I remember being a teenager really getting into arthouse and indie flicks. It happened around the time that Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction came out and independent film went “mainstream”. I’d go downtown to catch foreign and indie flicks with no stars, no budget, and no polish, and I’d like them (for the most part) more than many big budget studio counterparts. For someone who grew up on the mindless right-wing actioners of the generation of greed and slick trash known as the 1980’s, it still seems amazing to this day. I never lost my love of movies but much like my love of pro sports I find that the “business aspect” of movies is tainting my love. I don’t really care if Crazy Cruise or Vegan Maguire gets 20 million a movie because to me it’s just 5.50, the price of a movie ticket matinee at my local suburban multiplex. Gangs of Emo kids skating around aimlessly and talky patrons chomping on overpriced sno caps and munching on way overpriced popcorn. The problem is that a matinee is no longer 5.50….or 6.50…..or 7.50. Last Friday ticket prices went up all around, with 3D and IMAX tickets going up 2 to 3 bucks a pop. A matinee is now 9 bucks at my multiplex, while going at night to unwind after a stressful work day will run the good folks 11 bucks. That bucket of small popcorn is 6 bucks while your watered down small coke will set you back around 4.50 or 5 bucks. In New York it now costs 20 bucks a ticket to see movies in IMAX…..and lets not even start with fandango and their ticket fees….It’s a movie, not a Lady Gaga concert. It’s also Capitalism run amok. It’s supply and demand, and that wonderful profit motive. They supply the summer blockbusters that we demand, then we pay over and over. They (being Hollywood) know that us (being movie lovers) will pay it. I’d like to think I’ll be more selective and see less movies now, but that would just hurt me. I want escapism and fun because sometimes reality bites, and a good fantasy movie is just what the doctor ordered.
So we’ll all brood to crappy Nickleback tunes, whine and cry like babies, then we’ll pay our money and see Iron Man 2 or The A Team, in some cases over and over again this summer……and that’s the dirty little secret of Hollywood. They’ve raised the price of movie tickets simply because they can, there’s nothing moral or just about their decision. All it does is hurt families in already tough economic times. I’d just like to ask the powers to be to at least make more original movies, less remakes and sequels. I can practically feel that hot and humid weather on the way, sitting in that cool air-conditioned theatre, chomping on my 6 dollar popcorn while eagerly watching Iron Man 2 in a few months, just don’t ask me to be happy about paying around 20 bucks to see a matinee and have a small popcorn and small coke zero. Double that amount if you want to take a date and triple it if you’re going to see an IMAX movie. This isn’t about what is right and what is wrong, it’s about loving movies, and there’s not a damn thing any of us can do about it. I think I already hear that damn Nickleback music, it’s playing my song.
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Paladin
Mar 31, 2010 -
Of course there is something WE can do about it, don’t see movies for a season and the next time you put your feet on the sticky floor and check the seat for an “AIDS” needle; it’ll only be $3 for a matinee and $6 for general–Goobers will be $1.50 and a small soda with little ice will be .95 cents. The movies; well, they will be all original and good, edge of your seat with a few fun cartoons at the beginning and worth more than the price of admission.
…and then you woke up…
John Kaufman
Apr 1, 2010 -
When I was going to the movies in the 1970’s to see films like Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather and Badlands, first run, Broadway ticjkets ran around six bucks. At night. Matinees were four bucks. Popcorn was like $1.25 and a small drink might set you back a buck.
Now, I pay upwards of seven dollars for a matinee and $3.50 more than that for a 3D movie; never mind IMAX. And what do I get ? Remakes, sequels and films that arn’t as good as the latest episode of Mad Men.
The theatres are only part of the problem. Traditionally, theatres make more money on the snack bar than on the movie itself. The problem is the greed of studios, the rising cost of movies and the value of the land on which theatres sit. Rent is going up for everyone, including movie houses.
Movies used to be among the best entertainment values. Now, that’s no longer true. One can go to a Red Box, rent a movie, order in a couple pizzas, buy a couple of 40’s and split the cost with three friends for less than parking will run you in this town for the two hours one is in the theatre.
I think it’s called “progress?”
Kichiguy
Apr 1, 2010 -
First off, I go to cheaper theaters like the 4starcinemas.com in Garden Grove, which has new movies for about half price, or even $3 on tues/thur.
The stupidest thing about these price hikes is that if they lowered the prices by a lot, people would go to movie theaters way more (and they’d probably make more money). And if they also lowered concession prices, they might even make more money by tons of people buying. I, for one, sneak in $1 Arizona teas and other snacks, because I hate paying outrageous prices for no good reason.
Good luck, movie theaters. I wouldn’t be surprised if movie theaters get down-sized in the future (only showing a few movies). Who wants to pay 10.50-11 for some average movie?