Snacks at the Movie Theatre

[Conservative Hippie]

I have to admit I am a little shocked at how many admit to bringing in their own snacks. If you don't think it's wrong, why do you need to "sneak" it in with you? If you can't budget another $10 to $15.00 to go to the concession stand, you should go without food during the movie showing, or rent a dvd and eat whatever you want at home.

Der....because it's fun....

 

[mtemm]

when we were kids my dad used to give us $.50 each to get snacks with. we used to run to the local drug store, which was conveniently located next to the theatre, and carefully peruse the candy aisles. Way back then (the '70s) chocolate bars used to cost anywhere from $.25 to $.30 (I still remember when they raised the price...the horror!) but we could load up on boxes of mike and ikes, hot tamales, etc, for about $.15 each.

I still laugh when I think about how much thought we put into our purchases. and how much math skills ended up being involved! lol.

today I feel positively luxurious (and slightly guilty) when I go to the actual movie counter and ask for milk duds or the like.

Since we have 3 young kids, we rarely go to the movies, but when we do, more often than not I will get a small popcorn and maybe milk duds, or maybe m&ms (m&m's are great mixed into the popcorn) and a small drink. sometimes I'm good and I don't, but for me its like going to a ballgame and not getting a hot dog. I don't normally care for hot dogs, but something about going to a baseball game makes me yearn for one.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

It's a date, pal! If I ever get to Austin, I AM THERE!

You bring the Red Vines!!

 

[monarchsfan16]

When I went to see "The DaVinci Code" last month, the ticket cost $10.50.

Wow. I went to a matinee Wednesday and it cost $5. A night movie at the same theater is $7ish I believe

As for sneaking in snacks, I never did by choice (stepdad brought them when I was younger). I do think it's wrong, although I do understand the reasoning behind it, now that I do go to movies with others besides my family. But personally I wouldn't choose to. I see buying popcorn as part of the whole movie experience, and if I want it, I get it, since I've planned for it in the cost of the movie. But that's me

 

[lindakmonty]

we always get snacks. the popcorn is soooo good! Sometimes I'll bring candy in my purse. it's so much cheaper!

 

[lucyanna girl]

If I buy a large popcorn and 2 drinks from the theater I am not going to feel guilty about having a pack of Chewy Sweet Tarts in my purse for DD. We go to the movies often. Love that popcorn!

Penny

 

[agnes!]

No, I don't buy snacks. Was that my DD that you took to the theater with you?

Why don't I do it? Well, it does cost a lot. The kids waste most of it, and the soda/water will send them to the restroom too often.

Also, I think that you should be able to go sit through a movie and not have to constantly eat.

But I don't begrudge anyone else who wants to do it. Having said that, I have bought snacks on occasion. I like the Kid's Pack that my theater offers. A bit of popcorn, a small bag of M&Ms and a very small soda. Perfect size, perfect price.

Hey Christine, I do that, too! We like to go to the AMC Hoffman Center & the kid's pack is just enough for me .

agnes!

 

[NMAmy]

You bring the Red Vines!!

Well, of course! I usually have a pack in my purse--I like to be prepared.

 

[Quinn222]

I never get snacks. If I've brought my nephews though then I buy them drinks and a popcorn to share and they can each pick out a candy.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I'll buy popcorn on occasion. It's not a matter of not being able to eat, it's a matter of I'm in the mood for popcorn.

I guess I'm lucky that our local theaters don't care if you're bringing in food or bottles of water.

 

[Aidensmom]

We have one theater here that has gourmet food and cocktails at the snack bar, we do indulge if we go there.

Otherwise, if I go with my son, we split a Kid's Pack, because that is part of the fun for him of going to the movies. If I go alone, however, or with DH, I don't usually get any snacks.

 

[Maleficent13]

My local theatre does not carry Red Vines but instead carries the vastly inferior (in my family's opinion) Twizzlers. If they carried the kind we prefer, I would not sneak them in in my purse.

That is so Lorelai.

I have to get milkduds. It's not a movie without milkduds. Period. Once I went to a theatre and they were OUT of milkduds. There should be a law.

 

[Chattyaholic]

DH and I go to the "before 6:00" movies, then it's only $5.00 each to get in.

