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Everyone Has a Price

An Afternoon Comment Diversion / Tater Barley Banks

Comment Diversions | October 7, 2009 | Comments (79)

(Due to a visit from the in-laws and my own neglectful fuck-up, I forgot to post last weekend’s comment diversion. To keep … ummm … Tater in weekly sequence — he’s pre-written diversions through Christmas 2010, and they all need to appear in sequential order (there are hidden clues in each own that will eventually reveal the origins of Pajiba) — I’ve decided to run his diversion today. — DR)

This summer I decided to go to the midnight opening of District 9 and paid $8.25 to get in. It’s the first time in I don’t know how long, but possibly forever, that I’ve paid full price to get into a movie. Because of that, I bought no popcorn, no candy, no soda (that’s sorda, for you JerseyJibs), not that I would ordinarily be tempted to anyway. I don’t like popcorn unless it’s drenched in real butter (and by “drenched” I mean “you could wring little puddles out of each kernel”), but I have a heart situation …

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that I thought I got my money’s worth. That was a good time.

But it got me to thinking about the occasional tangent a thread takes where Pajiblets rant about the prices of tickets, snacks and drinks at the theater, and ways they have of sneaking stuff in, and I can’t recall that we’ve ever had a post dedicated just to that topic.

This is that post. Let’s talk about prices, and some other somewhat related topics. Here are some bullet points for you to address (though I don’t have any real bullets, so I’m using —s, and if I did have bullets I wouldn’t waste them here, I’d use them on Michael Bay).

Here we go:

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? (Fortunately for me, the second-run “always $5” place is about equidistant to the two 12-screens at the shopping complexes, which is to say about five miles.)

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in? (Last time I did that it was three airline bottles of JD that we poured into a large Coke we bought there; I think we did this for The Hangover, appropriately.)

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest (or boobies, as the case may be).

We’re all about catharsis, people.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX


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Comments

At the costco here we get movie passes - $25 for 2 adults, 2 popcorns and 1 pop. Works out to about $6 cheaper than just going in and buying all that.

So, that's what we do. And I'm happy to spend $25 on a date night with the missus.

PS. I think it's a 12 screener, and it's abiout 7 minutes away.. There's two 6 screeners a bit further away, and the indie is... maybe 20 minutes from my house.

Posted by: Dariuss at October 7, 2009 4:07 PM

In the greater Nashville area $10 is the going rate for a flick. 6.50 for the matinee. We usually catch a matinee, but occasionally splurge. We full priced "Whip It" Sat. I didn't feel cheated.

I always, ALWAYS, sneak my own snack into the movie. I've even brought my own popcorn before. They want just way to fuckin much money for a nickel's worth of corn and a quarter's worth of soda.

Posted by: wsapnin at October 7, 2009 4:08 PM

(there are hidden clues in each own that will eventually reveal the origins of Pajiba)

oooooooooohh, A Mystery!

Posted by: Anna von Beaverpuppet at October 7, 2009 4:10 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?

Zombieland, which while it wasn't a constant "laugh a minute" picture, was well worth evening admission.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)

Not so much "passed up" as had to see a night showing because it was a work day and we were having cake for my brother's birthday.
— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?

About 4 miles away, with 10 screens. There's four other theaters I frequent in the area, depending on where the night takes me.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? (Fortunately for me, the second-run “always $5” place is about equidistant to the two 12-screens at the shopping complexes, which is to say about five miles.)

There are no "indie" or "cheap" theaters in the area anymore. I'd have to drive at least half an hour/45 minutes to get somewhere that shows limited releases.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?

Yes, popcorn and soda. Worth $11 something, but had a coupon for a free small popcorn that lowered it to about $6 something. Not technically worth it, but still a nice creature comfort.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in? (Last time I did that it was three airline bottles of JD that we poured into a large Coke we bought there; I think we did this for The Hangover, appropriately.)

No, but sometimes I'll sneak homemade popcorn or candy from the dollar store. Though my father sometimes likes to clean, preserve, & sneak in the popcorn bag/soda cups from AMC so we get a "free" refill.

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest (or boobies, as the case may be).

IMAX, people. For a couple bucks more than a traditional theater evening show, you can get better sound, picture, and audience quality. Plus, 9 times out of 10 the Hollywood movie they're showing there is one you'd want to see in IMAX anyway. (Cloudy was great in IMAX 3D, and I'm practically sold on Where the Wild Things Are in IMAX.)

