MovieChat Forums > Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) Discussion > The cinema is not THAT expensive...

The cinema is not THAT expensive...

posted 25 days ago by Ripkens25 (1952)
21 replies | jump to latest

I don't even think the prices for the theater experience have even gone up very much in the past 5-10 years. In fact, the rate of increase seems far less than inflation in general. And, people need to realize they are paying for the theater "experience", and all that comes with going out and seeing a great flick at the cinema. My local theaters (with all the amenities, leather reclining chairs, full bar, etc..) are still $10, same as they were last year and the year before. If you don't like the cost at the snack bar, bring your own!

Think about it....by some people's logic, it really doesn't make sense to spend what ultimately could add up to a couple hundred bucks to go to a football or baseball game...but you still do it...for the EXPERIENCE of being out on the town, having a shared experience with your buddies, drinking a beer, having a dog and watching the game. You could save money watching the game in your basement....but is it even REMOTELY the same?

You just need to think back to one of those exciting movie openings, on a Friday night, where you had a shared experience...with an audience...in Dolby sound...with that perfect bucket of popcorn, and walked out of there really jazzed about the whole thing. This could be as recent as Maverick: Top Gun. That's a prime example of movie magic--an example of investing in the age-old, nostalgic experience of doing something social, going out...grabbing dinner first...maybe grabbing a Fireball on the rocks at the theater bar, and then settling-in to a great movie.

When people stay home and stream in their basement, they give movie theaters No Choice but to slightly raise their prices if they're going to stay in business. It's cause and effect. Eventually, people will never feel the need to EVER leave their basements.

[–] Gd5150 (11290) 25 days ago

Wait a month it’ll be free on streaming.

[–] moviechatterer (14033) 23 days ago

Thats my plan.
I'll probly even pay to "rent" it on Amazon rather than wait for fully free

[–] TheArgentinian (6639) 23 days ago

Americans have no clue what an expensive living is. Trust me.

[–] Anotherday (8364) 23 days ago

If you don't like the cost at the snack bar, bring your own

The snack bar is the primary source of income for theaters. You're actually advocating for an action that undercuts their business.

That's hilarious Considering you want theaters to stay around 🤣😂.

[–] Ripkens25 (1952) 23 days ago

That's a fair point.
I would just rather see people in the seats than see vacant theaters.

[–] Anotherday (8364) 23 days ago

I appreciate your passion even though I have disagreements. Keep it up.

[–] sonans (1300) 23 days ago

Money isn't the issue, the issue is my tv had better image quality than the IMAX screen.

[–] moviechatterer (14033) 23 days ago

I bet theres less teenagers kicking the back of your seat and throwing popcorn around too!

[–] MartyDeniro (4106) 23 days ago

It's not the cost that keeps people from coming. It's the number of alternatives that younger people grew up with. And alcohol and real food is an enticement that most didn't require in the past, so even what you're describing shows the evolution away from the traditional theater experience.

[–] ebhaynz (3606) 23 days ago

Ticket prices may be $10 where you are but most places are a lot more. I think a HUGE difference between now and 20-30 years ago is you worked an average work week, got paid on Friday, and almost had to go to the movie at or near the mall to spend some of your disposable income.

Nowadays? people are working longer, harder, for way less pay. The mall is dead, the movies showing at the theater are usually disappointing and we positively know Hollywood is run by talentless, low quality people.

Therefore, the appeal of going to see a movie is gone. Instead of going to a theater to see magic we stay away from the theater to avoid the bad smell. It stinks. It stinks BAD.

[–] howgamer (3692) 23 days ago

I think it depends on the location how prices have changed. I live in a rural area and ticket prices where $5 20 years ago and now they are $12 or $14 when you buy online with that amazing $2 processing fee. I have to really want to see the movie to go to the theater the last 5 or so years. This is mostly because of not having enough time, but I also feel like the theater experience has not changed all that much. Seating has improved (though still not amazing), but sound and screen quality are just as good as you can get at home. Obviously the big draw, at least for me, is the screen size which is the same it was 20 years ago. I feel like any movie is improved by the theater experience. However, the price sometimes isn't worth it as every thing else is more expensive too.

For the above movie in particular, I thought Fury Road was awful so had no desire to see this despite being a Chris Hemsworth fan.

[–] Ripkens25 (1952) 23 days ago

In my area (Metro Detroit) we have a movie theater chain called Emagine, and they have optional IMAX screens, which are enormous, and the sound is amazing. It's a great way to see something like Maverick: Top Gun, Dune, Oppenheimer, etc. It also has the recliner leather seats, etc.

It will be interesting if cinemas try to implement "experiential" theaters (you feel the wind, the rattle of explosions, etc..). That would require additional investment by the theaters. They either go that way, or give up and pull the plug. My fear that most are doing the latter. I'm not sure reducing prices is tenable.

As mentioned by others, too many people have become too accostomed to accessing first run movies from home....and the production companies are letting it happen.

[–] howgamer (3692) 23 days ago

IMAX is cool, but double the price. We have leather seats where I am at too, but I can't stand the recline feature. It always seems to be on a weird angle, but better than the old seats.All those other features sound interesting, but cost would be probably at least $75 a ticket. Not worth it imo.

Personally I don't see a lot of theaters closing near me. They seem to be the thing that stands the test of time. The few malls that are in a 30 mile radius, the only thing left in them are the theater. Been there for many decades.

[–] MrMovie (851) 23 days ago

Maybe the morons shouldn’t have agreed to put it on streaming three weeks after it’s release