charging $200 for the DVDs. Seriously, they're going to raise ticket prices and say you bioches best be grateful we're not raising it to $100? Stupid Hollywood liberal elites.

[Love Bug]

16. Quit paying for 3D movies and the price will have to come down

Skip the 3D and go for the 2D version. If enough people do that, then the price will have to come down. Problem solved.

Vote with your wallet!

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. This was my first 3D movie in decades. The technology was amazing, down to the

credits that had flowers growing off the screen. Amazing.

[walldude]

50. My theater charges an extra buck for 3D

they also have a GIANT screen which they charge an extra buck for. I'll pay the 2 bucks extra to see something on a good sized screen in 3D...

[Ian David]

17. I've stopped being so shy about bringing in my own food lately.

I'm not going to be like the family who brought a huge McDonalds meal in and left their trash all over the floor.

However, I've been bringing my own bottled water, and my own Snowcaps to put in the popcorn that I buy at the theater.

[kestrel91316]

28. Yeah, I'll smuggle food and drink in next time. I have a big tote I can call my "purse"

and it will be nobody's damned business what's in it.

[Touchdown]

85. We brought Wendy's in one time, years ago for Men In Black.

The whole theater smelled like cheeseburgers after. Had to sneak to the trash in the dark.:rofl:

[shedevil69taz]

89. I have pants with large pockets

and my favorite food to bring in with me is tacobell

[kestrel91316]

22. I only go out to a movie once or twice a year these days.

I don't need to pay $12+ for the prvilege of getting my seat kicked for 2 hours and listening to endless phone conversations.

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. New stadium style seating. Major warning (by video) to shut the hell up. It was a nice experience.

[kestrel91316]

30. That's true, the ones with the fancy seating are great.

[iamjoy]

23. At Minimum Wage

at minimum wage, that would represent about a full days work.

we need a "shakes head" emoticon

[dixiegrrrrl]

58. try this one

[Beaverhausen]

24. I saw "The Runaways" in Los Feliz for $6 yesterday

yes, it was not in 3-D but you can find bargains.

[NeedleCast]

32. Seems fair to me.

I took my girlfriend, neice and nephew to see Avatar recently. I think tickets were 12.50$ pop (matinee showing). We snuck in our own drinks and popcorn (which was much better than the concessions crap anyway). So total we paid 50 bucks for the four of us. At about 2.5 hours run time, we're being entertained at a rate under five dollars an hour. That seems pretty fair to me.

This is in the D.C. area, so I'm assuming ticket prices are the same or cheaper just about everywhere other than the biggest U.S. cities.

[4lbs]

33. Unfortunately, that's what it takes for movie theaters to stay in business now.

I remember, locally, we had a movie theater that aired movies in second-run, about 6 to 8 weeks after they were in the main chain theaters.

This theater charged about $3 a ticket, which was good for all day, for all 3 movies that it showed.

In addition, a very large popcorn and soft drink were $2.50 each, with a free refill on each! Nachos were $2, candy was anywhere from $1 to $2 depending on the item and size.

The theater went out of business about 3 years ago. I guess charging reasonable rates didn't allow it to stay operational.

[liskddksil]

35. I can see the NY Philharmonic or the Met Opera for nearly that price

Easy choice.

[BeyondGeography]

48. Yup; $26 upstairs @ the Met

:thumbsup:

Actually, you can get 'em even lower than that...

[Jkid]

36. What do you do?

They have not given us a real reason for the increase, despite the fact that they're profitable, they're jacking prices. This has already resulted in a choice to some people: Find a second-run cinema (good luck finding one), bend-over and pay more,pirate the movie online ,or wait possibly for up to six months for popular blockbusters to be on DVD.

[Touchdown]

92. Ahem. Six Months? Try 4 now.

April 22nd.



Tomorrow...