Posted by: Doctor Controversy at October 7, 2009 4:15 PM

Whew, that's a few bullet points.

- ZombieLand, Worth it.

- Went to the Matinee (5.25 at the Goodrich in Kzoo), but I suspect the evening student ticket price was 5. Oh well, The quality of crowd would've been the same (Talking through the whole thing, cheering when mentions of pot come up).

- I usually go for 8 bucks when I'm employeed, 5 when I'm not. Most I've paid was 13.50, so the special RiffTrax of Plan 9 From Outer Space this past summer. Worth every penny and then some, IMO.

- Closest theater is the K 10, with 10 screens, 1 digital. The better theatre is a little further and that's the Rave. 14 screens, all digital projection, much more leg room and typically has had better calibur of patrons when I've gone there (but not by much).

- Closest Indie is the Little Theater, which is ran by the campus. They do lesser known films in a second run capacity - e.g. They showed the Brother's Bloom two weeks ago.

- Last time I bought popcorn was 2008. Cost 4 bucks for a medium. Not a huge popcorn person (worked around it for too long). I tend to bring my own pop.
Believe me, becaused I worked for a movie theater for a good portion of my career, I know that profits depend completely on concession sales. But I'm a poor college student that can barely budget a ticket, much less some popcorn with a 1000% mark up.

- Yes, I sneak pop in most of the time. Just a can or so if I'm wearing my winter jacket. Otherwise, I can get through 2 hours with a soda or food. Hell, dinner after a movie is one of my favorite things - movie gives you something to discuss and hopefully lets you branch off into other topics. Fosters conversation and is less awkward.

Posted by: Doric at October 7, 2009 4:20 PM

- The last movie I saw was Zombieland and it was worth every penny. Tickets are $10.50 or 13.50 for 3-D.

- If I know I'm going to enjoy a movie (and honestly I won't go to the theater unless I know I will. Thanks Pajiba!) I'd pay up to $20.00

-I saw a cheaper alternative earlier in the day at a different theater but the nice theater is always the same price.

-Our nearest theater is about 2km from my house and there are six screens the second-run theater is across the hall of the mall. The indie is about 6km from the regular theater. I've been there twice and it hurt. Literally.

- I always but popcorn and a soda, they run about $16.00. I wouldn't but it just doesn't feel the same without them.

- I never sneak things in. We have one good theater and I want to keep it. Except liquor, that is. I'll be doing that on Sunday for a triple feature.


My one bitch is on-line tickets and when they don't fucking work. I haul for pages of crap with me, they scan the ticket and look at me like I've sprouted another ass. It's not me that's the problem, fuckers!

Posted by: admin at October 7, 2009 4:21 PM

and they all need to appear in sequential order (there are hidden clues in each own that will eventually reveal the origins of Pajiba
---
Heh, yes, I am the Dan Brown of diversion writers. Only without all the money. Actually, without ANY money.

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at October 7, 2009 4:22 PM

I live in a god-awful town. Though there's an art-house theater that plays docs and other smaller films for a week at a time, they're hard to catch, and sometimes good indy films don't come to town until months after their release date. The two theatres I routinely visit are 15 min. up the interstate at a Retail Hell-Hole, one on each side of the Hell-Hole.

Theatre 1 ("The one where we saw the Dark Knight") has the best student deal: $6.00/ticket.

Theatre 2 ("The one with the Fandango machine") also has its perks: I buy the child ticket at $6.50.

Full disclosure: I am neither a student nor a child. I do, however, still have a valid student ID, and I have not once been refused entry because my ticket says CHILD on it (the ticket-tearers are either 15, 80, or mentally disabled... in any case, they're not paying attention). Even if someone were to cause a stink, what are they going to do to me? It pains me to pay more than $7 to see a movie.

And if I want a snack? I stop by Target, also at the Retail Hell-Hole, for chocolate and juice-box wine.

Posted by: lvsmithmarsh at October 7, 2009 4:31 PM

I paid £4.70 this morning to see Zombieland. It was more than worth it, yes. As far as I know it is the cheapest ticket price available in that hideous multiplex. Both the multiplex and independent cinema closest to me are located in Glasgow city centre, a subway (yes, we have a subway) ride away from the south side of the city, where I dwell, lurking in alleys. The indepedent cinema has 2 screens, I believe. The multiplex is 6 stories high. A lot of screens.

