Author Topic: Movie Theaters  (Read 18439 times)

tomsang

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #50 on: August 05, 2015, 03:17:22 PM »
The other thing is we pay significantly more per ticket the opening weekend and the percentage that we retain goes down as the movie ages out.  So in some cases the most profitable movie for a theater is a movie that has been out for awhile that for whatever reason has a surge in attendance.

Which is exactly why second run theatres can charge significantly less than first run.  The movie studio isn't charging them as much per seat because it's been out so long and they are trying to get the last few drops before it goes to DVD.

Yep and the profit is in the concessions. So they just want bodies to sell concessions.  Typically, the theater has had minimal dollars invested in having the best equipment, they spend minimal on upkeep and maintenance, and they are paying 40% of the ticket price vs. 85%+ of the ticket prices for their movies.

We built our 10-plex for $7.5 million with all state of the art digital projectors, etc.  We need to do a lot of volume to generate a good ROI. 

Rural

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #51 on: August 05, 2015, 04:57:50 PM »
We'll go see the new Star Wars in a theatre, just like we did for the first six. :)


Come to think of it, the last Star Wars may have been the last movie I saw in a theatre.


I generally have bought a candy while there, but now I'm doing no sugar, so tickets will likely be it for us.

Helvegen

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #52 on: August 05, 2015, 05:31:39 PM »
I haven't found any dollar type theaters in this area (Maryland, near DC). I used to go more often years ago in TX where there was a decent dollar (or $1.50) theater.

Me either - Puget Sound. I didn't realize they weren't a thing everywhere. I wish they were though. Sometimes I would like to take my kid to see a movie in the theater, but I just can't stomach the cost. Basically, just her daycare center takes them every once in awhile or I'll do it for her birthday if we aren't having a party that year. Otherwise, she/we don't go.

music lover

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #53 on: August 09, 2015, 09:12:37 AM »
I haven't been to a movie theatre in 20 years, but even when I did go, I just ate in advance and never bought concessions. If you can't go 2 hours without food, see a doctor.

Zx

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #54 on: August 09, 2015, 10:45:55 AM »
No one goes to movie theaters anymore. They're too crowded!!

MgoSam

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #55 on: August 09, 2015, 09:07:19 PM »
There's an old theater near my work that is just beautiful and shows second-run movies. It's generally $2 for a ticket, and they have popcorn with real butter that costs like $3. I've only been there once, but I don't mind springing for both a ticket and popcorn. Oh, and the theater is beautiful and the screen is massive.


RFAAOATB

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #56 on: August 10, 2015, 02:22:42 PM »
No one goes to movie theaters anymore. They're too crowded!!

Where do teenagers go to get awkwardly get close to their dates in the dark then?


MgoSam

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #57 on: August 10, 2015, 02:45:17 PM »
I was near my parents this weekend and had a few hours between things, so went to a theater near them that's $5.50 for weekend matinees, not a bad deal as I got a chance to see the new MI movie. Would likely have just waited otherwise.

CashStashFever

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #58 on: August 10, 2015, 06:54:43 PM »
First-run movie theaters are soulless money pits.  Second-run movie theaters however have more character, super-cheap tickets, and the exact same movies! The idea that it's better to see a movie immediately when it's released is absurd.  Also, a lot of theaters have Tuesday specials. My boyfriend and I love going to the movies and when you bike there, sneak in a beer, and pay $4, it's an all-around winning date night :)
I've seen movies for free at libraries, universities, etc.  If you're in a decent-size city there are definitely more interesting options than forking over $40 to a generic chain theater.

GuitarStv

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #59 on: August 11, 2015, 06:10:12 AM »
It's kinda surprising to me that people enjoy going to theaters.  For me, the experience is better in every way at home:

- There are no bad seats (too close or too far away from the screen)
- Sound is set up better
- Volume isn't too loud (common problem in movie theaters, I've left some with my ears ringing)
- No cellphones or screens to distract from the show
- No idiots being idiots (things I've personally experienced in theaters . . . people kicking the back of my seat, teenagers throwing candy from the back of the room, talking, small children crying in age inappropriate movies, fights breaking out, etc.)
- I can lie down with my feet up if desired.
- You can stop the movie to pee, or get something from the kitchen if you're hungry.
- I can drink while watching the movie.
- Nobody's trying to push gimmicky crap like 3D at me.

Haven't been back to a movie theater in years and I don't miss it at all.

I'm a red panda

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #60 on: August 11, 2015, 06:50:27 AM »
No one goes to movie theaters anymore. They're too crowded!!

Granted, I've only seen 5 movies in the past 4 years, but usually there was only 1 or 2 other groups in there.  It seemed to me, unless it is opening night, no one goes anymore.

Not too crowded, too expensive!

randommadness

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #61 on: August 11, 2015, 07:07:40 AM »
I love going to movie theaters. Some movies you just need to see in large format like that (especially epic fantasy or sci fi films).

I typically go by myself on my every other day off. (currently every other Monday.) Yesterday I went and saw the new Mission Impossible.

Was so happy this theater I went to was like $4.47. I used to pay $8+ for similar times in Denver. I also don't buy concessions and if going with friends we always stop at the nearest grocery store to acquire them and drinks.

