Roger Ebert will tell you why B.O. is dropping

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by Steven1145

. And most cinemas here clearly state that cellphone use is not permitted (at least in UGC cinemas they did for a while).

The theater I saw Pirates in had NO CELL PHONE warnings on the door, there were at least two warnings on screen before the movie but the two girls texting did not seem to notice or thought that the warnings were for others. When no one does anything about them texting they assume they can do it without consequences.

In one theater I was in not too long ago a patron went to get someone when a whole row was lit up with cell phones. When the "manager" came it he told the people in the row to "turn off their cell phones" but as soon as he had left they were back on.

The theater owner is caught in the middle. Movie goers don't like to see cell phones in use but the theater staff can only tell someone to turn them off or they could be asked to leave the movie. The theater staff cannot physically take the cell phones for fear of someone suing them for damage to the phone.

One theater near here has installed a cell phone jamming system which they say is working GREAT. The only down side is that if someone is a doctor and has to have access to their phone it won't work and of course none of their staff can use their cell phones in the theater but maybe that is a good thing.

FWIW and YMMV

[portishead]

If it weren't for my kids I would never set foot in a theater let alone give them any money.

Roger's points while valid my reason is the fact that now I have to sit through 1/2 hour of commercials before the previews even start.

Recently I took my boys (3 and 6) to see the Muppets. We sat through all the commercials including seeing one about Dukoral, and immunization for treating "Traveler's Diarrhea" which they decided my kids needed to see twice.

Needless to day the next vacation we plan I will have some explaining to do to my 6 year old.

[InternJesse]

Originally Posted by Rob King

On that note ticket prices are $14.75 + $3.50 for 3D. $18.25 a ticket!

I still have yet to watch a movie in 3D and enjoy it. The technology is good, and supposedly getting better, but I've stopped bothering with 3D screenings, it's too distracting and reduces the experience rather than enhancing it IMO.

I'll give it another shot when the Hobbit comes out =D.

[soundboy]

I wrote this up when someone I know said the studio execs they worked with did not believe that ticket prices were too high. They sighted the common assertion that movies continue to do well during hard economic times. Be aware, I am not an economist, nor do I play one on TV.
"The argument that people bought movie tickets during the depression, so the claim of poverty on the part of moviegoers today as a reason for declining sales is false, is an argument for bad math. Lets take the price of a loaf of bread, which in 1930, was 5 cents. The average movie ticket, at the time, was also 5 cents. Today, the average cost of a loaf of bread is $1.40. That is 28 times its 1930 value. The math here is easy to do because the initial prices were the same. The movie ticket price is 200 times its 1930 price at $10 a ticket. That is 7 times the inflation rate of the cost of bread. To be fair, bread is a necessary staple, and movies are a luxury item. So lets look at luxury items. A Cadillac ‘16’ in 1930 was $5300. This was also the cost of a nice home at the time. A comparable Cadillac today is $65,000. That is an increase of 12 times. So movies have out stripped the rate of inflation, of that luxury item, by 16 times. I’m sure the inflation of the cost of making a movie has increased considerably from the movies of the 1930s, but then, this begs the question of whether or not the movie industry is making products that people just cant afford. Of course, with studio profits in the billions, I hardly think that’s the case."

[iluvcapra]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

One theater near here has installed a cell phone jamming system which they say is working GREAT.

Jamming a cellphone in the United States is a federal crime, specifically the Communications act of 1934, Title 47 USC 302A.

[iluvcapra]

Originally Posted by soundboy

I wrote this up when someone I know said the studio execs they worked with did not believe that ticket prices were too high. They sighted the common assertion that movies continue to do well during hard economic times. Be aware, I am not an economist, nor do I play one on TV.
"The argument that people bought movie tickets during the depression, so the claim of poverty on the part of moviegoers today as a reason for declining sales is false, is an argument for bad math. Lets take the price of a loaf of bread, which in 1930, was 5 cents. The average movie ticket, at the time, was also 5 cents. Today, the average cost of a loaf of bread is $1.40. That is 28 times its 1930 value. The math here is easy to do because the initial prices were the same. The movie ticket price is 200 times its 1930 price at $10 a ticket. That is 7 times the inflation rate of the cost of bread. To be fair, bread is a necessary staple, and movies are a luxury item. So lets look at luxury items. A Cadillac ‘16’ in 1930 was $5300. This was also the cost of a nice home at the time. A comparable Cadillac today is $65,000. That is an increase of 12 times. So movies have out stripped the rate of inflation, of that luxury item, by 16 times. I’m sure the inflation of the cost of making a movie has increased considerably from the movies of the 1930s, but then, this begs the question of whether or not the movie industry is making products that people just cant afford. Of course, with studio profits in the billions, I hardly think that’s the case."

