Movie ticket prices increasing this weekend

[Free4Life11]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/25/technology/3D_movie_ticket_price_spike/

Starting Friday, prices for adult admission to 3-D movies will increase an average 8.3% at box offices nationwide, according to market research conducted by investment firm BTIG. Ticket prices for IMAX movies are expected to jump 10%, while prices for regular 2-D movies will rise about 4% on average.

The price for an adult ticket to a 3-D evening show is now $16 where I lived. I'll pass or stick to the matinee!

 

[*BTMRR*]

Yuck. I don't like 3D movies--yes they can be pretty neat but the headache I get from them isn't worth it, and now with this $$$ there's no way our family will be going to more than 1-2 per year, if that.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I think they're going to get some backlash on this. They are capitalizing (which isn't a bad thing in general) on the success of a VERY popular movie, Avatar, but there are no guarantees any of the new movies being released will garner the same and this may push people to avoid them at the weakest point, the initial gain of popularity.

 

[Deb in IA]

We saw Avatar in 2-D, and Alice in Wonderland in 3-D.

If the price differential is going to be that great, I would just as soon see the movies in 2-D. At least for Alice, I was not all that impressed with 3-D. I felt the colors were washed out and not as vibrant as in 2-D.

Or maybe that was just the way Tim Burton filmed Alice - I know he often goes for a dark, gloomy feel to his pictures.

 

[jen0610]

As a family, we DON'T go see the 3D versions, plain and simple due to the extra cost. Here the additional cost is $3.00 at Carmikes, $3.50 at Rave, and $4.00 at Regal. So for our family of 4, it's an additional $12.00 at Carmike, our theater of choice.

We will be going to Clash of the Titans, but it will be the regular ol' showing for us.

For us to consider doing the 3D's they would need to sell, at a low price for the glasses your first time seeing a 3D movie and then an upcharge of no more than a $1.00-1.50 for the movie. That is the ONLY way we would ever consider the 3D's. When you go to buy the tickets, you have to show that all the parties already have the glasses in order to get the low upcharge. If you don't want to buy a pair of glasses, that is when you pay the higher up charge to rent the theaters glasses.

 

[Jennasis]

I wish they'd let you bring your old 3-D glasses inmstead of forking over an additional $3. 3-D movies are $11 here.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

The extra charge for 3D isn't for the glasses, it's for the special projector needed. At least that is what they said at the theater.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

WOW-I haven't seen a movie in 3-D for a LONG time so I don't even know what the prices are here in Milwaukee.

 

[mykidsand_i]

3-D movie prices here are $8.50...I thought THAT was expensive! Some people pay that (or more) just to see a regular movie! YUCK. It's not worth it for me to spend $40 for my family to go to 1 movie! AND THAT'S BEFORE the over-priced popcorn, pop and candy. I cannot allow myself to spend that kind of money on something that is sooooo much cheaper to get on DVD in a few months. I'll stay home and pop my own popcorn thank you very much!!!

Yeah, some people LOVE to go to movies. My neighbor said she kept a 'running total' on the past 14 months of their movie going and she said her family spent over $900 just going to the movies and getting 1 pop and 1 popcorn each every time they went there! Then, a week later she was complaining that she was behind on her credit card payments! WOW, WOW, WOW- what is the world coming to?

 

[Sparx]

3-D movie prices here are $8.50...I thought THAT was expensive! Some people pay that (or more) just to see a regular movie! YUCK. It's not worth it for me to spend $40 for my family to go to 1 movie! AND THAT'S BEFORE the over-priced popcorn, pop and candy. I cannot allow myself to spend that kind of money on something that is sooooo much cheaper to get on DVD in a few months. I'll stay home and pop my own popcorn thank you very much!!!

Yeah, some people LOVE to go to movies. My neighbor said she kept a 'running total' on the past 14 months of their movie going and she said her family spent over $900 just going to the movies and getting 1 pop and 1 popcorn each every time they went there! Then, a week later she was complaining that she was behind on her credit card payments! WOW, WOW, WOW- what is the world coming to?

There are people like that in every group. How many times has there been a poster on this forum who had a thread about filing for bankruptcy, and a ticker counting down to their next deluxe disney trip in their signature?

Poor financial decisions aren't limited to one group of interests like movie goers.

ETA:
I just did a little math.
For a family of four to spend 900.00 in 14 months, that would equal out to about 8 dollars per person, twice a month, for fourteen months. Its not really that big of an expense when you think about it that way. less than 1000.00 for entertainment for more than 1 year isn't a huge expense.

 

[JenM]

3-D movie prices here are $8.50...I thought THAT was expensive!

I saw Alice in Wonderland in IMAX 3D last night in NYC - my ticket was $17.50.

