Just anecdotally prices have gone up a lot over the past few years, and not just for the movie tickets. They rebuilt the neighborhoods where the indie theaters are in my city and I feel like...
Just anecdotally prices have gone up a lot over the past few years, and not just for the movie tickets. They rebuilt the neighborhoods where the indie theaters are in my city and I feel like they've managed to squeeze more out of the margins for each little thing. The individual price increases are smallish, but all together a movie date ends up costing me $30 to $40 more than it used to just 2 years ago.
The new theaters are fancier with smaller rooms, comfier seats, and more luxe everything. The restaurants and bars that surround them are also way better. But it costs! The movie tickers are $3 to $5 more. We end up at a fancy cocktail bar instead of our normal dives and the nearby restaurants have been replaced by glitzier, fancier places.
Casual movie date nights were a go-to for my wife and I, but the changes have all added up to where it isn't really a "cheap" date anymore. And the change happened quickly, over the past couple of years. I'm sure this is happening across the country.
A lot of the smaller movies show up on streaming services within six months of coming out in theaters. So whenever my friends and I discuss going to the movies, it inevitably ends with, "Well,...
A lot of the smaller movies show up on streaming services within six months of coming out in theaters. So whenever my friends and I discuss going to the movies, it inevitably ends with, "Well, it'll just be on Netflix in 6 months. Let's just watch it then."
Going to the movies is very expensive. Why pay $12 per movie when for that same price I can get all the movies I want on Netflix?
And if other people are having the same conversations and not going to the movies, then it lessens the social pressure to go to the movies. If I know that no one is going to be talking about Booksmart at work on Monday, there's less of a reason for me to go see it right now.
I'm fortunate enough to have a lovely historical theater in my neighborhood that's community-run and nonprofit, so the ticket and concession prices are unbelievably low. Coupled with that they...
I'm fortunate enough to have a lovely historical theater in my neighborhood that's community-run and nonprofit, so the ticket and concession prices are unbelievably low. Coupled with that they screen anything from a select run of first-run movies (like right now it's Midsommar) to B-movie re-runs, a live organist for silent features, and some indie films now and again.
If they weren't there, I'd probably never see an indie movie in theaters, because Regal's prices have just become so ridiculous I can't help but pause and ask "this ticket price could also BUY the movie when it comes out. Does this movie look so good that it's worth owning? Does seeing it early and on a bigger screen contribute anything to its experience (e.g. seeing Godzilla on a big screen feels like it might be worth it)? No? Then let's wait for it to come out on rental."
Other than that, yes-- the part of the article you'd mentioned is at the root of that question: I have a lot of quality television and movie options to select from at home. Does this movie look better than those options?
My bar being raised is also why I don't buy as many video games. Once you play some wonderful titles, it's hard to step back for anything less.
tl;dr - bad movies lead to bad ticket sales and there have been a lot of bad movies this summer.
Just anecdotally prices have gone up a lot over the past few years, and not just for the movie tickets. They rebuilt the neighborhoods where the indie theaters are in my city and I feel like they've managed to squeeze more out of the margins for each little thing. The individual price increases are smallish, but all together a movie date ends up costing me $30 to $40 more than it used to just 2 years ago.
The new theaters are fancier with smaller rooms, comfier seats, and more luxe everything. The restaurants and bars that surround them are also way better. But it costs! The movie tickers are $3 to $5 more. We end up at a fancy cocktail bar instead of our normal dives and the nearby restaurants have been replaced by glitzier, fancier places.
Casual movie date nights were a go-to for my wife and I, but the changes have all added up to where it isn't really a "cheap" date anymore. And the change happened quickly, over the past couple of years. I'm sure this is happening across the country.
A lot of the smaller movies show up on streaming services within six months of coming out in theaters. So whenever my friends and I discuss going to the movies, it inevitably ends with, "Well, it'll just be on Netflix in 6 months. Let's just watch it then."
Going to the movies is very expensive. Why pay $12 per movie when for that same price I can get all the movies I want on Netflix?
And if other people are having the same conversations and not going to the movies, then it lessens the social pressure to go to the movies. If I know that no one is going to be talking about Booksmart at work on Monday, there's less of a reason for me to go see it right now.
I'm fortunate enough to have a lovely historical theater in my neighborhood that's community-run and nonprofit, so the ticket and concession prices are unbelievably low. Coupled with that they screen anything from a select run of first-run movies (like right now it's Midsommar) to B-movie re-runs, a live organist for silent features, and some indie films now and again.
If they weren't there, I'd probably never see an indie movie in theaters, because Regal's prices have just become so ridiculous I can't help but pause and ask "this ticket price could also BUY the movie when it comes out. Does this movie look so good that it's worth owning? Does seeing it early and on a bigger screen contribute anything to its experience (e.g. seeing Godzilla on a big screen feels like it might be worth it)? No? Then let's wait for it to come out on rental."
Other than that, yes-- the part of the article you'd mentioned is at the root of that question: I have a lot of quality television and movie options to select from at home. Does this movie look better than those options?
My bar being raised is also why I don't buy as many video games. Once you play some wonderful titles, it's hard to step back for anything less.