We always buy the "large combo" popcorn/soda for $6.50 and we used to just share that. But! DH likes to sprinkle topping (usually Ranch) on his popcorn and I like it just with butter, so now I also get a medium bag of popcorn for myself which is another $4.00. We rarely get candy though. I occasionally get a $2 bag of cotton candy though.

It's too bad snack prices are so high, but ticket sales go for the movie, the only way the theater makes any money is from the snacks.

 

[Daydreamer64]

I have to admit I am a little shocked at how many admit to bringing in their own snacks. If you don't think it's wrong, why do you need to "sneak" it in with you?

NO sneaking here- we just carry it in and have never been asked or confronted about our snacks! I do have to say, however, that here in Atlanta it is $6 for kids matinee and $7.50 for Adult matinee- don't even ask about regular prices

Factor that in by 4 and you have an entry fee of $25.50 to just get in the door.

If you can't budget another $10 to $15.00 to go to the concession stand

My kids are 10 and 12 so they each ask for nachos and coke - Nachos $7.99 each and large coke $3.50 each, then we all share a large popcorn $4.50 and Dad and I share a large Sprite- $3.50 again and the food total = $30.50 just for finger food snacks!

Grand total = tickets/snacks = $56.00 for a 2 hour kids movie-

We now either take drinks in with us and just buy a popcorn or we take all of our own snacks. If it's a special treat like a birthday then we splurge and buy the measley cup serving of nachos and the drinks but it is few and far between times that we can afford that.

Sometimes it's all about where you live, how much money you have, and how many kids/people you have to pay for to get into the movie. And, yes, we see almost all of our movies at home because the prices are so high.

It costs the movie theater buyers next to nothing for a handful of chips, 1/4th cup of cheese sauce and that 32 oz cup of drink. Our local movie theater gets plenty of profit to pay the employees from the entry fees alone considering that our theater has 23 screens and many movies ( any one- take a pick ) play all day long on multiple screens starting every 30 to 60 mins. apart. I've always wondered why the movies cost so much.

 

[MsLeFever]

We buy an extra large popcorn for the family and bring juice boxes for the kids from home!

now I want popcorn.....

 

[NMAmy]

That is so Lorelai.

I have to get milkduds. It's not a movie without milkduds. Period. Once I went to a theatre and they were OUT of milkduds. There should be a law.

That's me, I'm Lorelai all over! I SO wish we had a Black, White, and Red Theatre and could watch Pippi Longstocking. And Twizzlers are an inferior red licorice. They're too hard--they don't have that soft, stretchy texture that we red licorice gourmets like so much.

And no milk duds is why you should always carry a spare box in your purse. Although, Conservative Hippie's Haagen Daz (I have no clue how to spell that!) idea is FABULOUS!

And Aidensmom--if my theatre had COCKTAILS!!! I swear, I'd never go on any other outing. I'd bring DH along to be my designated driver. Now, if they'd show The Rocky Horror Picture Show, it'd be just like being back in college again!

 

[CheshireVal]

I can't watch a movie without my $4 small popcorn and $5 large Diet Coke. I just can't!!!!!

Sometimes I'll bring a candy bar in my purse, but I never buy candy at the theater.

 

[RachelEllen]

I have to admit I am a little shocked at how many admit to bringing in their own snacks. If you don't think it's wrong, why do you need to "sneak" it in with you? If you can't budget another $10 to $15.00 to go to the concession stand, you should go without food during the movie showing, or rent a dvd and eat whatever you want at home.

I sneak popcorn in because I don't like the greasy stuff. I usually bring microwaved, light popcorn in. I always figured if I got 'caught' I'd ask if I could buy a bag and still just eat my own.

 

[GoofyDad869]

We get a drink for each of us, and split a large popcorn from the concession stand.

I love Mike & Ike's and none of our area theaters carry them.

So I sneak my Mike & Ike's in. They'll get 'em when they pry 'em out of my cold dead fingers...

 

[NMAmy]

So I sneak my Mike & Ike's in. They'll get 'em when they pry 'em out of my cold dead fingers...

You know, I just realized that according to the little Google ads at the top of the thread...this is a true popcorn thread! I never really thought I'd start one of those.