Note that food prices over the century have collapsed due to agricultural innovation and international trade, and the share of household disposable income spent on food has also fallen considerably, from 22% to 11%.

Note also that a movie ticket is a club good, not a durable "luxury item" in the sense of an expensive car. Luxury cars are positional goods and their price moves relative to other cars, not relative to their utility, demand, money supply or median income. The "best non-insane luxury car you can get" (excluding Hispano Suisas and the really bizzare stuff) in 1930 has to be compared to the best car you can get today, which would not be a cadillac.

The impression that all films in 1930 "cost a nickle" is false; only very small theaters and peep shows through the early 1920s were proper "nickelodeons." A first-run house even in a small town in Michigan in 1929 would sell adult admissions for 40 cents.

[InternJesse]

Originally Posted by iluvcapra

Jamming a cellphone in the United States is a federal crime, specifically the Communications act of 1934, Title 47 USC 302A.

Yikes! Can't you get an iPhone app or something that jams cell phones? I think I remember my friend mentioning using one on his train commutes , I'll have to mention to him to use it sparsely.

[Frank S.]

My family and I continue to go to the movies even though I always have complaints. I LOVE going to the theater to see features, always have. However, I'm finding it harder and harder to continue doing it. Here's my latest trip:

Adventures of Tin Tin - 3D "IMax" (not a real Imax...a Regal Cinemas Imax)

4:30pm showing
$12.50 tickets (x4)
$7.50 surcharge (x4)
$80 for tickets

1 large popcorn $7.50
1 large soda $5.25
2 small Icees $4.25 (each)
1 bag of peanut M&Ms $3.50
$24.75 for snacks

Total of $104.75.

No sound during previews. (had to complain)
Lights didn't go off immediately when the film started.
Patrons on their cell phones.

The film was amazing, I loved it...but I can't afford $100 every time I take my family to a movie. Plus, I have a great home theater system with 135" screen. Sadly, I'll wait for the Blu Ray on most films. I'm going to have to be very picky about which films I'll go see in the theater, and which theaters I go to. I'm running out of options though. Of the 10+ theaters withing a reasonable drive of my home, I've eliminated 6. I refuse to go back to them due to bad sound, bad projection, etc.

In my opinion there are 3 main reasons why the box office receipts are down.

1 - Ticket prices...especially the ridiculous surcharges on 3D and "IMax".
2 - Theater owners...maintain your systems!
3 - Rehashing old stories...there may be 8-10 original ideas a year that make it to theaters nationwide, the rest are just the same old thing.

[RScott]

Originally Posted by iluvcapra

Jamming a cellphone in the United States is a federal crime, specifically the Communications act of 1934, Title 47 USC 302A.

Most downtown highrises have been doing this for a long time. Joking aside, perhaps there is a viable architectural consideration that could be used to address the issue.

[iluvcapra]

Originally Posted by RScott

Most downtown highrises have been doing this for a long time. Joking aside, perhaps there is a viable architectural consideration that could be used to address the issue.

Faraday Cages for All!

[Etch-A-Sketch]

Originally Posted by JSt0rm

The arclight is the best cinema in America.

+1. My wife and I won't even consider going to see a movie at another theater anymore. If we aren't going to the arclight, we aren't going.

[renec]

I go to the movies fairly frequently. I hardly ever deal with cell phone annoyances in the various Dallas venues I frequent.

The primary thing that keeps me out of the theater is netflix.

AMC built a bar in the mall theater nearest us. That helps.

[Airon]

Originally Posted by ggegan

Maybe it's just me, but I am sick of pre-packaged movies that are little more than star vehicles lacking either a compelling premise or a well written script. There are very few movie stars who can make me forget that they are just playing a role. I prefer character actors to movie stars.