Basenji

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #62 on: August 11, 2015, 07:11:18 AM »
I go maybe 2 or 3 times per year to one local place that is an art house. Shows the movies that don't get into multiplex theaters and does a Japanese movie festival each year in conjunction with the big cherry blossom festival here. That's my splurge. I love going to an old-school movie theater, and usually zero teens and kids because usually an arty or serious film. But not often. As I get older I find I'm not very interested in most new movies, or I can wait to see it on Netflix or TV. One awesome thing we have in DC are museums and embassies that sometimes offer free or very cheap movies. The Japanese embassy has an outreach center that shows movies in a small but nice theater, no concession, just cool old and new Japanese movies. Multiplexes depress me.

Tabitha

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #63 on: August 20, 2015, 10:41:45 PM »
These days, we just don't go to the movies. Too expensive (even for two movies).

We use a Scotiabank Scene Visa to collect free movies. $1000 in spending works out to one free ticket. It's a no fee card, and since we pay the balance in full before the deadline there is no finance charge.  It's not our primary card, but we like the occasional movie.  You can also use points to purchase a concession package, but it's generally too much food for us.

N

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #64 on: August 20, 2015, 11:51:51 PM »
Im in Chicago and there are no 1$ theatres. The second-run ones still charge upwards of 5$/person.
In the summer, a couple theatres run last years kids movies once a week at 10 am for 1$.

The last time I went, took my 2 kids, we had snacks in our backpack, but they made us leave them in the coatcheck. They were looking in all purses and bags. They wouldnt even let us bring in our water bottles.

a couple times a year the 4 of us will go to a matinee for about 25$ for all of us and bring in our own snacks, but if they continue to bag check...well...we probably will just wait for rental. there is something fun about seeing certain movies on the big screen.

mnsaver

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #65 on: August 21, 2015, 04:51:05 AM »
I go here: http://www.regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=7 where movies are a few of weeks after release but price is $3 ($5 for 3D movies) and "date night" gets you 2 tickets, 2 popcorns and 2 sodas for $10. I generally only go for special effects movies only and save the other movies for free DVDs from the library or Redbox rentals.

The problem with dollar theatres is that they are generally pretty crappy movie theatres.  They don't have digital projectors of high quality sound, staffing is lower so your fit are sticking to the ground.  The only dollar theatre near me doesn't even have stadium seating so people's heads get in the way.

So there isn't an improved experience over just watching it at home, imo, and the movies in dollar theatres are usually <2 months from DVD release so if I've already waited the 3-4 months for them to hit the dollar theatre, I will just wait until I can pirate it from home.

Depends on your dollar theater. As far as I know all the discount theaters up her (Minneapolis) have switched to digital, the one I go to http://www.riverviewtheater.com/ has stadium seating and the popcorn is excellent. Since I take the bus it costs me more in bus fare then a movie ticket.

music lover

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #66 on: August 21, 2015, 06:55:06 AM »
It's kinda surprising to me that people enjoy going to theaters.  For me, the experience is better in every way at home:

- There are no bad seats (too close or too far away from the screen)
- Sound is set up better
- Volume isn't too loud (common problem in movie theaters, I've left some with my ears ringing)
- No cellphones or screens to distract from the show
- No idiots being idiots (things I've personally experienced in theaters . . . people kicking the back of my seat, teenagers throwing candy from the back of the room, talking, small children crying in age inappropriate movies, fights breaking out, etc.)
- I can lie down with my feet up if desired.
- You can stop the movie to pee, or get something from the kitchen if you're hungry.
- I can drink while watching the movie.
- Nobody's trying to push gimmicky crap like 3D at me.

Haven't been back to a movie theater in years and I don't miss it at all.

I agree 100%. The same reasons apply to the few sporting events I watch. I always find them more enjoyable from the comfort of my home. It really is the best seat in the house, and there isn't some idiot behind me blowing on a horn or screaming in my ear.

mm1970

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #67 on: August 21, 2015, 05:08:57 PM »
As long as people behave themselves then the movie theaters are not too expensive, but if people are getting too rambunctious then I start to think they are not expensive enough.  Also why are children's tickets cheaper than adult tickets?  They tend to make more noise and talk during the movie.  They should at least be paying as much as adults for the amount of disturbance they cause.

Because that's how everything is.  Kids are always cheaper to incentivize more adults to take their kids.  If you want to avoid kids being in the theatre than just go late at night or on weekends if schools in.
kids tix aren't cheaper where I live

mm1970

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Re: Movie Theaters
« Reply #68 on: August 21, 2015, 05:19:04 PM »
I prefer watching movies at home, because I can pause and pee!  But I really don't get to watch, because my 3 year old has no attention span, and I am often asleep before he is.

That said, I find movies to be expensive also.  We do go, generally to kids movies only.  My 3 year old has been to one movie in a theater.

In the winter, we will go to the kid movies at the drive in.  In the summer, they start too late for me.

Generally it's my husband who loves to go to the movies, so he will go by himself (if it's a R action flick) or with our 9 year old (if it's a PG).  They always get popcorn, because my 9 year old is a 9 year old!

We've been to a movie together recently, and it was pretty cheap.  My husband is a regular blood donor (I need to get back into that, too busy, too tired).  So he gets "points" and exchanges them for movie tickets.

As far as "why can't you go without food", a lot of it is timing.  If we are on a date, we are at the mercy of the baby sitter's schedule, which is inevitably short.  And often the kids' movies are during lunch or dinner also.

But 99% of the movies we see are in our own home on Friday nights, and we fire up either the air popper or the big pot (for kettle corn).  Tonight it's going to be The Natural, because my son is getting into baseball.  Tomorrow, Jurassic park. Both from the library.

And dinner is frozen pizza from Costco.  I think frugalwoods would be proud.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!