Something that I’ve always wondered about is how a movie theater comes up with their ticket prices. I’m sure there is a rhyme and a reason to it; and I’m sure it’s different for each particular company’s business model. This is where my rant comes in. For the exact same movie, an individual could pay a few different prices to see said movie. Lets use me as an example. I’m not a student, nor am I a senior citizen, so that eliminates any discounts I might receive at most theaters based on those factors alone.
At my local theater there are three different categories of ticket prices to take into consideration (this is excluding anything in IMAX as well as anything in 3D, as those ticket prices are increased by $1.50 and $2.50 per ticket, respectively.) That leaves me with: “Adult Matinee”, “Twilight”, and “Adult Evening”. An “Adult Matinee” ticket can be purchased for any show playing between the hours of 6:00am and 4:00pm at a cost of $6.00 per ticket. A “Twilight” ticket can be purchased for any show playing between the hours of 4:00pm and 6:00pm at the cost of $5.25 per ticket. And an “Adult Evening” ticket can be purchased for any show playing after 6:00pm at the cost of $7.25 per ticket.
Lets say I watch two movies a month at this theater for the duration of an entire year. That may be more than the average movie-goer, but watching movies is what we really enjoy doing here at ‘Let There Be Movies’. Two movies a month for 12 months is 24 movies a year. Lets see what the difference is in price if we choose our time wisely.
24 x $7.25 = $174.00. It would cost you $174.00 to see two movies per month for an entire year at the “Adult Evening” price. Now, lets see what it looks like if you were to see only “Adult Matinees”.
24 x $6.00 = $144.00. That alone is a savings of $30 a year. Now, lets see what kind of savings the “Twilight” movie provides.
24 x $5.25 = $126.00. A savings of $48.00 over the course of the year if you see movies between 4:00pm and 6:00pm. With today’s concession prices, that would get you a bucket of popcorn, a soda, and some candy at one of those movies.
So, in conclusion, I will personally attempt to watch movies between the hours of 4:00pm and 6:00pm to save myself the most money. After all, it’s the exact same movie that people pay $10+ to watch at other theaters. I’ll gladly enjoy a movie for half the price!
I wish concession prices fluctuated as much throughout the day as ticket prices!
Perhaps supply and demand? Algorithms that let them know when they can overcharge and when they can superovercharge? I would guess that. Most people go during the evening for social reasons, so they can charge more then. I would agree with Gene, though. The ticket prices I can live with (though it is still annoying) because they are offering a unique service that I can’t offer to myself (as far as going into an establishment to watch a movie on a huge screen with many speakers, and I don’t have to clean the place afterward). It’s the concessions that really irritate me (and they make my wife livid). Because that is a service that I can offer myself for 1/5 of the price. They offer a box of candy and a soda for the same price of a meal elsewhere. Yes, a full meal of real food. This is why we take our own food. Maybe it’s breaking the rules, but my Christian conscience is clean on this one.