Movie prices are the movie theaters own worst enemy.

[markw]

Where we currently live, going to a plain jane movie (no Imax or 3D) costs about $12 on any given evening. On weekends, if you go before 12:00 pm, one movie theatre charges $7.00, and we consider that a bargain.

We just got back from College Station, Texas and, for a mid-afternoon movie, as a senior citizen, they hit us up for $3.50. Out here in Jersey, say you're a senior and they say that's too effen' bad. pay up.

In any case, we are able to take our three grandkids, two seniors, and two adults for about $38.00

We stopped in Nashville and saw the latest hobbit in the movies at Opryland and they hit us up for $19.00 each, or just about what I paid for the whole family to see the latest Night at the Museum (which ROCKED!!) in CS.

These prices are all over the board and they wonder why their business is dropping? They may rate by dollars raked in and claim to be making big bucks, but I'd really like to see the numbers of actual viewers.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I agree. There are many factors why we no longer going to movie theaters and prices are not last on the list of my issues.
On unrelated note : there gd too freaking much Sleepies stores around. Opening like mushrooms after the rain. One gotta wonder that type of margin these guys work with if there are much more Sleepies in my town than Starbucks

 

[Rickster71]

I agree. There are many factors why we no longer going to movie theaters and prices are not last on the list of my issues.
On unrelated note : there gd too freaking much Sleepies stores around. Opening like mushrooms after the rain. One gotta wonder that type of margin these guys work with if there are much more Sleepies in my town than Starbucks

I have a good friend that manages a mattress store.
The mark-up on bedding is astronomical.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I have a good friend that manages a mattress store.
The mark-up on bedding is astronomical.

Let it alone Adam.

 

[Adam]

Let it alone Adam.

I find that funny even though I don't quite get it.

As for movie prices, I have no idea what they're like anymore. I haven't gone to a movie in over a decade. If I were to go to one now, I'd probably find myself reaching for the pause button when I had to use the restroom...

 

[JohnnieB]

I'm the same way. When I watch a movie, I'm either drinking a cappacino or a coke, and both make sitting for 2 hrs difficult. The pause button is a must.
I do however like the big screen at times, although I don't care what theater I go to, it sounds better at home. Movie night at the theaters is a $50 date night in my book. The cost doesn't really bother me too much though. It costs money to hire counter personel, janitors, maintenance. If you believe people need more than minimum wage to live, the ticket prices aren't out of line, IMO.

 

[TheWarrior]

MarkW: You went to Opryland? No wonder you're feeling sore....

Saw Into the Woods with the wife a couple weeks back to sample our brand new theater. And then remembered why I hadn't been to a theater in ages. Considering that the movie is 90% musical, both male and female voices were just awful in the theater. I was horrified to realize my 2ch HT sounds better. Granted I have nowhere near the bass response of a commercial theater, but I don't think my foundation can handle much more ;-)

 

[andyblackcat]

UK odeon cinemas trying to stiff customers with an extra £1.00 on the already high price just cos the film looks like blockbuster kicked off a storm in the UK, last year.

I stopped going to cinema since 9th May 2013 Empire, London was last time.

I prefer to buy once in a while laserdisc, DVD, HD-DVD or a bluray once in rare while and watch some older films that I might not have seen before since there are literally millions of them worldwide. I don't care for the Lord of HobnobBits or hungry games. When I hear about hungry games is it about eating? I saw a hungry game on the goggle box last Chrirstmas and I could only stand 20 seconds of it some kiddies on a train and switched it off and put on some TOS STAR TREK instead.

I say they should bring back £1.50 of the 70's. why not whats wrong with £1.50. You go into a petrol station today a frigging Mars Bar, will cost £1.50. What ever happened to 25p Mars Bar?

I tell you what else I have noticed that gets me heated under my collar is films digital films and these server rooms sending the signal out to boothless auditoriums.

Boothless meaning there is no longer any need for a projection room. The video projector is set-up like a home cinema often inside the auditorium in box. Well if that is the case I might as well watch a film in my own home cinema even at 3am, cinemas around here don't show hard-drive films at 3am.

