Sneaking treats into the movie theater

[ChrisAlli]

I have a friend who worked for AMC corporate. She always said that the studios got a LARGE percentage of the ticket sales, negotiated before the movies release. AMC makes money on the concession sales and when a movie that they didn't think would do too good actually did really well. Something About Mary comes to mind.

I know our AMC and Regal have a large popcorn with free refill. They also offer curtesy cups. I use these for sharing.

 

[blanq]

...For the record, I've been going to movies since they were 25 cents - and 'no outside food' has always been the policy, everywhere. Even if it's not posted, it's ingrained....

I disagree with your assessment that "no outside has always been the policy, everywhere". AMC theaters JUST implemented a ban on outside food being brought into their theaters, and that is what prompted me to start this thread. I do agree that many, including myself, have always thought that bringing food into a theater might be wrong, but honestly I have NEVER been to theater where this policy was posted. If the policy is not made available clearly to patrons, then can we assume there is one?

 

[Ava]

Sign up for the Movie Watcher club at AMC and you'll regularly get coupons for candy for a dollar. It will say something specific, such as Sweetarts or Butterfingers, but they're usually pretty flexible about what you can get. You also eventually get free popcorn, drinks and tickets.

This is what I did. We go to the movies so rarely (and don't always go to an AMC) that it will probably take me years to earn anything free, but I'm sure I'll earn something eventually.

I'm also able to purchase discounted movie tickets to a few different chains through my company's perks program, and as far as I can tell the discounted tickets will count towards AMC's rewards program (you get a voucher & have to go to the ticket counter to pick up your actual ticket, so I present my Movie Watcher card then along with the voucher). The one we belong to is called Working Advantage - worth looking into if your company belongs to something similar, or speak to your HR dept about joining if you don't.

I usually carry a bottle of water with me when I go out, so that ends up coming into the theater with me. Sometimes I buy other snacks at the concession stand, sometimes I don't.

 

[pixiewings71]

We are half and half, sometimes we don't eat anything during the movie because we've just eaten, other times we take in some snack pack sized candy, other times we just buy at the theater. We usually buy a drink when we get there at the very least, sometimes popcorn (I never sneak popcorn in) but rarely candy because our theater has a horrible selection. I'd rather take in something I might want then buy something I probably won't want and pay more for it. 9 times out of 10 I don't even eat what I take in.....LOL

 

[blanq]

When did AMC do this? We took our Starbux in just five days ago.

Sign up for the Movie Watcher club at AMC and you'll regularly get coupons for candy for a dollar. It will say something specific, such as Sweetarts or Butterfingers, but they're usually pretty flexible about what you can get. You also eventually get free popcorn, drinks and tickets.

Here is a link to a web article about the change. The same story is being reported by a number of sources, but none provide the actual date of the change. It seems to be in effect now.
http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/11/30/daily1.html?surround=lfn

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

Our local movie theatre is next door to a Starbucks. They allow you to bring in Starbucks drinks. YUM. That gets me through the movie. Heck, if I'm going to pay for over-priced stuff anyway, might as well be a Caramel Latte!

 

[blanq]

I don't understand why people can't get through a 2 or 3 hour movie without having to eat or drink.....

Oh, I CAN get through a 2 or 3 hour movie without having to eat or drink, but why would I WANT to?

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Oh, I CAN get through a 2 or 3 hour movie without having to eat or drink, but why would I WANT to?

That's me too! The popcorn is a MUST! If I have a nice dinner out first, and we're stuffed... I'd prefer not to see a movie for no other reason than I don't have room for popcorn and would rather see it another night when I do have room! No popcorn = no movie in my book!!

 

[katie111]

Totally agree!! I HAVE to have that popcorn! I always get a medium because the kids are going to "share" with me...but after 1 or 2 bites they're done & the rest is for me!

I do a combo of sneaking & buying. I buy my soda & popcorn & have the kids pick out a couple of candies frm hime & throw in a couple of juice boxes. My kids don't like soda and I don't want them eating huge bags of candy so bringing stuff from home is much easier (& cheaper!) for us.

 

[brockash]

I also thought this was always supposed to be the rule, but no I don't follow it. I'll buy pop corn and the occassional soda, but I always bring a juice box for each kiddo, as I'm not fond of them having soda (most movie theaters don't sell juice, although I'm sure I'd bring my own that cost a quarter even if they did.) I'll also usually buy a thing of the jr. mints at the store and bring them with me, because the price is just rediculous at the theater. So, it's not that I buy nothing...a medium soda and medium drink usually costs me about $10, and I'm okay with that, but I refuse to spend much more than that for a darn snack. I don't get why they feel the need to charge soooo much more for their food/snacks (if the prices were reasonable, I'd be much more likely just to buy stuff there.) I mean, pop corn and a drink is cheaper at WDW for goodness sakes.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I usually order pretzel bites for myself...they are sooo good! As for my kids, I always smuggle in 2 bottles of water and a small treat.

 

[irish_trip_mom]

does this mean that the guy three rows in front of me who brought his bottle of champagne to New Moon won't be able to?!?!