I did indulge in snacks. I thought I would make a big deal out of it. It was Zombiefuckinland. I got soda (or what is known as "juice" in Scotland) and popcorn, salted. £6.15. I know, I know. It was not worth it. I was too hungover to eat.

In the past I have usually snuck things in. Whiskey or Buckfast tonic wine. But it was the morning and I have my limits. On weekdays, anyway.

I don't usually go to the pictures. I spend all my money on booze and grapefruit. I would not pay more than £10 for a film. I had a girlfriend (no lie) that liked doing things that couples allegedly do. She used to drag me to see things. The last film we saw together was the most recent Indiana Jones. We broke up shortly thereafter.

Posted by: TSF at October 7, 2009 4:32 PM

I paid $7 for a matinee of Whip It on opening day.
This is the Alamo, so I take my food bill into account. I paid $4 for a large Dr. Pepper with free refills, and $9 for a really good Turkey Wrap that came with soup of the day, beef vegetable.
I split a small popcorn (comes in a metal bowl, real butter) with my friend for $4.

What were the other questions? That particular Alamo is maybe 2 minutes from where I live, the other ones are further (20-30 minutes) but generally worth the drive since they all show different things. There's a theater maybe 15 minutes from me in the Arboretum that shows the indie and foreign films that that Alamo doesn't pick up.

I know. I'm so spoiled.

Posted by: myysharona (formerly Sharon) at October 7, 2009 4:35 PM

There are no theaters closer than about 8 miles but there are several multiplexes right in that range. Me and the missus aren't usually ready to fork over the cash to see a movie. It's not the ticket price (anything under $15 is OK and that just happens to be the IMAX price) but the babysitting costs that make dinner and a movie so expensive. As a result we usually go to matinees with the kids. Weirdly, the kids rarely want to go to a movie, so I don't see many in the theater. I don't need to eat during a movie, but I think that's the only reason my wife goes. We almost never sneak food in.

Let's see then, did I answer everything? Oh Public Enemies was the last thing I saw and it wasn't worth it. What's worse is mrs. newman and I wound up fighting about the movie.

Posted by: ed newman at October 7, 2009 4:36 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?
The SO paid for tickets to The Hangover, but they were expensive. $12.50 each. Fucking Bridge theater.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives?
Nope, we went to the theater closest to my apartment in West Philly.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket?
$12.50 made me stabby, but I've paid it before. Around that.

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?
About 3 minutes, or 14 blocks. The Bridge.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie?
There are 3 Ritz theaters in Old City Philadelphia-they're about 20 minutes on the subway from my place, but I work down the street from them. It's awesomely convenient.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?
We got popcorn and two sodas, they ran about...$15? Worth it, movies are better with butter sludge and Cherry Coke.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in?

I've snuck in wine before, but usually I don't bring anything.

I go to the movies between 3-5 times a year. It's just way too fucking expensive, and I use the crap out of my Netflix. This year I've seen Harry Potter, The Hangover, and Up. That's it so far...I'll be seeing Where The Wild Things Are with some fellow Jibans, and I'll probably see Sherlock Holmes.


Posted by: Julie at October 7, 2009 4:38 PM

Theater habits of the North America Yossarian:

Now that I'm old (28) and have a child (1) it's much more difficult to find the time to see a movie than it is to come up with the cash. Therefore I'm not very price sensitive but I am much more selective about what I see because nights out are at a premium. There are a couple movies that I really want to see and I don't mind paying for. The rest can wait for Netflix. This summer it was: the Hangover, (500) Days of Summer, Inglorious Bastards, and maybe Zombieland (but the kid has an ear infection, so maybe not...)

That said, I am fortunate to live in a city where movies are still about $8 in the evening and the closest theater is less than ten minutes away. If the place across town is offering a $5 special on a movie that has been out a few weeks we'll drive an extra ten minutes for that. I don't go see movies in the afternoon just to save a few bucks. I'll only put up with the bad seats, bad sound, and questionable picture quality of dollar theater for certain movies that play well in that environment. We have been known to drive 45 minutes to the nearest art house cinema, but that's only for something like Once that we really wanted to see.

I also don't do popcorn and candy. I'm there to watch a movie and I don't feel this compulsion to feed (my in-laws, on the other hand, are incapable of going out to a movie without dropping $20 and ingesting 1,200 empty calories worth of concessions). Usually I have to buy an overpriced bottled water for Bubblegumshoe and sometimes she has candy in her purse, but it's not premeditated, it's just there.