[Hekate]

37. #1 Matinees #2 Smuggled in snack or coffee. Screw 'em. Even so, it was $12.75 for the Alice matinee

DH doesn't like the movie theater experience much, so I go to matinees with my gal-pals and we are starting to feel really gouged by the 3-D prices, which are being gradually but noticeably raised. Coraline was less, Avatar was more, and Alice is yet more.

When I complained about the price a couple of movies ago I was told that the distributors determine price, not individual theaters. I do not know if that was true or only half-true, but eventually the business really will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

On the one hand, some films are best on the big screen, and both Avatar and Alice were fantastic visually. On the other hand, at a certain point you'll have to ask yourself if you should just wait for the DVD to come out and the heck with the Mad Hatter chucking a teacup into your lap.

Hekate

[pitohui]

38. because if you'll pay $29 for movie tix you'll pay anything

the people who have killed the golden goose are the people who are apparently willing to pay any price for a cheesy special effects *now in 3D* movie spectacle

you have only yourselves to blame, frankly

same people who pay $150 to watch dinosaur rock and then are shocked -- SHOCKED -- that singers will charge what the market will bear

until people have the self control to display some price resistance prices will continue to rise

i see a movie once a year if that and when i do it's a matinee so don't look at me

i hate to be the one to tell ya but life itself is in 3D...

[NeedleCast]

46. 29 dollars was for two tickets

Might be a small thing, but that would put individual tickets at 14.75, which isn't intolerable to me, seeing as 3D movies tend to have a 2-3 dollar surcharge.

For a two hour movie, you're paying about 8 dollars an hour. Doesn't seem unreasonable to me. How much is an hour of entertainment worth?

[walldude]

52. Why would you comment on "cheesy special effects in 3D" if you don't

go to the movies? Avatar was not "Cheesy" Neither was UP or Monsters Vs Aliens, or the original Toy Story movies I took the kids to all in 3D. If you see one movie a year doesn't that kind of limit your theater experience and aren't you really commenting without knowing what is going on?

If you want to be impressed at a theater, head to your local IMAX and see HUBBLE 3D. Take a 3D trip through the Universe and see what your thoughts are then.. It's probably the most amazing thing you will see all year. Those photos from the Hubble? They are NOTHING compared to what you see on the IMAX screen. Nothing short of ASTOUNDING

I'm not trying to be a dick and you are right that Hollywood churns out some real crap these days, but the theater experience has actually gotten much better in the last couple years. Now if only theater chains will start showing independent films... I tried to see the latest Cohen Bros movie and wasn't playing within 100 miles of my house :mad:

[pitohui]

97. because i don't have to eat an entire egg to know the egg is rotten

the last 3D movie i saw was probably "capital hill girls" and you know what? it's because i have a life

i saw the trailer for "avatar" i don't need to see the whole long drawn out blah de blah movie once upon a time i worked in an observatory i don't need to see "hubble"

movie is for kids (who are not allowed to have independent lives) and losers (who don't have their own adventures) -- i don't have to pay $15 a head to have a life, i have a real life, hence my comment "real life is 3D"

you don't need everything spelled out for you in words of one syllable (movie in 3D) if you have actual adventures, you can have a meeting of minds in a glance from a bit of song, a painting, or a still photograph

teevee, movies, etc is to fill time for people who just don't have enough life in their lives -- and for that, yes, you guys will and DO pay what the seller decides because you are addicts

think abt it, none of the heroes you follow onscreen have a scene set at the movies...

how many movies do you think obama has seen? not too damn many, i guarantee -- the people who change the world are not watching teevee and movies

[Chisox08]

39. In Downtown Oak Park I've never paid more than $5.50 for a movie ticket.

Capitalism A Love Story was the best $5.50 I've spent there.

[CBGLuthier]

41. I love film with a passion and have my whole life, but

I don't expect to set foot in a theater again in my life. I can wait for the dvd and 3D is a stupid gimmick.