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's me too! The popcorn is a MUST!

But even the posters defending the "new"* policy agree this is perfectly acceptable. If the moviegoer must eat in the theater building, just purchase the food from the theater.

Those who disagree with the policy can simply opt to not eat or drink anything for the couple of hours in the theater. Surely the kids can - they manage every day in school, right?

That's me too! The popcorn is a MUST!

It's been explained a few times, but - MOST of the ticket price goes to the distributor/studio. The theaters get to keep VERY little of the price of each ticket. They simply can't afford to operate on that small amount of money. Revenue (not income, not profit, simply revenue) from other sources - primarily concessions is necessary for the theater to be able to afford to stay open, staff accordingly, pay its bills...

 

[C.Ann]

If you really enjoy eating and drinking while at the movies, that's fine - but it comes at a price.. So - pay what you have to pay (kind of like going to Disney) and everyone is happy..

 

[surfergirl602]

A restaurant I can see, but movie theater? They make their money off of movies-snacks are just side action gravy

actually, its the other way around. A movie theatre makes most of its profit from the snacks, NOT from ticket sales.

 

[Scurvy]

But even the posters defending the "new"* policy agree this is perfectly acceptable. If the moviegoer must eat in the theater building, just purchase the food from the theater.

Those who disagree with the policy can simply opt to not eat or drink anything for the couple of hours in the theater. Surely the kids can - they manage every day in school, right?

But it's too expensive! What gives them the right to charge so much when I'm entitled to have popcorn during my movie? I don't want to pay that much but I must have popcorn, so it's okay to ignore the rule. And if I don't want to pay so much for the ticket, it's okay to ignore the rule that says I have to buy one to see the movie. I'll just sneak in instead.

Okay, maybe not. What gives them the right is that it's their theater and their popcorn. They can charge what they want to charge and make whatever rules they want to make (assuming they are legal, of course). I believe that if I chose to patronize an establishment, I'm bound by their rules. I don't get to choose to follow only the rules I like.

I still don't get the logic here. It seems that most people feel that if you disagree with the rule it is fine to defy it. What I don't understand, though - since no one has addressed this - is whether those who feel this way think that applies to all rules or just this particular one. If it's just this one, what makes it different from all the other rules? Why is it okay to sneak food in despite a rule to the contrary but not okay to sneak a person in without buying them a ticket? Or is that okay as well, as long as you don't get caught?

 

[georgina]

We rarely go to the movies because it's just too expensive - we can buy the DVD later for cheaper and have movie night at home. However, we decided to treat the kids to the new Disney "Christmas Carol" movie last week. Almost $50 for tickets - 2 adult/2 kids. I thought let's treat ourselves to snacks - it would have been $15 for a soda and a small popcorn. WHAT? Somthing that should be maybe $5 or less is $15? We didn't get snacks. That's just crazy. Sorry, but I'm going back to bringing our own snacks - usually a box of candy from Dollartree.

I am astounded by your movie ticket prices. Around here in a nice, stadium seating theater, the most expensive (Fri/Sat night) adult ticket is $8.50, and kids are $5.50. So you would have paid $28 for tickets.

I rarely go to movies, my kids do though. The oldest doesn't buy food or drinks (she has to pay for her own!), the youngest still do buy food because they aren't yet working and don't understand the value of money. Once they are old enough for jobs, they will realize they can sit through a movie without eating.

 

[DOOM1001]

Oh, I CAN get through a 2 or 3 hour movie without having to eat or drink, but why would I WANT to?

You just made a great point,the amount of movies that are over 2 hours are what 10 percent,it seems like every movie I go to lately is like 1 hr 20 minutes to 1 hr 30 minutes long.I can definitely make it through those.

 

[abcboys]

We RARELY go to the movies and I've taken all of my kids once to see UP. Yes, we for sure sneak in drinks and candy, but will buy a popcorn for all of us to share. My 2 older kids went to the movies with relatives and I packed drinks and candy for them and gave them enough to buy a popcorn to share.

What I don't understand is some people are saying eat before the movies so you are not hungry. Well, what's the difference if you sneak in food and don't buy at the concession or eat before the movies and don't buy at the concession?? Either way if what people are saying is true (that movie theaters only make money off concessions) then people that eat before the movies are "ripping off" the theater just as much as as the people that sneak food in?

 

[abcboys]

I still don't get the logic here. It seems that most people feel that if you disagree with the rule it is fine to defy it. What I don't understand, though - since no one has addressed this - is whether those who feel this way think that applies to all rules or just this particular one. If it's just this one, what makes it different from all the other rules? Why is it okay to sneak food in despite a rule to the contrary but not okay to sneak a person in without buying them a ticket? Or is that okay as well, as long as you don't get caught?[/QUOTE]

The difference to me with the extra person is they are getting something for free (the movie). The case with the sneaking food in is they don't HAVE TO purchase anything at the concession stand so they are not "stealing" anything. Now, it would be different if it was a nice place where no food was allowed and you were sneaking it in. But they allow food so what's the difference?