the real reason people don't go to movies anymore

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
You know, a few years ago I made a pact with myself that I would never pay more than 10 dollars for a movie ticket. I think that's just ludicrous. And recently, when certain theatres in Los Angeles started charging $10.50, I stayed away from those theatres. And now that pretty much every L.A. theatre is charging that, I only go to matinees. And pretty soon those will be too expensive too. And then I'm just not going to watch movies in the theatre anymore (unless something irresistable comes along). Do you think this mindset is reflective of the entire country? I know 10 dollars movies have only reached the major cities, but could it be that people just aren't going to pay that kind of money to see a movie? Everybody points to the commercials, the cell phones, the customers, etc. Maybe it's as simple as if you lower the prices, people would flock back to the theatres. Ya think?
 
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Everything in life has some value. That value may be different to different people. But on average, a product has a certain average fair price that is determined by a number of factors. For me, a ticket to a movie is thought of in light of the following factors-how good the movie is, how long I'd have to wait to see it on a DVD, how nice the experience is (cell phones, comfortable chairs, convenient parking), and how long it takes me to drive there.

The fair price for all things in life also competes with "What else could I do with this money?".

Different people have different personal equations, but for me the equation is much more centered nowadays on the quality of the experience (rude crowds, dirty theater, lazy counterhelp) and the quality of the movie I'm going to see. There are some movies that I'd pay $12 to see in a nice setting. There are some places that I just won't go to because the experience sucks too much. And there are a bunch of places that I'll go to for the matinee because it's cheaper and I don't expect as much for the money.
 
I think every one hear's you on that, recently the large chain here dropped there price from $14 dollars to 10.95, in exchange they made this the price for everyshowing instead of offering a different matinee price.

Thank goodness there's a discount megaplex theatre 2miles from my home

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Home theatre is a big factor. Improvement in the at home experience combined with high prices and quick turn arounds to dvd. There are a lot of factors. If you are single and alone, maybe you can afford to see a show, smuggle in a snack. I think the final nail in the coffin will be digital projection. I know some people think this is the holy grail, perfection, salvation. But when you can have the same thing at home for the price of 2 tickets plus snacks, once a week for a year... well do the math. I know a lot of people that buy new release dvd's sight unseen because it is cheaper than seeing a show and less hassle than renting, and they start building a nice little collection.

There are lot factors, overpriced crap movies, high tickets to pay for crap movies, knowing you will enjoy it more in your private home theatre. The delay on HD at home content is not piracy issues... Hollywood doesn't want the home theatre experience to be better than the real thing. TV nearly killed the movies back in the 50's. How will they counter HD home theatre? Produce everything in IMAX...
 
Nick Adams said:
Thank goodness there's a discount megaplex theatre 2miles from my home
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Ya, in Canada we were getting the shaft for awhile. I have a few discount theaters here and for a so-so movie, why not. I can actually enjoy a crappy flick @ $4. But 15 bones to go to the theater is way too much. True, as pointed out, compared to many entertainment options its a value [I can spend $15 in a bar in 5 minutes]

I am lucky enough to have a 9 foot screen in my living room but it's still not the same as going to a theater. I honestly believe if movies were 6 bucks they would make even more coin. Especially the ones that fail so quickly. These big budget flops happen so quickly because word of mouth turns folks away from dropping the cash - People would take the risk if it was cheaper. All IMO
 
I hear ya Dakota. Going to the movies is like going to a church for me. It's as much about the experience as the movie. There have been many times when I say to my wife "Let's go to a movie" and she asks which one. I just shrug, because even though I have my personal tastes, I am more likely to suspend them in the experience of going to a theatre than I am to buy or rent a dvd. I think a lot of people feel that way and would go more often if prices were lower.

Of course, now we have progeny, which cuts into our recreational time....
 
I like to read the write ups of the movies, make a note of them, then wait for it to come out on DVD, suggest the film to a friend, then borrow it from them :)

Get to watch the film for free ;)
 
Some people say that if the prices were higher to go to the movies it would keep out the ass-hats who insist on chatting throughout the film.
I think/hope that if someone were to pay upwards of $10 to see a movie they actually want to see it w/o interruption.
 
They already do that in the specialty theaters. In south florida some of the theaters are two floor. The bottom floor is for the riff raff, the top floor has loveseats instead of chairs, alcoholic beverages and a 3 star restaurant.

As you can imagine its quite a bit more pricy upstairs but really really worth it.
 