Bad color-corrected prints. People that won't shut up. Dim projection bulbs. Half an hour of ads. Crap over priced food and drinks. And I despise arena seating. You should look up not down at a screen.

Do not miss it a bit.

[skeptical cynic]

43. Consumers decide what they can be charged for nonessentials.

Movies are not a necessity. They can be easily boycotted.

"...ticket prices aren't much different today than they were in the 1980s." ~ Too bad income, adjusted for inflation, isn't the same.

[cbdo2007]

47. This is a strange article.....he heard about the raise in prices, and paid the new prices....but is

still mad about the higher prices?

It's called capitalism folks...and this is where consumers have ALL the control. But they can and will continue to charge these prices because just like the person in the OP - people will pay these prices.

And they titled this article "Killing the golden goose" - ha ha ha, that's hilarious - acting like higher ticket prices will mean less money for the movie theaters and then willingly paying the higher price.

[Newest Reality]

51. Wages stagnate for a few decades ...

and now people take pay cuts. They have the audacity to justify the price using "adjusted for inflation" propaganda? Now, that's entertaining.

There is a big, thick line scoring, nay, gouging through this culture. It is growing deeper and wider like an economic wall. The haves will pay more for everything from entertainment to taxes; they will be thankful that they can. The have-nots will be left to do without, being chiefly ignored. There will be more of each.

Isn't it obvious, when companies now use a reverse, (from what we'd expect) economic logic model, what direction this is going? Instead of lower prices, (as has been brought up in this thread) to get maximum market share in a collapsing economy, they are doing the opposite. That's an indicator in my book, and it is one that should be rather shocking and a matter of concern.

Oh, the haves are going to be far to self-absorbed as they grumble a bit over price increases while simultaneously basking in the relief that they are able to access entertainment and services at all. They its why they will support, (read: finance) this movement towards marginalizing the underclass simply because they are on the brown nose side and are so deeply invested in the Status Quo and cannot imagine doing without it.

For this to continue working so well, you just have to sanitize things with media and brush the other half aside; indulging in a multitude of distractions and entertainment is a great way to ignore the falling away of millions, ey? It won't be easy to live in the Simulation's great denial, but ... WOAH! Look at that Shiny Thing! It's even in 3D now and that's worth paying a lot for, you know.

[RadicalTexan]

53. My moviegoing strategy

1. Never pay full price.

2. Only go to matinees unless it's a VERY special occasion.

3. Rarely buy food. Sneak in your own food, and feel zero guilt about doing so.

4. Get a Regal Crown reward card. Two good theaters in my town are part of the Regal chain: the local artsy place, and a 16-screen megaplex (which happens to be the nicest of such places in town). Use the Regal card *every single time* you go to the movies. Accrue points. Get a free movie every few visits, and free popcorn or drinks even more often. I never get any junk mail, electronic or otherwise, from Regal, either.

5. Make it known that you consider movie passes a GREAT gift.

6. Go to those three hour long movies; you get more bang for your buck.

7. Only go to movies that you've read reviews of and seen trailers for, so you know whether it's something you *really* want to spend hard earned cash on.

8. Use Netflix (particularly the On Demand feature - I have a 1980 old school TV and don't pay for cable, but I can watch unlimited movies on my laptop - plus take out two DVDs by mail at a time - for $15/mo.).

I don't get the 3D craze. At all.

Movies here where I live in mid-sized city USA are about $7 matinee and $10 regular. Which is ridiculous. Back in my hometown of Podunkville, they're $2.50 matinee and $4.50 regular! So add that to the list:

9. When in the middle of nowhere in some hick town, go to the movies!

[Missy Vixen]

55. Oh, this is comical

The NFL is currently suffering the fallout of their increased ticket prices and related game expenses (try $50 for parking within a mile of the stadium in Seattle; this is evidently cheap compared to other parts of the country). The NFL commissioner was fretting about diving revenue over the weekend. MLB had lots and lots of empty seats last season, too.

