Movie ticket prices - $12 at our AMC now!

[stitchfan18]

DH and I went to a movie last night and I was shocked when the boy said it would be $24 for just the two of us. I thought $10 a person was a bit much, but $12 We buy movie tickets from AAA for $6.50 each and had to pay $1.50 more a ticket at the theatre. Are movie tickets getting this expensive everywhere? I noticed our AMC does assigned seating now, which is nice so we don't have to stake out our seats for half an hour before the movie, but I certainly don't think it's worth the extra money...

 

[stitchfan18]

sorry, I just realized I was in the wrong forum with I posted this! Mods, can you move this to the budget board? Sorry!

 

[ambertides]

Ours are $8-9.50 for night time shows, depending on location. $10 at DTD, I'm pretty sure.

Usually we do matinees on Wednesdays (husband has one Wednesday off a month) and get the free popcorn with the Movie Watcher thing.

 

[Robo]

DH and I went to a movie last night and I was shocked when the boy said it would be $24 for just the two of us. I thought $10 a person was a bit much, but $12 We buy movie tickets from AAA for $6.50 each and had to pay $1.50 more a ticket at the theatre. Are movie tickets getting this expensive everywhere? I noticed our AMC does assigned seating now, which is nice so we don't have to stake out our seats for half an hour before the movie, but I certainly don't think it's worth the extra money...

AMC is simply pricing themselves out of business.

They read the writing on the wall that as soon as the current generation of movie-goers "ages out" of the buying public, the theaters are toast, and they are gonna squeeze every last nickel out of the time that remains.

Most kids now think nothing of watching a "blockbuster" on a 3-inch "pod."
The days of 40 foot screens and $15 popcorn are just about over.

 

[MAH4546]

AMC is simply pricing themselves out of business.

They read the writing on the wall that as soon as the current generation of movie-goers "ages out" of the buying public, the theaters are toast, and they are gonna squeeze every last nickel out of the time that remains.

Most kids now think nothing of watching a "blockbuster" on a 3-inch "pod."
The days of 40 foot screens and $15 popcorn are just about over.

Which explains why 2009 was the best box office year ever, the first time ever the box office surpassed $10B.

And attendance levels haven't fluxed much either. 1.42B in 2009 compared to 1.43B in 2000.

In the past ten years, attendance is down 0.69% and revenues are up 37%. Fair trade off.

Movie theatre chains have some work to do - too much expansion and high fixed cost investments in the 2000s - but attendance isn't one of their problems. Going to the movies remains a popular weekend activity, and that likely will never change.

$12 isn't that bad. In NY/LA/Miami it's $13; an IMAX 3D movie is $21.

 

[XYSRUS]

I haven't gone to the movies in years...over 10. Last time my oldest went he squawked at how expensive it was and that the movie stunk. I love it when they start to grow up! I stopped going when $20 couldn't get my kid a popcorn and drink!

 

[jenseib]

Alot depends on the state/area you live in. I think most are around 11 here now, but we have one theater that shows firt one shows for much cheaper and th popcorn is cheaper too. Not cheap, but cheaper. We try to hit matinee's when possible, at least when I take DD. We love going to the movies, the whole experience is fun for us.

 

[BlovesC]

We go to the movie theater once a week generally, sometimes more during holiday seasons. Theaters to me are as magical as Disney! I seldom watch DVDs. Nothing beats the digital big screen and dolby sound! Even trailers excite me. I own three iPods and an iPhone...no films on any of them. I simply can't watch a movie on a tiny screen!

Anyway, our theater is $9 per flick, but $6 for the before-4pm matinee, which we usually hit. Quieter audiences, less crowds. Although nothing beats seeing a 'reaction' movie (comedy, horror) with a sold-out crowd on opening night!

I never, ever buy anything from concession...I always imagine the folks wandering in with near picnic-basket amounts of food are the type who go to a movie two or three times a year, so it's a big 'treat' for them. At least, I hope so. I know that's how theaters recoup their costs, so even as loyal a customer as I am, I'm not helping them much. But truthfully, I'd pay twice the ticket price to gain admission into a theater where no food is allowed. The one thing that ruins the magic for me is to be surrounded by constant crackling, shuffling, opening, and slurping.

