Movie theatre prices at all-time high in 2012

[Batman1980]

Going to the movies has never been more expensive.

Ticket prices in the U.S. hit a new all-time high in 2011, according to numbers released Thursday to The Hollywood Reporter by the National Association of Theatre Owners. The price of admission rose slightly last year to $7.93 from $7.89 in 2010.

The new high comes despite the average price for a ticket dropping slightly in the fourth quarter of 2011 to $7.83, according to NATO. The lower fourth quarter average is believed to reflect a slower pace of business, especially for 3-D movies, which carry a higher price.

The average cost for a movie ticket in the U.S. has risen every year since 1992, according to NATO statistics, when it was $4.15. It has been above the $7 mark since 2008.

The steady rise in the price of movie tickets—often greater than inflation—reflects big changes in the movie business. For Hollywood studios, the switch to mostly blockbuster tentpole movies has raised production costs and pushed up marketing expenses, which often reach as high as $70 million worldwide to publicize and distribute the biggest movies.

For exhibitors, the cost of building new multiplex theaters and, more recently, switching to digital projection and sound, has been a factor in the rising costs.

The recent proliferation of 3-D movies also has led to higher ticket prices. Most theaters include a surcharge of about $3 per ticket to see a film in 3-D. In 2011, there were more 3-D releases than ever but the average take for a 3-D movie was down from the year before.

Source - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...se-2011-288569

[Foggy]

And there was me thinking they were getting cheaper

[Col. Zombie]

"Ticket prices in the U.S. hit a new all-time high in 2011, according to numbers released Thursday to The Hollywood Reporter by the National Association of Theatre Owners. The price of admission rose slightly last year to $7.93 from $7.89 in 2010."

That would be nice. The closest theater to me, a Cinemark/Tinsletown theater, charges $10 per ticket for shows after 4 p.m.

If you want to watch a 3D movie it's $13.

If you want to watch a 3D movie on their XD screen it's $17.

A couple of years ago, if two movies my wife and I were interested in were released on the same weekend, we would make it a double feature.

Now we hardly go, but we've been making hefty use of Blockbuster.

[Blu-Benny]

it's $9 for a regular movie where i live.

[ManUtd]

In my neck of the woods (SF Bay Area) a regular weekend night movie is around $11, 3D/XD/IMAX adds more to that cost.

[Navster]

Which is exactly why I purchase my tickets from Costco... At theatres I pay $11./ticket I think.. At Costco you can buy a bundle, 2 for $15.50 I think it is.. So it comes out to 7.75 ticket

[MykeHavoc]

I go to matinees at Chunky's for 5.75. No complaints here.

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by NavsterKing

Which is exactly why I purchase my tickets from Costco... At theatres I pay $11./ticket I think.. At Costco you can buy a bundle, 2 for $15.50 I think it is.. So it comes out to 7.75 ticket

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that we have been doing this for AMC/Century theaters. Sometimes Costco even has a sale for something like $12 for a pair of tickets.

[Navster]

Originally Posted by ManUtd

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that we have been doing this for AMC/Century theaters. Sometimes Costco even has a sale for something like $12 for a pair of tickets.

My local Costco just had that sale, and I missed it

[Moviefan2k4]

The United Artists theater down the street from my home charges $6 for shows between 4 & 6 PM, and the same price all day on Tuesday. Every other day, shows before 4 PM are around $7.50, and about $9.50 after 6 PM.

So, when do you think I usually attend?

[wormraper]

around here the theaters do it weird

Mon-Thurs
Before 6pm it's $5
after 6pm it's $7.50


Fri-Sun
Before Noon - $5
Between Noon and 4pm ----$8
After 4pm -----$10

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by ManUtd

In my neck of the woods (SF Bay Area) a regular weekend night movie is around $11, 3D/XD/IMAX adds more to that cost.

Same here in the Atlanta area. Matinees are around $9.

[JenM]

Movies in NYC theaters are insane. I saw The Woman in Black on Friday night. Ticket was $14. Popcorn and a soda was $13. It was $27 just for me to be there. I can't imagine trying to take a whole family to a movie.

Luckily, I go to the movies back home in NJ most of the time. Shows before noon are $6.

[Moleman1138]

My Regal changed their matinee end times from 6PM to 4PM. And I don't get out of work until 4PM Monday - Friday. I hate paying $10 for a 4:20 show and on weekends I usually go Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

[500_Days_of_Night]

It was $15 at my theater for the midnight showing of Captain America last summer. That's just ridiculous.

[mrr1]

My wife and I don't even go to movies anymore.

If we are interested in a movie, we just buy the disc when it's released in stores. We pay less and we get to watchi it more than just once.

Even if the movie sucks, it's still cheaper.

[animefan77]

In my theater, the first showing 12:00 (matinee) for 3D movie is $14

[Waboman]

At the Regal theater we go to:

Matinee shows here are $7.50
Regular is $10.00
3D is $13.50

IMAX (the real 70mm) 3D is $16.00.

It ain't cheap taking a family out to the movies anymore.

[remake]

Are dollar theatres included in the average ticket price? They have to be.

$9.25 for a regular evening show for me. I wouldn't be surprised if it reaches $9.50 by the end of the year. Every time my theatres change prices, they do it by a quarter.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by victim

Are dollar theatres included in the average ticket price? They have to be.

Dollar theaters aren't much of a bargain once you factor in the plutonium for the DeLorean.