Movie snacks

ozliz · Jul 5, 2015

Thanks for clarifying. Our movie tickets are really expensive so that probably is part of the difference. While I am sure the movie theatres prefer you buy their food and drink they definitely never stop people taking in normal movie snacks. Anniemae, I think our cinemas are like yours as many are attached to large shopping malls. There are these small shops called 'Sugar Station' that have opened up near all the cinemas in my city and sell lollies. I still usually stop by the supermarket or bring snacks from home but occasionally eat the hot popcorn (I shouldn't because it upsets my stomach a bit but do occasionally anyway). The only time I have ever seen bags checked was going into the overnight movie marathons where many people do take a lot of stuff (blankets etc) and they check all the bags for alcohol etc as these events are popular with teenagers who may get up to mischief. Even then they don't fuss about food from the supermarket.

kaytieeldr · Jul 5, 2015

Luv Bunnies said:
The AMC near us has a pizza-by-the-slice place right next door. I've seen people walk right in to theater holding their pizza boxes and sodas. The ticket takers never say anything. I think it depends on the management or even who is working that day. We saw Jurassic World today and I knew I wouldn't get through the movie without a snack. I try to eat very many processed foods and there is literally nothing they sell that I would eat. I brought a little baggie of almonds and a can of sparkling water in my purse. If I didn't bring my own food, I still wouldn't have bought any of theirs, so the theater wasn't losing money from me. My DH and DS bought popcorn and sodas so they made plenty off of them. I wouldn't put a whole meal in my purse, but snack items, especially if you have specific food requirements, I think is fine.

I'm curious about this. The movie is just barely over two hours long. Even adding another hour for entering, buying tickets, finding seats, watching previews - how often is it necessary to eat or snack more frequently than every three hours?

mombrontrent · Jul 5, 2015

kaytieeldr said:
I'm curious about this. The movie is just barely over two hours long. Even adding another hour for entering, buying tickets, finding seats, watching previews - how often is it necessary to eat or snack more frequently than every three hours?

In general I do agree with you but in some cases there are some people who need to eat at certain intervals. Whether that has to do with taking medication, diabetes or something else sometimes there is a legitimate reason.

TheDisneyNurse · Jul 5, 2015

Back when I still worked at a movie theater, I used to bring so, so many things into the theater lol. Wouldn't even have to sneak them in, since I worked there and no one cared. Would bring some treats for me, and some treats for whoever was working at the time, too. Brighten up their days a bit. But that was when I had free movies and I went all the time.

I used to get popcorn for free, too. But now I usually buy a popcorn and an ICEE, and sneak in the candy. Popcorn is so good, man. Lol! Can't resist.

Luv Bunnies · Jul 5, 2015

kaytieeldr said:
I'm curious about this. The movie is just barely over two hours long. Even adding another hour for entering, buying tickets, finding seats, watching previews - how often is it necessary to eat or snack more frequently than every three hours?

Sometimes based on the timing of other meals, you're pretty sure you're going to get hungry during a movie. I suppose I could have eaten my snack in the car or in front of the theater, but I wasn't hungry at that point and would have been eating just for the sake of eating. I usually carry a small snack with me anyway because I tend to get low blood sugar between breakfast and lunch.

TianaPrincess · Jul 5, 2015

Bringing your own snacks to the movies is forbidden at the Movie Theaters in my area which is on the East Coast of the United States. People still do it by bringing them in a large Purse bag. The only thing that is pretty much impossible to sneak in is Popcorn unless you pop it at home and fill your purse up with the Popcorn.

A_Princess'_Daddy · Jul 5, 2015

diznymom said:
Revenues from movie ticket sales - 90% goes to Hollywood (the cinemas only get 10%). Therefore, all operating costs and profits are from concession sales. Also, it is a Health Code violation to bring in outside foods or drinks.

That is why they all have the signs that say No Outside Food or Drinks.

****DH and DFIL have worked in the cinema industry for decades.

This is actually an incorrect, but often repeated, myth. The vast, vast majority of theater chains have a sliding scale of revenue sharing for each movie with the distribution company combined with a pre-set house allowance. It is likely for a major motion picture to have a 90/10 split for the first week or two (and some major blockbusters can even have a 100/0 split) but the longer the movie is in the theater, the more the theater keeps from the ticket sales, and along the way they also receive their house allowance to help cover their fixed costs. It is one of the reasons the theaters keep movies playing for longer, despite smaller audiences; they retain a larger share of the ticket sales in later weeks and so the economics work even with fewer people in the theater.