Posted by: Yossarian at October 7, 2009 4:38 PM

Oh, right, regarding sneaking things in:
I don't do it at the Alamo because waitstaff is always cruising by and it seems risky. Besides, I like their food just fine.
But at regular theaters, I'll bring candy in a freaking quiet Ziplock bag, or a bottle of water or something. Anything can go in a Ziplock, really. And I have a big-ish purse. It's on in the winter though when I have an excuse to wear a coat.

Posted by: myysharona (formerly Sharon) at October 7, 2009 4:39 PM

$14.50, bastards. And that's times two because I bought for the girlfriend. That's the Arclight on a weekend for you. Don't forget the $2 for parking. I regularly pay this much because the Arclight is so close to my house (but just barely far away enough to discourage walking). You won't find a first-run theater in this town that costs less than $10 regardless - maybe you can find $9.50 for a matinee. So, yeah, saying $10 is the most you'll pay sounds like a luxury to me.

I've resigned myself to dying on the street completely destitute because I turned all the money I made in my 20s and 30s into disposable income. I just can't resist the theater experience.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at October 7, 2009 4:41 PM

I try to NEVER go to full price first run theaters. Last movie I saw in any theater was Slumdog Millionaire at the Mcmenamin's St. Johns Pub, Portland OR.
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=51

Admission:$3

Very good burger and fries (OK, bacon cheese burger, I call it the 'to hell in a hand basket with fries')+ soda (free refills): about $9.

Complete lack of children, teenyboppers, douche bags, teenybopper douche bags with their children, absence of lines, table service in the movie, comfy sofas and armchairs rather than theater seats, interesting historic building with actual character and architecture:
Priceless.

It isn't DHX, THX,IMAX, WTF-ever-else the high tech theaters offer, but it is actually pleasant.
The one IMAX I went to was practically unwatchable it was so big and up close. My brain still hurts.

Grumble, grumble, where's my teeth? GET OFF MY LAWN!

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at October 7, 2009 4:41 PM

I paid to go see Zombieland last weekend (4:30 show-matinee), which is huge-my brother in law works at a theater, so most movies we see for free.

I'd pay about 12 bucks realistically-otherwise I'll wait for DVD release.

Nearest theater is about 10 minutes away-less if we're late.

I make a pilgrimage at least once a year to the nearest Drive In, which is about 90 minutes away. It is well worth it. Seeing two movies outside, with all the food and beer you want to bring makes even GI Joe enjoyable. All kids should go to a drive in at least once. Falling asleep watching the second movie of a double feature in your footie jamas in the back of a car/van/truck full of popcorn, candy and slushee goodness is a great memory.

When I go to the standard theater, Mrscreosote and I will buy a popcorn and diet coke. No butter, that stuff will kill you. Or preserve you, I'm not sure.

I don't sneak stuff in, that would require planning. But my sister in law has a carefully packed backpack that goes into all movies. There is not a snack food in existance that doesn't find it's way into that pack. Beef jerky, pudding cups, brownies, ice cream, I've seen all of it.


I'd love to go to one of those theaters that serve meals-that seems like fun.

Posted by: mrcreosote at October 7, 2009 4:42 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?

$8.75 for Moon (and it was Cash Only! Do other people have such theaters?) It's worth it to me to have some time alone at a movie theater, and this was a good film.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)

I rarely go to matinees, so yes.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)

I love the theater experience, so though I might limit my movies because of cost, I guess I'd pay up to $15.00

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?

About 15 minutes to the nearest megaplex, 10 theaters I think?

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? (Fortunately for me, the second-run “always $5” place is about equidistant to the two 12-screens at the shopping complexes, which is to say about five miles.)

Approximately 20 - 25 minutes.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?

Plain popcorn and a bottled water, $9.00 and no, it wasn't worth it.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in? (Last time I did that it was three airline bottles of JD that we poured into a large Coke we bought there; I think we did this for The Hangover, appropriately.)
If I remember, I try to at least sneak in some candy.

Posted by: Cindy at October 7, 2009 4:46 PM

The movies I see are usually determined by whatever it is my friends are seeing, so the last movie I went to see was Pandorum, and at $10 for the ticket, it wasn't worth it.

The last time it was worth it for me was also District 9, but that was a combination of it being a really good movie, and the fact that we did Jager bombs in the parking lot before going in. Yes I'm in college, shut up.