Also they shuffle films around from a large number 1 screen first show and second show WTF! Its showing in smaller screen. This nonsense wouldn't have happened with 35mm 70mm. That is a many more reasons why I don't bother with cinemas now. They are lost art in showmanship and presentation. Its all button pushing at cinemas today.

Also films today in a large number 1 screen are short lived even atmos ones are short lived. The most weeks they do is 2 weeks at the minimum. 4 weeks if its lucky to do real business, but far cry of doing anything as close to Batman / Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 70mm for 12 weeks.

 

[TheWarrior]

Last film I'd seen was Rush with my Dad. They had speaker issues and cut out parts of the dialogue.

Are they atleast cutting out the dumpy seats in the UK? The theaters in my area have swapped them out for reclining home theater style couches, and have halved the number of seat.

I like them, but not enough to get me to go back. I love LOTR and Hobbit, but I will wait to see the third when its on Blu-ray....

 

[andyblackcat]

Real cinema seats at Empire was rocker seats so comfy they used to be. what ever bR%&*()ds ripped them out shame on them. I could sit in the seat all day though a STAR TREK marathon 12 hours and not feel un-rested once.

My own seats in home cinema are Irwin rocker seats that recline back and if I wanted to sleep there's think called a bed for catnapping or 9 hour sleep.

If I fitted home theatre seats in my room there would only be enough for x4 seats as the width on those seats is greater. I chose real cinema seats x6 and wish I had gone with x9 now Irwin rockers. Also the seats at £79.00 is miles cheaper than those at £800 + per seat.

The worst seats in a cinema are the ones that aren't rockers that have stiff seat backs, odoen Leicester square is so unfordable, and they have stiff ticket prices. Last film I saw there was Leatherheads and I wish I got money back before the film started I was fidgeting around. The OLS circle, £22.50. I can buy x3 on offer bluray films for that amount or feed my cat for at least 4 weeks.

 

[slipperybidness]

If I do hit a theatre, I usually only go 1 or 2 times per year (cuz there's only 2 movies in a good year worth seeing in a theater), and I pretty much only hit up Alamo Draft House.

ADH has a full menu and a full bar, and waiters bringing you food and drinks!

You have a row of seats with a row of bar/table in front of you. At my local ADH, you actually get to reserve your seats at time of purchase. I always get the very back because those are only 2 seats together with a table between each set of 2 seats, and extra leg room. It's kind of like having your own semi-private booth! Granted, the surround effects take a hit being on the back wall, but that's a sacrifice I make for the extra room and comfort.

The tickets average about $10, but they make up for it on the food (but they do have good food and lots or craft beer).

 

[andyblackcat]

Häagen-Dazs ice-cream served at this THX cinema.

Co-Op own ice cream brand tasty for TOTAL RECALL (2012) without the Dolby TrueHD drop-outs

The co-op choc ices are not bad ether.

Now this ice-cream is tasty for films and what does it remind me of?

I also dish up a pizza with a film no need to go to empire cinemas as they don't serve pizzas.

The DIE HARD with original theatrical 6-track Dolby mix not on DVD or bluray. 40 stories of flaming sub bass pepperoni pizza.

 

[markw]

MarkW: You went to Opryland? No wonder you're feeling sore....

Saw Into the Woods with the wife a couple weeks back to sample our brand new theater. And then remembered why I hadn't been to a theater in ages. Considering that the movie is 90% musical, both male and female voices were just awful in the theater. I was horrified to realize my 2ch HT sounds better. Granted I have nowhere near the bass response of a commercial theater, but I don't think my foundation can handle much more ;-)

Yeah, it was expensive but every so often we'll treat ourselves to a world class movie in a great theatre. We will only go to three Imax theatres when we do splurge: 68th & Lexington in NYC, the one in the one in the Bob Bullock museum in Austin, and this one in Nashville. Obviously, the last two are when we're traveling and feel we deserve a treat.

Since we had my preferred seating (dead center, just about eye level), the presentation was excellent: Great picture, great sound and, since the price kept out the riff-raff, the theatre was dead quiet. One good thing about this particular theatre is that when you do go for the Imax, you don't have to wait in line to get into the theatre. Also, going in the evening mid-week didn't hurt either.

 

[Hobbit]

I've never been a big movie going fan. But, that's mostly because most movies are so poor I feel ripped off. I do like the newer theaters, however. The seats are comfortable and there's plenty of legroom. The sound OK too. Now, the older theaters.....

