A Growing indifference to Cinema Going

[Cathbad]

Not doubting your stats, but does this account for inflation?

Inflation has risen at an average rate no greater than 3%. Even doubling that would be 240% over that time... not the 300%+ indicated above.

 

[BAYLOR]

If a movie thuds at the box office and there is no one there , does it make a sound?

 

[Overread]

The other issue is groups. Once you start to get higher and higher costs the amount for a group starts to get rather serious and punishing. It's also a pain for families as the kids start to get beyond the "family discount" age; but where they are likely to still be able to go as a group (and not everyone becomes a student either - though rather like senior, the discounts are small).

However I have to agree that the fleecing of drinks and food at the cinema is rather nuts, but then again a lot of mobile catering has gone up as well. Icecreams are through the roof (the good old 99flaks is now closer to £2 or sometimes £3 than the old £0.99).

Some of it is rising costs, but it seems that no one is any the richer for it so one can only assume that insurance, business tax, etc..... are all going up. So its more that the upper end are squeezing the lower more and more; which is a problem because most people only complain as far as the company they deal with directly.

 

[Vladd67]

You do realise that when 99 ice creams came out they cost a lot less than 99p
99 Flake - Wikipedia

 

[bedlamite]

I see a lot of responses talking about the concessions pricing. We do realise these aren't compulsory, don't we? Apart from nachos. No nachos, no Bedlamite.

 

[BAYLOR]

I see a lot of responses talking about the concessions pricing. We do realise these aren't compulsory, don't we? Apart from nachos. No nachos, no Bedlamite.

It's difficult to enjoy a crummy movie when your stomach is growling.

 

[Cathbad]

Part of the theatrical experience is chowing down on 3,000+ calories of heart-clogging yummies!

 

[Dave]

When I first went to the cinema, all you could get were very small vanilla ice cream tubs with a wooden stick and packets of boiled sweets, but tell that to kids today and they'd never believe you.

 

[Cathbad]

When I first went to the cinema, all you could get were very small vanilla ice cream tubs with a wooden stick and packets of boiled sweets, but tell that to kids today and they'd never believe you.

Really? I was lucky then.

Early 60s when I first went with my two older sisters. The theater had all sorts of candies and drinks, and a great big ice cream machine with all kinds of delights! The movie was 25 cents, and I often had 75 cents left for goodies.

PIG-OUT!!!!!

 

[Overread]

I see a lot of responses talking about the concessions pricing. We do realise these aren't compulsory, don't we?

Oh indeed it is optional, but it is part of the experience; plus whilst (in the UK at least) they can't outright ban* you from taking food in they do everything they can to discourage it and make you feel criminal** if you do (unless its for medical reasons).


*I seem to recall at one time it was and persisted mostly because no one challenged it; then someone did and won the court case.

** Those oversized handbags women go for and big coats are great ways to smuggle sweets and drinks in! Though sadly popcorn mostly remains theirs to charge!

 

[BAYLOR]

Part of the theatrical experience is chowing down on 3,000+ calories of heart-clogging yummies!

Exactly so. And if the film is a stinker good junk food is always a plus.

Really? I was lucky then.

Early 60s when I first went with my two older sisters. The theater had all sorts of candies and drinks, and a great big ice cream machine with all kinds of delights! The movie was 25 cents, and I often had 75 cents left for goodies.

PIG-OUT!!!!!

When I first went to the cinema, all you could get were very small vanilla ice cream tubs with a wooden stick and packets of boiled sweets, but tell that to kids today and they'd never believe you.

Damn ! I really did miss out on the Golden Age of movie concessions!

 

[Overread]

I recall far far far far back at a cinema that was a theatre which showed films* that they'd pause half way through to sell food like the afore mentioned icecream on a stick. I think it was very far back so at least something like 25 years ago now, and it doesn't do it any more (unless possibly showing a marathon of Lord of the Rings).


*which meant that the screen was way back into the stage and the seats were setup so that if anyone sat in front of you you'd lose half the bottom of the screen to their head - they had cushions - but since everyone used them that kind of defeated the point

 

[HanaBi]

When I first went to the cinema, all you could get were very small vanilla ice cream tubs with a wooden stick and packets of boiled sweets, but tell that to kids today and they'd never believe you.

When I was a regular cinema-goer back in the 70s, 80s and 90s, there would be:-

• curtains-up/lights-down at around 7:30pm,
• up rolled the trailers for future films "coming to this cinema soon";
• then after about 5 minutes of that it would be curtains down/lights up.
• Muzac.
• Then lights down/curtains up, support film begins (some pointless and totally unrelated short that no one cared about but lasted between 20-30 minutes);
• curtains down/lights up;
• muzac;
• curtains down/lights up,
• PEARL & BLEEDIN' DEAN (another 10 minutes worth of ads, including a curry house "just round the corner from this cinema", and the latest totally surreal Benson & Hedges cigarette ad)
• curtains down/lights up
• The Usherettes would suddenly appear at the foot of each aisle, selling those tubs of bland vanilla ice cream and a carton of Kia-Ora orange juice for about a quid;
• curtains up/lights down
• an onscreen warning reminding patrons that "can smokers please smoke on the right side of the auditorium"
• curtain down/lights up
• muzac
• Curtain up/lights up
• the actual film finally, finally begins!!!!

 

[WaylanderToo]

Because this is one thing we can actually agree on.

By the way did you happen to see how well the Matt Damon film The Great Wall is doing at the box office ?

sadly I quite enjoyed it

 

[BAYLOR]

sadly I quite enjoyed it

Oh, Sorry .

 

[Extollager]

Hmmm... last time I went to a movie in a theater (cinema) might have been when Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was released, around 15 years ago.

I figure that if I went now I would be distracted by people fiddling around with their phones, etc. Who needs that?

 

[Cathbad]

Last time I went was almost a year ago. I didn't have a problem with phones, but did with peeps bumping my wheelchair going to their seats - despite my having left more than enough room for them to pass. People just don't watch where they're going!

 

[RX-79G]

It seems that the strongest opinion and commentary in this thread is from people that don't go to the cinema and people that disapprove of the business of cinema.

It is, like all art forms, imperfect. But it produces a regular flow of entertainment of higher production values than found anywhere else, provides a safe and almost universally appealing destination for people of all ages and is a huge domestic industry for several countries. The theaters have continued to constantly evolve, offering better viewing and listening experience for every seat in the house, more choices in concessions and greater convenience for ticket buying. It is a distinctly modern art form, and we are fortunate to have it.

I go to the movies maybe a few times a year, and it is a few years in between seeing something that really touches me. But I always leave the theater feeling like something just happened to me in a way that no other part of my life quite duplicates. It would be truly sad if the doom and gloom reflected in many of the opinions offered had any real basis in reality - I think our civilization benefits from this industry and in the rare films that truly touch us.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Just a reminder that personal attacks are NOT tolerated on Chrons. Everyone has had their say, so just remember to play the post, not the player.

 

[BAYLOR]

Last time I went was almost a year ago. I didn't have a problem with phones, but did with peeps bumping my wheelchair going to their seats - despite my having left more than enough room for them to pass. People just don't watch where they're going!

Ive seen more then buy share of thoughtless movie goers.