Yeah. I haven't been surprised a lot in recent years. Not like Glengarry Glen Ross or Usual Suspects.

I do visit theaters for Pixar films, because I can be sure it'll be both fun and substance.

I used to watch a movie every week from when I was in school right up to about 25 or so. Maybe I've seen too much.

Now I prefer to rent movies to watch on an LCD with a $300 surround setup. Few of my friends go to the cinema any more. It's kinda weird compared to just 10 years ago.

Btw, video/PC game revenue is up and has been bigger than movie revenue for ten years.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

I was in London in the early 1990s. You could go to a movie for 6 pounds (about $9.00). The theaters were very nice, the restrooms were right off the theater with a light blocking hall and over every commode and every urinal there was a monitor so you could watch the movie and not miss anything. The sound was incredible and the projection 110%. I did not mind paying the price of admission when I knew everything would be done to the max.

There is a theater on the other side of town that is set to open where you can have dinner and watch the show. It is about $25.00 ot $30.00 per person but you do get a dinner and are able to watch the movie while you are eating. Maybe this is the wave of the future????

[ThisIsSka]

Wow, sounds like it is ridiculously expensive in the US and UK now.

I pay slightly less than $9.50 in Dubai for a 'standard' seat, about $11 for a 'VIP' seat (ie. back half of the theatre). (2D movie)

But they have this 'gold' theatre where you get seat-service, in a small theatre (only about 40 people in the cinema in total) massive screen, huge reclining sofa-chairs to sit on, special super-amazing-entrance to make you feel all special and stuff like that and that is $33 per ticket.

Food cost for 2 people - big popcorn or plate of nachos and a couple of soft drinks will set you back about $15 I think?

The chain is VOX Cinemas, and if I remember correctly they also have a loyalty card where every 10th screening you visit is free. I think.

The cinema I usually go to has an issue where you can hear the LFE of the adjacent theatres in your theatre. It's not earth shatteringly bad though. Not had any problems with volume or blown speakers.

Guys in the UK - anyone taken advantage of Orange Wednesdays?

[Jussi]

Originally Posted by ThisIsSka

Guys in the UK - anyone taken advantage of Orange Wednesdays?

Every wednesday. The Vue cinemas close to us in Shepherds Bush and Westfield are great. Never had to worry about any of the issues mentioned; levels always good and playback is working.

For more 'authentic' vibe, the Coronet in Notting Hill Gate does £3.50 tickets every Tuesday and smells of piss and rot. Ok for that money, and they do sell wine.

[E Baxter Put]

Luckily in Austin there are a couple of great theaters. The Alamo Drafthouse serves food and drinks and kicks out talkers or texters. They have waiters and the previews are put together by their staff and are awesome. Check out their promo... haha

Don't Talk - Angry Voicemail (Uncensored) - YouTube

There is also a relatively new theater called the Violet Crown that has arranged seating, an usher and great food. They recently made a policy where you can't show up more than 15 minutes late for a screening... yay!

The only problem is that I sometimes miss movies because I will only patronize these 2 theaters.

[soundboy]

Originally Posted by iluvcapra

Note that food prices over the century have collapsed due to agricultural innovation and international trade, and the share of household disposable income spent on food has also fallen considerably, from 22% to 11%.

Note also that a movie ticket is a club good, not a durable "luxury item" in the sense of an expensive car. Luxury cars are positional goods and their price moves relative to other cars, not relative to their utility, demand, money supply or median income. The "best non-insane luxury car you can get" (excluding Hispano Suisas and the really bizzare stuff) in 1930 has to be compared to the best car you can get today, which would not be a cadillac.

The impression that all films in 1930 "cost a nickle" is false; only very small theaters and peep shows through the early 1920s were proper "nickelodeons." A first-run house even in a small town in Michigan in 1929 would sell adult admissions for 40 cents.

So what would a reliable indicator for the inflationary rate of club goods, and the rate of inflation for ticket prices. Are movie tickets too expensive now? Maybe I should have just looked at the increase in the rate of income versus the increase in ticket prices.

[jeremy.c.]

This just in: Large Industry Making Money Hand Over Fist Slow to Change With the Times
Where have we heard this before?

