Cost of Seeing Movies These Days

[nicks]

Josh's thread on recently viewed movies got me started on this, but I figured I should start a new thread for it.

(rant)
how ridiculous is it when it costs my family (me, wife, 2 young boys) $38 for tickets, and another $15 for kid's drinks and a popcorn? Almost 50 frickin dollars!

I can understand paying more for the Imax, or a special 3d showing, or something like that, but tickets were like $9.75. I can buy the dang movie for $15 when it comes out, watch it on my comfy couch, [practically] eat a steak dinner (for the cost of a movie theater popcorn), and lose very little with my surround and 60" hdtv. And that's for the whole darn family!!

Sadly there are no 'dollar theaters' in my area any longer. If I had the means, I'd seriously look into opening one up, because I'm sure there would be high demand, compared to the wallet-draining alternatives.

What are your thoughts on seeing movies? Do you go very often? do you prefer the dollar -type theater in you area? Am I alone on this?????
(/rant)

[Yuiichi]

I'll only go if I really want to see a movie - I pay $12 here for myself, and usually don't buy popcorn or drinks, so that saves a little money here and there. I tend to not go very often.

I've actually never went to or heard of a dollar-type theater in my area, all are big, nation wide theaters. I do wish there were cheaper ones though.

[Shpigford]

Yeah, my wife and I go to $2 matinee's at a theater around here, but it's a 30 minute drive to sit in a super old theater with seats that dig in to your back...so it's hardly worth it most of the time.

[baseballboy828]

Our local theater is $5 for kids, $10 for adults, but I hear the prices are going to go up. As for snacks and popcorn, I'll occasionally sneak something in if I have a big pocket. With kids, they usually don't bother you.

[MarkFleser]

Only if someone else pays, the last time I went to see a movie I spent almost ten bucks on a pop and popcorn alone. The movie itself was like 6, I didn't pay for that part though.

[Galley]

That's why I only go to 1 or 2 movies a year.

[Equin]

Here it's about $15 for one ticket, don't really think I've been to the cinema the last 6 months - and that's mainly because of the cost.

Also, the movies come really late here, several months after they show them in the US. (Movie rolls are EXPENSIVE, so the movie companies show them first in the US, then ship the same rolls over to Europe.) Unless there's a world premiere (big movie that can afford more rolls), there's a pretty good chance that the movie will make DVD in the US before the cinema here.

I have a HDTV setup, so I usually just watch things at home, only go to the cinema for the really good movies that I want to support.

[weldon]

I don't go to the movies unless its a big social outing with friends - usually the boys geeking out over a big action flick or LOTR. I was thinking about asking a friend to go see Casino Royale, but I'll probably rent that too. My son wants to go see Eragon, so I might take him to that. Would only be the two of us though.

Haven't been to the movies on a date with my wife in forever because we'd rather spend the money on good food and take the time to talk away from the kids. We watch movies at home.


If "The Hobbit" comes out, I'll probably go see that, even if Peter Jackson won't be directing.

[Shawn Grimes]

My family and I try and wait things out until the movie reaches the "cheap theater" because it is really hard to justify dropping $40-$50 buck on a movie (we have 2 kids) or waiting a bit and spending $20 tops.

I think it is ridiculous that they charge so much to watch a movie and then turn around and charge down right robbery status prices on concessions. Pisses me right off it does!

[studioprisoner]

$13AUD for a movie ticket here for an adult, and i never buy food or drinks at the cinemas, i sneak in outside food, and drinks.

and on tuesdays the tickets are $7.50AUD, so i mainly go to see movies on Tuesdays.