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This totally makes sense to me. Entertainment is taking so many different forms these days, and it's increasingly on-demand and more personal. People are gettin

This totally makes sense to me. Entertainment is taking so many different forms these days, and it's increasingly on-demand and more personal. People are getting used to getting whatever they want, whenever they want it, wherever they are at the time. I always go back to Wall-E and think about the people riding around in their floating chairs with their personal TV screens and constant flow of food and drink. It was funny at the time, and perhaps a little too real, but every single day since Wall-E, that future looks more and more realistic. I've noticed a tone of more boutique theaters opening up, offering more than popcorn and soda. You get recliners, quality dining, a full bar, etc. I definitely see this trend continuing. All I hope for is that the culture and community around movies and genres doesn't die out due to the increasing reality of everyone staying home to watch movies. I love big premiers, and I love IMax, and I love going to the theaters, but the movies need to be worth my time and money. It needs to be an experience.

dv_dt 9y ago
In my area taking a family of four to the movies is a $100+ affair after tickets and refreshments. On top of that, the theaters have all converted to a lower seat count luxury seats, so they preassign seating and it's harder to get a decent seat (esp at the last minute). The net change there is that they serve a niche better, but there's a higher barrier to seeing a movie on a casual whim some weekend afternoons. That means a reduction in the numbers of people seeing movies in-theater to me.
- iamcasen 9y ago
  Yeah that's totally true. Costs have been skyrocketing and I'm not totally sure why.
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    Over time, studio have increased the share they demand of ticket sales in the early phase of movie releases, especially those expected to be blockbusters. In some case to 100%. So, theaters have to make even more of their money than they used to on later parts of the run, smaller films, and concessions, forcing (because of uniform pricing, which you could write entire articles about why it is the norm) all ticket prices higher, as well as concession prices higher. Plus, increased competition from more new media means that people who are indiscriminate in their entertainment choices are more likely to go elsewhere no matter what theaters do, so it's increasingly sensible to charge higher prices to the smaller share of the potential audience for whom the in-theater movie experience is a strong preference (and thus who are less price sensitive) rather seeking the broadest audience.
SpikeDad 9y ago
I guess if you can't produce a movie that's worth watching you might at well make the evening's experience worthwhile regardless of the movie. I'd be willing to pay for a good meal and beverage if the movie was thrown in for free. 95% of all movies out there these days are not even worth watching for free.

dv_dt 9y ago

In my area taking a family of four to the movies is a $100+ affair after tickets and refreshments. On top of that, the theaters have all converted to a lower seat count luxury seats, so they preassign seating and it's harder to get a decent seat (esp at the last minute). The net change there is that they serve a niche better, but there's a higher barrier to seeing a movie on a casual whim some weekend afternoons. That means a reduction in the numbers of people seeing movies in-theater to me.

iamcasen 9y ago
Yeah that's totally true. Costs have been skyrocketing and I'm not totally sure why.
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  Over time, studio have increased the share they demand of ticket sales in the early phase of movie releases, especially those expected to be blockbusters. In some case to 100%. So, theaters have to make even more of their money than they used to on later parts of the run, smaller films, and concessions, forcing (because of uniform pricing, which you could write entire articles about why it is the norm) all ticket prices higher, as well as concession prices higher. Plus, increased competition from more new media means that people who are indiscriminate in their entertainment choices are more likely to go elsewhere no matter what theaters do, so it's increasingly sensible to charge higher prices to the smaller share of the potential audience for whom the in-theater movie experience is a strong preference (and thus who are less price sensitive) rather seeking the broadest audience.

SpikeDad 9y ago

I guess if you can't produce a movie that's worth watching you might at well make the evening's experience worthwhile regardless of the movie. I'd be willing to pay for a good meal and beverage if the movie was thrown in for free. 95% of all movies out there these days are not even worth watching for free.