Value added is where it's at and a physical space can offer an experience, music couldn't manuever like this, so if the movie studios blow it they have no one to blame but themselves.
Interestingly I though B.O. meant Body Odor and I thought he meant there was less BO due to declining attendance... duh!

[iluvcapra]

Originally Posted by jeremy.c.

Value added is where it's at and a physical space can offer an experience, music couldn't manuever like this, so if the movie studios blow it they have no one to blame but themselves.

Unfortunately in the US the movie studios are forbidden by supreme court decision from owning theaters, and are thus barred from integrating with the value-adding part of the chain.

(Peculiarly, movie studios are forbidden from owning theaters, block-booking theaters, doing formula distribution deals or forcing theaters into contingent engagements, but if you replace "theater" with "cable company," all of the sudden all of these things become completely legitimate.)

[ThisIsSka]

Extra experiences - I've seen this applied to commercials that run before a movie plays in Dubai. For example, there's a commercial where a car creates a tornado behind it. They installed fans in the theatre so wind was blowing inside the theatre while the tornado was filling the screen. There was another ad campaign I saw where they had a "technical malfunction" and they hired a comedian to perform in front of the audience for a few minutes.

But then, this stuff has been used as a gimmick in theme park rides as well! The first 3D movie I watched was in 1995 at Disneyland Paris, why is 3D all the rage suddenly now?

[InternJesse]

Originally Posted by ThisIsSka

But they have this 'gold' theatre where you get seat-service, in a small theatre (only about 40 people in the cinema in total) massive screen, huge reclining sofa-chairs to sit on, special super-amazing-entrance to make you feel all special and stuff like that and that is $33 per ticket.

That sounds kinda awesome actually, can't imagine very many movies I'd spend that kind of money on tho.

[imgoinmad]

#1 has a good point too. I'm sick of sequels and remakes. Would love to see more creativity.

[charles maynes]

yeah, Terminator II was a real step backward.

[razorblade]

Originally Posted by charles maynes

yeah, Terminator II was a real step backward.

That's a very good argument...however, it is easily defeated by saying "Terminator 3"...

[ggegan]

I don't mind sequels, especially when they are bringing books to screen. For instance, I would rather that Master and Commander had been spread out over a number of sequels, each matching the stories in the individual books rather than having a couple of the books melded together into one movie. I think sequels usually work best when they are conceived as such from the very beginning, like a mini series for theatrical release.

[charles maynes]

Originally Posted by razorblade

That's a very good argument...however, it is easily defeated by saying "Terminator 3"...

sure- the issue I am more interested in is simply better stories- if they are sequels, fine- There a 100's of new stories made into films every year. Most of them are horrible, and shouldn't have been made.

[gsilbers]

just to re state my point....



this week there is fukin nothing to see. all of the movies right now are very mediocre... or not very interesting.


it used to be that every week or 2 there was at least one good one.


but no.. those all played on the dec hollydays.

at least 7 very good movies where played on the last week of december.

and yes... its when most folks go to the movies... but most folks go see only 1 movie. 2 maybe.


in other words...

my opinion is that the big wigs are the ones fuking up by setting the release date on the same dates than 5 other great movies.


i do agree that technology shifts are prolly not helping out.
and now you can stay home and watch a good older movie on a very big cheap screan tv.

[charles maynes]

Originally Posted by gsilbers

just to re state my point....



this week there is fukin nothing to see. all of the movies right now are very mediocre... or not very interesting.


it used to be that every week or 2 there was at least one good one.


but no.. those all played on the dec hollydays.

at least 7 very good movies where played on the last week of december.

and yes... its when most folks go to the movies... but most folks go see only 1 movie. 2 maybe.


in other words...

my opinion is that the big wigs are the ones fuking up by setting the release date on the same dates than 5 other great movies.


i do agree that technology shifts are prolly not helping out.
and now you can stay home and watch a good older movie on a very big cheap screan tv.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is quite good, and if you havent seen Hugo, you should.

I think Blood and Honey is in release this week as well.

[gsilbers]

so here we are again,

the argument that maybe the pricey popcorn and drinks is driving ticket sales down...

its just bad (or not so good) movies for a while..

here is hunger games with $150mill

Box Office Report: 'Hunger Games' Finishes Friday With Massive $68.3 Mil - The Hollywood Reporter