So far, the 2016 box office has been a bummer, unless we’re talking about Disney, which has already banked $5 billion for the year. And multiplexes are also feeling the hurt, with the three-month period ending in June showing a 9.5% drop in ticket sales. Sure, the movies have been pretty underwhelming, but are audiences getting fed up with shelling out increasingly higher prices for a substandard experience?
According to the National Association of Theatre Owners, tickets now average $8.73, This is a price that would likely be welcomed by anyone living in a major metropolitan area, where prices tend to be much higher, yet it marks the highest figure as such in movie history. Data for this study was culled from across the country, which shows a three cent increase from the last year’s record of $8.70.
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The big question the industry has to ask is how much will be too much? Particularly in light of more options than ever at home, streaming and otherwise, grabbing the audience’s attention is harder than ever. And while some have suggested that Peak TV has made a dent in moviegoing habits, a counter-argument maintains that audiences will gladly pay for what they really want to see, with Universal banking a record breaking $7 billion year in 2015. Sure, that sum was propped up by “Jurassic World” and “Furious 7,” but it was also padded out by smaller hits like “Straight Outta Compton.” And more broadly, 2009-2014 were all $10 billion box office years for Hollywood.
That said, I would suggest that if prices are going to keep going up, then theaters will have to make more of an effort to put added value on the customer experience. While not every cinema has to be the Alamo Drafthouse, more care into quality projection, decent seats, and ensuring everything is optimal when the lights go down would go a long way in making moviegoers feel like their business is appreciated.
But I’m curious— how much are ticket prices where you are? What would be the limit, making you decide to stay home? Hit the comments section and let me know. [Variety]
Its got to the point where I only go see movies I KNOW I’m gonna enjoy. So anything with a mixed reception like the Neon Demon, even if I could fall on the side of the admirers, its gonna have to wait cuz I’m not making that drive and paying that price.
Luckily tho, I do live in a town with an Alamo Drafthouse, and its just as good as you heard. Cool decor, great sets, fantastic screen/audio(its like night and day with the downtown Cinemark everybody goes to), and more importantly a no cellphone/talking policy that’s actually enforced. So on the rare chance I DO make the drive, at least I know I’m in safe hands.
@jeremy_carrier:disqus I disagree. I much rather spend money going to a film where most people might not like but I know there is a big chance I will enjoy it over a rather well liked but not that arousing film. Inherent Vice got mixed reviews yet I knew I was gonna love it and it was really worth seeing on the big screen (watching it later at home really diminished how it looked), so for me its either films by directors I love, films I know I will find interesting or films I know have to be seen on a big screen (the Reverent for all its dour imitation looks better on a big screen, no matter how average it ended up being)
$12 is the highest first-run ticket price I’ve run into here in Austin, and that’s for the Violet Crown, which is a lot like the Drafthouse, but with chaise lounges, smaller thaters, and no table service.
Just FYI: a 3d ticket at drafthouse is more than that.
I think my ticket to Hateful 8 (70mm) at the Ritz location of AD was $18.
when I was a teen, cheap night was $5, my friends and I went to see everything at that price. Now older with a family and so many more things to spend my $ on, I am much more selective about what I will see on the big screen, being limited to kids movies and then blockbusters like star wars and the marvel movies that you appreciate more on a big screen. great stories that don’t really need a big screen to be appreciated I wait for netflix to get them, like the rover, snow piercer etc etc. The cost is definitely limiting… especially in Canada where they charge a bit more. my solution has been to go to costco and buy movies passes there but it’s still $25 for two and then add $20 if it’s a kids movie (needing 4 tickets)