Posted by: MikeG at October 7, 2009 4:51 PM

oohh, but my full price 'Whip It' tix came with 2 t-shirts. Bonus!

Posted by: wsapnin at October 7, 2009 4:52 PM

- Zombieland. I saw it for free at an employee screening. My friend's wife is a manager at the local theater, so I haven't paid for a movie for a while.

- The most I'm willing to pay is $10, but even then it has to be something I know will be good and/or I really want to see.

- The closest theater is about 5 minutes away. I think it's 6 or 8 screens.

- I'm not sure where the closest indie theater is. There used to be a really cool one about 20 minutes away that had a coffee shop attached to it (with live jazz on Thursdays!). Recently, they've moved away from indie indie, and more to Hollywood indie.

- I never buy snacks or drinks anymore. They cost too much, and they're never worth it.

- We brought some beer to see Zombieland. The only other time I remember sneaking stuff in was a water bottle full of vodka (that four of us split into our sodas) for The Punisher (Thomas Jane), and some pot to see Freddy Got Fingered. We chickened out on actually smoking the pot. I think we realized that nothing could make that movie funny.

- Hehe…you said "boobies". My only complaint is the usual theater complaints: people talking, people bringing children and/or crying babies, people chewing loud, people text messaging, etc. Which is why I love my Netflix (or whatever your rental choice happens to be).

Posted by: henchman for hire at October 7, 2009 4:55 PM

I am so glad we have this diversion today.

The last movie I went to see was Zombieland, which was awesome. We went on opening night and I had my student ID out and ready to go in order to get the student discount. When we get to the front of the line, what do I see? A nice little sign that says they don't do student discounts on Fridays and Saturdays anymore. What the fuck?!

Just so everyone knows and can avoid them, this was a theater run by Regal Entertainment Group. They run Regal Cinemas, United Artist Theatres, Edwards Theatres, and possibly more.

They run the two movie theaters that are closest to my house and I can't get a fucking $3 student discount on Fridays and Saturdays.

I have been pissed ever since. I know this doesn't affect everyone and I know it's only for two days of the week, so maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing. Ticket prices have just gotten so high, and I really rely on that discount to help out a little. And now they are slowly trying to take it away from me.

So, what do you say Pajiba friends? Boycotts? Letter-writing campaign? Anything? Or should I just get over it?

Posted by: tbean at October 7, 2009 4:55 PM

Bitches, please. I live in Oslo, the most expensive city in the world. It costs me $4 to get to a movie theatre ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION and then the ticket costs, like, $20 US. Plus I saw Inglourious Basterds here, where the movie was subtitled into Norwegian. I don't speak Norwegian. That was probably the WORST movie I could have possibly seen.

Posted by: The Wandering Parakeet at October 7, 2009 4:58 PM

I'd love to go to one of those theaters that serve meals-that seems like fun.

Posted by: mrcreosote at October 7, 2009 4:42 PM
---
Me too. It's a wonder that more towns with struggling older theaters haven't tried something like that as a true alternative to the soulless octoplex. What do they have to lose? Hell, I was astonished to see the old art deco theater in my town sell beer, once upon a time. It was shitty mass-market beer, though -- what genius thought people who want to see docs and smaller films only want to drink Bud and Coors? -- so I never bought any, and now they don't sell that anymore, either.

They do have a door straight from the lobby into a Carvel, so there's that. But I don't think you can bring your ice cream into the theater.

Jesopus, would it kill you to be creative?

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at October 7, 2009 4:59 PM

Let's see, I last saw 9. It cost a lovely $10.50. Seriously.

The only cheaper option at that theater was to wait until next Thursday and buy the tickets with my student id and it would have cost $7.50. They don't look at the date on the card and don't realize I graduated already.

Considering I typically pay $10.50 I'll go with that.

The nearest theater is about 5 minutes away. It plays a few indie movies and often gets kids movies about 5 months after they come out. The tickets are still about $10 though.

I'll reverse the question since the nearest is an indie theater. The closest in a mall is about 20 minutes away and there is another mall with a theater about 2 minutes down the road from that one.

I didn't get anything. But my boyfriend got a large coke that ended up being flat. I can't remember what it cost but it was probably a lot.

A quick stop at the target down the road from one of the mall theaters provides me with boxes of candy and bottle of soda. I carry a big enough bag that no one notices. When I saw 9 though, a couple of friends snuck in burritos from Chipotle.