I think that's a GREAT idea... I've been saying they should do that for years! There's only ONE reason I rarely go to shows anymore... and that reason is ass-hats ruining the experience.

If you can't control your children then STAY HOME or please drop them off in the inner-city where some kind gentlemen will teach them how to keep their mouths shut.

If you're hearing impaired and don't have any means of figuring out what's going on without a play-by-play from your compadre'... STAY HOME.

If you can't turn off your cell phone for two hours for ANY REASON at all then STAY HOME.

If you think we (the audience) wants to hear your wise-cracks, analysis, or ANY conversation from you then STAY HOME.

If you stink for ANY REASON including the burps from that great little Thai place down the street... then STAY HOME.

If you can't eat popcorn with your mouth closed then STAY HOME.


I'd gladly pay $15 per ticket to see a movie in that theater with the love seats in the seperate area.
 
I'd gladly pay 15 to 20 dollars to see a movie.

Sadly I cannot. Really. It's not that I'm stingy. I'm just too poor.

Cupple that with the recent trend of "gauranteed let-down" in american movies and the answer is clear to me.

Make better movies and don't make it impossible for me to see them and I'll go.

F*ck, I love going

-rook
 
It's not $10 here, and I don't think I'd ever see anything in the theater again if the price of two tickets outweighed the price of buying the DVD.

I already see almost nothing in the theater.
 
David Jimerson said:
I already see almost nothing in the theater.
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I'm with ya. Tickets here are $7 each and that's getting to be too much considering the quality of most movies that are released these days.
 
Here's my 2 cents.

Movie Theatres

Pros-

1) The big screen. (seriously, nothing compares to seeing a 35mm print projected
onto a huge screen....except maybe 70mm at an IMAX)

2) Stellar sound. ( can you fit that system into your living room?)

3) Isolation, (As long as you turn your bloody phone off, no one will be bothering
you for the duration of the film)

4) Someone else makes the damn popcorn. (I guess I wouldn't mind making
popcorn if I got $7 a bag for it)

and now....

Cons-

1) The big screen (seriously, nothing sucks as bad as seeing a poorly projected
35mm print.......except maybe having to leave your seat to tell someone)

2) People (they will never shut up! I wouldn't invite these rubes into my
house)

3) Seats (ours here smell of feet, farts, or BO, take your choice)

4) Expense (obviously!)

So there's my rant on theatres. I go out to see movies in the theatre when I'm dying to see something and can't wait for the DVD.:costumed-smiley-047
 
I don't think its just the prices, though I do think it is a small factor.

Frankly here's why I hate going to the movies...
+ no matter when I go, or where I go, or what time I go some dumb ass selfish mommy and daddy decide to bring screaming baby to The Hills Have Eyes, Saw 2, Wolf Creek, etc.
+ no matter where I sit, no matter how crowded or empty the movie is, the person with the ringing cell phone or who can't shut the f**k up for 90 minutes sits behind me.
+ no matter where I sit part 2: no matter how many empty seats are around me, the freaking foulest farts make their way my direction no matter what. And no, it ain't me. I'd fess up.
+ no matter how excited I am about a movie, 90% of the time I felt "it was ok". For less than $10 plus the 30 dollars for a small popcorn and a soda, I could have watched it naked on my couch on my 61" HDTV with surround sound and there would be:
1) no screaming kids with selfish parents.
2) no cell phoners or talkers (except my wife, who I know won't shoot me in the back if I say, Honey do you mind? I'm missing the dialogue?).
3) no foul odors from stinky people unless its my own and in my own living room frankly I don't give a poop.

In the end, I ENJOY the movie in my own home. With the advent of bigger, better tvs, and reasonably priced home entertainment systems I think most people enjoy their DVD experience more as well.

Some movies I just have to see on the big screen, and I do. And inevitably, I say the same things everytime...
WTF? A kid??? The freaking auditorium is empty and you sit behind me? Who cut the cheese or is it homeless funk-I can't tell.

* Sigh *.
I'm going to watch a DVD now naked. Tah tah.
 
I'm averaging about 2 movies a year in thetres; usually ones I just need to see

My last theatre films were:

King Kong
War of the Worlds
Star Wars - Sith
The Devils Rejects
Dawn of the Dead

(Saw all of the Lord of the Rings on the screen)

--

The talkers. I cannot stand people yapping. I try and go to the matinee showing on a Friday morning.
 
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