It is easy to pull the 10-K for any of the major public chains and see the amount of revenue they take in from ticket sales versus the amount they pay out for film rentals and see that the split is closer to 60/40 (studios to theaters) and a few major chains even get close to 50/50. Furthermore, the theaters make money from their pre-show advertising and other revenue sources they have developed over the years.

If theaters truly did make their revenue solely, or even largely from concessions, there would be far greater enforcement of the rules prohibiting outside food and drink and no theater companies would be in business, even with $0.25 worth of popcorn being sold for $8.50, because the economics simply do not work.

MouseLover · Jul 7, 2015

I always take in my own candy and sometimes a can or bottle of cola. I don't feel bad about it, I'm all for a business making a profit but not gouging. NO reason whatsoever for small soda to be 5.25 or small candy to be $5.

MickeySP · Jul 7, 2015

Gumbo4x4 said:
Just as the gas station makes 90+% of their profit from the convenience store, not the gas.

We really like buttered popcorn, so we will typically buy a tub & a soda. Fortunately, prices here are reasonable ($6.50 for a ticket, $3.50-4.00 each for large drink & popcorn). We do sneak in candy.

I'm moving there!!!! Here tickets range 11- 16 dollars. Small drink & small popcorn $11.

dotfurio · Jul 8, 2015

The prices for concessions are just outrageous. We usually buy a big refillable popcorn and a big refillable iced tea and share it - and refill it on our way out! Other than that I pack in candy for the kids. I also don't like that there aren't any healthy choices - especially when I'm actually trying to stick to my diet. Then I'll pack in some carrots or something to snack on. Even though I'd really rather have the chocolate covered raisins.

Daisy62 · Jul 8, 2015

MickeySP said:
I'm moving there!!!! Here tickets range 11- 16 dollars. Small drink & small popcorn $11.

We just went to see Jurrasic World. We paid $16.99 per ticket for a Saturday show at 4pm. Our popcorn with two drinks was $24. I brought my own JR mints because they don't sell them.

RDR_BU · Jul 8, 2015

Matinee showing costs $5.50 for me in Texas ($2.50 up-charge for 3D). Cost is $7.50 after 6:00 PM. I think a small popcorn and medium drink costs $10 or $11.

MickeySP · Jul 8, 2015

Daisy62 said:
We just went to see Jurrasic World. We paid $16.99 per ticket for a Saturday show at 4pm. Our popcorn with two drinks was $24. I brought my own JR mints because they don't sell them.

That is about right, my DSO corrected me. He reminded me when we saw Jurassic World be cause it was reserved seating tix were 18.50. He bought chicken tenders( yeah I know) for $19!!!!!

I loveStitchnippyjon · Jul 8, 2015

I usually bring in a bottle of unsweetened iced tea because they don't sell it there. If we're hungry we share a small popcorn, so it's not too expensive!

Daisy62 · Jul 8, 2015

MickeySP said:
That is about right, my DSO corrected me. He reminded me when we saw Jurassic World be cause it was reserved seating tix were 18.50. He bought chicken tenders( yeah I know) for $19!!!!!

Our price wasn't even reserved tickets! Lol just overpriced.

shoney · Jul 8, 2015

I took a few kids to Jurassic World, 11:30 am - first showing....
Kids tix $10
Adults $13

1 small popcorn, 2 small sodas, 1 candy, 1 ice cream bar $26

When my kids were little, I always had a pocketbook full of junk. As teen, I encourage them to sneak stuff in! They usually don't listen to me!

Movie snacks

ozliz

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kaytieeldr

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mombrontrent

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TheDisneyNurse

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Luv Bunnies

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TianaPrincess

Have a MAGICAL day.

A_Princess'_Daddy

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MouseLover

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MickeySP

Cruisin with sunnies & cold longnecks

dotfurio

What happened to the disappearing act?

Daisy62

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RDR_BU

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MickeySP

Cruisin with sunnies & cold longnecks

I loveStitchnippyjon

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Daisy62

Mouseketeer

shoney

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