Posted by: a girl called ed at October 7, 2009 5:00 PM

There's a theater in Orange County that has $3 Tuesdays and Thursdays, all day. It's a small theater and they don't show all the latest releases (they only have four screens), but I'll take anything for $3. Hell, even "G.I. Joe" was tolerable at $3.

For movies that aren't showing at the cheap theater, I buy tickets from Costco. Along with movie snacks.

"Welcome to Costco, I love you."

The most I've paid for a movie was at this theater by Disneyland. There was booze, leather couches and no crying children. Well worth it.

Posted by: Amanda at October 7, 2009 5:05 PM

Last time I went to the cinema, I spent £6.50 (about $10.30 according to some online convertor) it was a 3d film though, (Coraline) I would have liked to have gone for the cheaper alternative* (2d; five quid=about seven dollars), but I waited to long, and they'd stopped showing it in 2-d.

(It was at a multiplex (12 screens I think- within about half a hour's walking distance)

The most I'd be willing to pay for a movie would be eight quid (12.71 dollars), if I was really desperate to see it and couldn't wait for it to come out on DVD

In the UK, there are no matinees, there cheap films screeened, but they're usally old movies at the weekend, and usually just for the kids.

I don't buy stuff to eat from the cinema, I don't remember how much popcorn and stuff cost over here, last time I checked, I just thought 'too much' And I don't smuggle stuff in; it's only an hour or two; I casn live without nourisment for that long.If I'm really hungry I go buy some food and eat it before I go to the cinema.

I don't know where the nearest indie movie place is, might even be the place TSF mentioned (I live in Falkirk, right inbetween Glasgow and Edinburgh)

No rants I want to on, just want to make you all you Americans jealous. All that annoying behaviour you guys complain about; people shouting talking on their moblies, sorry, cellphones, that hardly ever happens over here,even at evening and weekend screenings (at least I've hardly ever ecountered it. In fact I've only encountered it once, during a weekday mid-day showing of Juno,(I was a student) where the screen was packed full of black people (Not trying to be racist, just being honest), anyway they clearly weren't that target market for the movie, and soon showed with all their loud talking (I did make me wonder what they though they were going to see, from all the promo material, it was clear it couldn't possibly be more white, it also made me wonder why they didn't just leave and get a refund.)

Posted by: cockroach at October 7, 2009 5:14 PM

We have a six-screen multi in Eton Square, about two miles from my house. The only drawback is I sometimes have to wait a bit for movies. It's okay, since a Sunday afternoon matinee ticket runs 4.50 and a small popcorn/medium coke combo is 4.25.
About four miles from home is the Dollar Theater (four screens) where afternoon matinees are only fifty cents and the snacks are about the same price as in any other theater. The sound and seating are also surprisingly good.
If I want to see a movie at other times, I'll pay as much as 10-12 bucks for a ticket but that's usually when Mrs. Spender are on a date night and we'll splurge on snacks as well.
Her purse also makes an excellent hiding place for a flask full of Skyy vodka, which mixes well with a Large Pepsi.

Posted by: Spender at October 7, 2009 5:18 PM

when Mrs. Spender are on a date night

Okay, when Mrs. Spender are on a date night with me.

Posted by: Spender at October 7, 2009 5:21 PM

The last one I attended was today. I watched The Soloist which wasn't a good movie, but I don't choose movies simply because they are good. I'm a movie whore so I pay to see all kinds of movies.

I paid 5 euros, which is almost $8. I watched it during the day. Day screenings up to about 6pm are cheaper than evening ones. I often go to day screenings. All movies are usually the same price around here unless its a special preview of some awaited movie like Harry Potter or some shit.

There are three cinemas which I like. One I like because it shows carefully selected arty films from around the world. Sometimes it runs themes too like for example LGBT cinema weekend or something. It's not a commercial cinema and only has one screen. The other I like because of its convenience. It shows movies during the day and is easily accessible to me. It has sic screens. The other I like because it has more theaters and therefore has more variety of films. It has 17 screens. I don't attend any others because they are out of my way (this makes me miss out on 3D films because none of the ones I attend have a 3D screen).

The first two cinemas mentioned here are only a few minutes away from each other and interestingly they are not far away from an adult cinema (which I have never attended because it looks dingy and sorely needs a refurbishment). I think I'd only attend once out of curiosity anyway. The nearest cinema to my home is about 20 minutes by car.