The bottom line: When my girlfriend wants to go to a movie, I go

 

[slipperybidness]

I've never been a big movie going fan. But, that's mostly because most movies are so poor I feel ripped off. I do like the newer theaters, however. The seats are comfortable and there's plenty of legroom. The sound OK too. Now, the older theaters.....

The bottom line: When my girlfriend wants to go to a movie, I go

LOL, yeah, that's just about my philosophy too.

But, I just about got the GF worn down on that. She is certainly starting to see the benefits of a little HT action!

 

[slipperybidness]

Yeah, it was expensive but every so often we'll treat ourselves to a world class movie in a great theatre. We will only go to three Imax theatres when we do splurge: 68th & Lexington in NYC, the one in the one in the Bob Bullock museum in Austin, and this one in Nashville. Obviously, the last two are when we're traveling and feel we deserve a treat.

Since we had my preferred seating (dead center, just about eye level), the presentation was excellent: Great picture, great sound and, since the price kept out the riff-raff, the theatre was dead quiet. One good thing about this particular theatre is that when you do go for the Imax, you don't have to wait in line to get into the theatre. Also, going in the evening mid-week didn't hurt either.

Hey, when you hit up the Bob Bullock Imax, be aware of a couple other spots within walking distance.

Right across MLK on the edge of campus is the Blanton Mueseum. It does cost $ to get in, but they usually have some pretty decent exhibits.

Right down at 21st and Guadalupe, also at the corner of campus, is the Harry Ransom Center. As far as I know, there is never a charge for it. They have the first known photograph on permanent exhibit. They just finished up a Gone With the Wind Exhibit (whoop-de-do), and they get other random stuff from time to time like the original manuscript for On the Road. I've heard the Gutenberg Bible makes appearances there too, but I think it is permanently housed at LBJ library over by the stadium.

Back to the topic of theatres, right across from HRC is the Dobie Mall. There *used* to be Dobie Theater in there, an old independent theatre. I loved that place, each screen had a theme (think ancient Egypt, that was my favorite theme). I'm not 100% sure, but I think it is now long gone

 

[Hobbit]

LOL, yeah, that's just about my philosophy too.

But, I just about got the GF worn down on that. She is certainly starting to see the benefits of a little HT action!

Fortunately, unless it's a book she read, she'd rather go to a brew pub

 

[TheWarrior]

Since we had my preferred seating (dead center, just about eye level), the presentation was excellent: Great picture, great sound and, since the price kept out the riff-raff, the theatre was dead quiet. One good thing about this particular theatre is that when you do go for the Imax, you don't have to wait in line to get into the theatre. Also, going in the evening mid-week didn't hurt either.

Never got to enjoy a show at the Opry. Instead, some friends of ours recommended we go for xmas (we LOVE Nashville) only to be horrified by the mass of people that came to see the lights. I don't do well in crowds of families with unattended children, when sober, so I might have mowed a few people down that failed to yield to the 'bigger ship in the harbor.'

Glad to hear their theaters are good though! As a kid living in Flemington, NJ, my theaters were always the Liberty Science Center and the Wintergarden in NYC. So when we moved to ATL and tried the Fox, we were horribly disappointed. Good venues are definitely something to cherish!

 

[markw]

Never got to enjoy a show at the Opry. Instead, some friends of ours recommended we go for xmas (we LOVE Nashville) only to be horrified by the mass of people that came to see the lights. I don't do well in crowds of families with unattended children, when sober, so I might have mowed a few people down that failed to yield to the 'bigger ship in the harbor.'

Glad to hear their theaters are good though! As a kid living in Flemington, NJ, my theaters were always the Liberty Science Center and the Wintergarden in NYC. So when we moved to ATL and tried the Fox, we were horribly disappointed. Good venues are definitely something to cherish!

We didn't see the movie in Opryland itself. The Imax is in the neighboring shopping mall. And, yes, the traffic was horrendous. We booked a hotel, via Priceline, for a Saturday night before Christmas that The Rockettes were playing in Opryland. It took us literally 1 1/2 nours to go two exits on Briely Pkwy to get to our hotel, The Inn at Opryland, a block away from Opryland Proper.