I had a gift card, so it actually cost me nothing...except a big chunk of what's left on my gift card. And I snuck a soda in.

3D/IMAX movies closer to where I live in NJ are $14.50.

I love the movies, I go all the time, and I don't even mind shelling out the extra $$ for the 3D/IMAX if it's a movie I really want to see...but to jack up the prices on the 3D movies now is so unfair.

What it costs a family to go to one of these movies now is outrageous. To make them pay more is just plain wrong.

 

[AtlantaSue]

I live just outside of Atlanta--I took 3 little boys to the 3D Dragon movie last night and paid $49--crazy, I know--we didn't buy ANYTHING from the concession stand! Adult price-$15, kids $11.50.
REALLY liked that movie, by the way!! And there was a preview for Shrek 3D, which looked very good, and another 3D movie w/ voices by Will Ferrell & Tina Fey that also looked good-I'll have to save up for those!

We do not go to the movies often. This was a special occasion. And although I would love to go, it seems these days that the only movies we actually go to the theatre to see are the kid ones.

 

[golfgal]

I had to look up the price of the IMAX 3D shows, they are $12-15. I have never gone to one so I had no idea. Our local theater has $5/shows between 4-6 so the kids tend to go to those. DH and I rarely go to movies any more.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

3D is now 13.50 here. The only change we are going to make is to decide if we really need to see a specific movie in 3D or not. We won't cut back on seeing movies. We will just make sure we get to a matinee instead of evening shows. Hitting a matinee and not doing 3D will save the 3 of us $20.50.

One thing I keep hearing (not here on Dis) is people saying "I just won't buy concessions!!". If you need or want to save that way, I understand - concession prices are too high as well! However, remember that ticket prices are not set by them and they do not make that much from them to begin with. Don't think you are making a difference by cutting into their one way to make money - the concessions!

 

[momof1princess]

a rise in movie prices is REALLY going to cause a backlash in my town. we don't have 3D movies at our theater, but the teens have NOTHING else to do around here, and they won't be able to afford higher movie prices. my 17 yo cousin and his friends work at typical teen jobs, and don't have that much extra money.

 

[mykidsand_i]

ETA:
I just did a little math.
For a family of four to spend 900.00 in 14 months, that would equal out to about 8 dollars per person, twice a month, for fourteen months. Its not really that big of an expense when you think about it that way. less than 1000.00 for entertainment for more than 1 year isn't a huge expense.

If they don't have that $1,000 to spend on entertainment, it is DEFINATELY A LOT!!! AND It ends up costing MUCH MORE because all their tix and goodies there get purchased on Credit cards that they pay minimum payments on every month!!! They are paying intrest on that $1,000 for way longer than they should.

AND who in the world ONLY goes to the movies for their ONLY form of entertainment? $1,000 for the movies every year, $1,000 for other things, $500 here, $200 there and it all adds up to a lot of money for 'entertainment' and things that aren't NEEDED.

 

[WaltD4Me]

One thing I keep hearing (not here on Dis) is people saying "I just won't buy concessions!!". If you need or want to save that way, I understand - concession prices are too high as well! However, remember that ticket prices are not set by them and they do not make that much from them to begin with. Don't think you are making a difference by cutting into their one way to make money - the concessions!

This is true, a friend of mine's father used to own a movie theatre and they didn't make hardly anything from ticket sales, they made their money at the concession stand. So I understand what you are saying, but concession prices are not just too high, they are OUTRAGEOUS. It's $3.75 at the theatre I go to for a medium soda. I refuse to pay that, I don't care if the movie only cost $1. Don't they think they would sell alot more product if it was cheaper? I would buy a soda at $2.50, at $3.75 I don't buy anything at all, so they make nothing. And with ticket prices going up even more people are going to bypass the concession stand and their ridiculous prices.

 

[luvsJack]

When dd and I go to a movie, one popcorn to share and 2 cokes is usually more than the ticket prices. (regular movie, not 3D and going during matinee prices).

I guess after the prices go up, if I want to see a 3D movie, I will probably not buy concessions. Not because I think it might get them to change the price, but because it will make it possible for me to see the 3D movie and not spend more money. I am glad we saw Alice before the price rise, though.

 

[beattyfamily]

I saw this on the news. Not all theater chains are going up though.

I went to see a 3D movie with my kids a few months ago and was shocked by the extra charge ($14, rather than $11) and swore I'd never go again to a 3D movie.

The news said a 3D movie is now $19.50 here in MA, Boston area. NO WAY would I pay that to see a movie, ever. SO no more 3D for me.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I'm OK with the only 3D is see anymore being at WDW. I don't really like 3D too much, I'll probably see the last HPs in 3D IMAX but that's it.