 

[Hardy]

We rarely go to the movies....we did just go to see the Tiana movie, but it's been awhile before that. The cost is ridiculous, you can't go as a family of 4 for less than $50 it seems. That is why our home theater room is under construction in our basement I figure it's not too many trips to the movies to pay for the projector and other equipment, and honestly, no cell phones, freezing air, talking people, $20 popcorn, and gross seats is worth the effort! It won't be long before ticket prices cost more than actually just buying the movie when it comes out. We also pay $8.99 per month for Netflix, one movie out at a time, and unlimited streaming to our xbox (requires paid subscription) and our PS3 (free).

 

[Art 1]

AMC is simply pricing themselves out of business.

They read the writing on the wall that as soon as the current generation of movie-goers "ages out" of the buying public, the theaters are toast, and they are gonna squeeze every last nickel out of the time that remains.

Most kids now think nothing of watching a "blockbuster" on a 3-inch "pod."
The days of 40 foot screens and $15 popcorn are just about over.

I completely disagree. We've been paying 12 for awhile and the movie is usually sold out. Movies are cheep entertainment. My Daughter goes to the movies 2 or 3 times a month and the theaters seem to be full of youth, around here anyway.

 

[Micday]

Our theater is crazy with their consession prices. I order a bottle of water and it was $4.50. I know I choose to buy so I just chalked it up to lesson learned, DO NOT buy water from them.

I understand profit but please...

 

[shortbun]

Our AMC theaters have two shows for most films in the morning on weekends that are $4. per person. I'm a Movie Watcher member and get free stuff pretty frequently. We love seeing new films and we rarely buy a snack. I carry in a small water bottle. One cool thing I noticed about a year ago is that AMC is offering healthy snacks. There is a small veggie plate, cheese tray and fruit bowl in a refrigerated section.

 

[kellia]

That is crazy. That is why we buy so many movies, it's cheaper, especially if it's a family film that we'd have to bring 5 people to!

 

[tinytink]

Our AMC in Virginia has $6 movies before noon, that is when we try to watch it or we get the movie passes from Costco or any military base which tend to run about $7-$8 per ticket

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I hate to say it but we don't go to the movies anymore. I wish we could once in a while but it costs us at least $60 just to walk in the door. The kids all get a small popcorn and drink and it is $100 for less than 2 hours.
I would rather do something for the whole day for that price and buy the DVD when it comes out and have movie night at home.

 

[tar heel]

I live near a 24-screen AMC theatre and we're big movie fans. A year ago, we went to AMC 100% of the time. Now, it's about 60% and going down. I'm willing to drive five miles to see a $4.50 matinee (up to 6 p.m.) when AMC charges $10 beginning at 4 p.m.

The cheapest price ever at our AMC is $5 and most of the times regularly that price have been $7.50 the past week b/c of "holiday pricing." Concession prices also have gone up recently.

The new food and drink policy at AMC will also affect our business as we sometimes go there when it's just DH and me /c we like to go to Starbucks first.

 

[tar heel]

Have your AMCs stopped advertising? Ours did last summer.

 

[RachaelA]

We don't have any AMCs by us. We just went to the local theater today down the street from our new house and the matinee ticket prices were the same as the Cinemark theater 20 minutes away.

We're near Cleveland OH and ticket prices are like $8.75 for an adult evening show. We do pay $12.50 for all the 3D movies though (and we've seen them all except Avatar).

We'd stop going to the movies if they hit $10-$12. The drive in by us costs $16 per car for 2 movies and they always have the movies right when they come out.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I don't go to AMC theaters as I have a Regal movie rewards card and go to Regal theaters. Even so, movies are hideously expensive and I'm a huge movie buff. We saw Princess and the Frog a few days ago and it was $20 for a MATINEE!!! Even with the rewards, DD and I only go to the movies maybe 3 - 4 times a year. But since I just got a 50" plasma TV and a blu-ray player, we may only go twice a year this year to see Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland.

 

[Planogirl]

We go mostly to Cinemark and try to go during the day. If you can go to the first showing you can really save a lot. We also save by not visiting the concessions.

I can't see theaters going down any time soon. Some movies are simply better on the huge screens with the surround sound. Now if I had that at home, I might feel differently.