Those who believe jacking up the price of a 3-D movie is a good thing will get what they deserve. As others on this thread have already noted, we're more than happy to stay home with the flat-screen we saved for and bought two years ago, a Netflix subscription, and our own food and drink.

There is NOTHING I need to see that badly in a theater anymore.

[Hippo_Tron]

56. I usually eat dinner before evening movies so that I'm not tempted to buy snacks or drinks

[Spike89]

57. Segmenting audiences

Movies have been moving to this model for years. Premium pricing with some value added (3D, comfy seating, etc.) for first run movies in the theater, then "high-value" pricing for the movie in 2nd run theaters (usually no 3D, older-style seating/sound system), then DVD and on demand pricing.

This is exactly what airlines do, but in the case of movies, the pricing/discount scale is a bit more visible. There really is no reason they can't push the prices for the premium service--if they price a segment of the market out of the fancy theaters, they'll just show up at the "bargain" theaters, or down to DVD. In some ways tiered pricing sucks, but it does let consumers choose the level they want to pay for.

[MattBaggins]

59. Glad I live in a small city

Still have Sunday and in the summer, Wednesday afternoon matinees for $3.50.

[bamacrat]

61. Its only $3 more at the theater next to my apt.

cost $24 for me and the wife to go see Alice in Wonderland. Worth it, but the ask you to recycle your glasses. Thats total bullshit, I bought the damn things, but sure I have no use for them.

[TheCowsCameHome]

64. Redbox.

$1

[RedCappedBandit]

66. I'll continue to watch movies at home.

Personally, I see no need to shell out extra cash for a 3D movie. After it's said and done, the story is the same.

[Cattledog]

68. I saw "Alice in Wonderland" 3D for $8

in Atlanta

[951-Riverside]

69. TPB! Yarrrr! n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

71. How foolish. n/t

[bhcodem]

79. Senior discount day

Our local theater chain is Marcus theater. Friday afternoon's rate is the senior citizen discount of $4 for any movie, 3-D or Super screen. And they have a great popcorn/soft drink bargin of $3.50. Only day I go to the movies and I feel cheated if I have something else going on that prevents me from taking advantage of the senior movie afternoon. I still often go to the 3-D movies in 2-D format, as I really don't care...just love movies.

[GreenTea]

80. $15. bucks total on the discounted early shows & don't buy from the ridiculously priced concession

Eat before or after the movies - Take candy bars, chips or whatever other munchies in with you if you must eat while watching the movie....

$7.50 or $8. bucks tops per ticket for the early shows.

Why spend $50. or more dollars?

[Touchdown]

86. I got an idea. Why don't they charge and extra million to The National Guard?

The ones who made that nauseating 3 minute opera of "heroism" that I have to put up with every fucking time I fork over money for a movie.

Or, charge more to the other advertisers. Coke, Sprint, Verizon, Volvo, Skittles, Nike, Sprite, etc. I'm paying money for a theater. I am being robbed if I have to sit through commercials too.

[mwooldri]

90. Just wait a couple of years... 3D TV is here.

Besides the fact that I cannot afford a new HDTV set right now, I think it might be good to wait a little while... 3d capable TVs are in the marketplace and the Blu-Ray's being expanded to allow more room for the added data.

Sod the IMAX when you can have it in your living room.

Mark.

[2Design]

91. I don't like 3d and having things jump at me - I do the am movie for $5 or $6 only

the rest is greed

[BrklynLiberal]

93. Wow! Add the cost of a babysitter and it is totally impossible.

[Liberal_in_LA]

95. yep n/t

[thotzRthingz]

96. being 60 (this summer)... it seems that we used to go out & blow $5 coming home with nothing of...

value. That was "then" ... this is "now" and it seems all we get for $100 are things of little or no real value.

WAIT, I take that back... MANY MANY TIMES the $100 is probably very valuable to the scamming corporatist! So at least someone is getting some value from our loss.