I often buy some snacks but I rarely buy popcorn. I often like buying nachos with chilli peppers and cheese or salsa together with a beer (do you get beer in cinemas in the US). Today I bought a large Pringles and a beer which cost me a little over 5 euros (almost $8). While buying snacks at a cinema is relatively expensive it's just something I accept. If you just want a movie you can stay home and pop in a DVD but if I'm going to the cinema it's both the enjoy the film and to go out and have fun. I look at it this way. If I spend two hours in a bar or restaurant I end up spending more money than I do at the cinema anyway so for two hours of entertainment I think it's well worth it. Sneaking in food and drink is very easy but i don't bother. If I'm out to have fun I'm not going to skimp on a few euros. This goes for the ticket price too. If it's a movie I really want to watch I'm ready to pay a bit of an expensive price. I don't know what my max will be. I don't ever remember going to the cinema and saying "That is way too expensive" so my limits still have to be tested.

Phew. i think I've answered all the questions.

Posted by: barf at October 7, 2009 5:21 PM

— Zombieland, and fuck yes.

— It was a matinee.

— Maximum 10 bucks.

— About a mile, but I hate it and don't know anything about it.

— That one is a aways away from me.

— No, I smuggled in a $1 hamburger.

— Yes, I do. I have successfully smuggled in pizza, burgers, fries, and wings.

— I don't buy much, so nope!

Posted by: Brittany at October 7, 2009 5:21 PM

when Mrs. Spender are on a date night

Okay, when Mrs. Spender are on a date night with me.

Don't you feel like the third wheel?

Posted by: branded at October 7, 2009 5:26 PM

1. nighttime show was $8.50 BUT it was the Toy Story/Toy Story 2 in 3D double feature and it was totally and completely awesome!!!

2. wanted to see the night show, so no other alternatives

3. maybe 10 bucks?

4. maybe 3 miles?

5. Sadly, there are no indie theaters in NWArkansas

6. Ok, I caved and bought my daughter the kids' pack with like a cup of popcorn, small drink and snack size sour candy crap for $4.75. Ripoff.

7. YES I sneak in Toblerone Dark!!!

Posted by: Courtney at October 7, 2009 5:32 PM

Regal Cinema is the DEVIL.

We have a nice collection of Pub-Theater's here in Portland, mostly Mcmenamins. They buy fantastic old buildings and turn them into unique pubs, hotels, theatres, etc.
http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?type=pub

We also have quite a few surviving old 1 screen neighborhood theaters. When we lived 4 blocks form The Moreland in Westmoreland (PDX), the Ex-Mr. Lwa'e' and I saw everything they played. We walked to and from,and we knew the owners by name. Hell, we knew their little dog by name.
Portland is filled with surviving little mainstreets of neighborhoods. It is the opposite of the suburban model.
Support your local businesses and you will be rewarded by a real community and a non-homogeneous environment.
/soap box

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at October 7, 2009 5:33 PM

Screw. you. all.

I really need to immigrate into your obviously goddamn wonderful country. 3$ a ticket? Are you kidding?!? Where I'm at, not even newborn infants can go to the cinema for that laughable nothing of a price.
Even 6$ is just ridiculous.
Google calculations tell me that we (that is, the people of way-too-expensive-cinema-ticket-land) pay 8$-and-then-some for a cheap-ass-Tuesday-5-weeks-after-release-ticket, and more than 12 for any other ticket on any other day... in the cheapest of cinemas.
And I really don't even want to talk about popcorn and coke, because I think I have an idea about paper cup and popcorn box/bag sizes and respective prices...

Wandering Parakeet, let's start a European-wide demonstration for enlightenment of movie goers that are thoroughly been taken to the cleaners. Sweet Oz, are we being cheated...

Posted by: Padame at October 7, 2009 5:34 PM

Last for me was Zombieland, $8.50 for the ticket, and I snuck in two delicious Quaker Oatmeal Bars because I'm saving money for a new electric guitar.

The most I'd ever pay for tickets would depend on the movie, for the average film, no more than $10.00, but if it was say, a special showing of a classic I already love, such as Star Wars, I'd go as high as $13.50.

Posted by: George at October 7, 2009 5:39 PM

Padame, where you at?

Posted by: The Wandering Parakeet at October 7, 2009 5:40 PM

After reading everyone's comments I realise how much the price is an issue for many people. Doesn't seem to be one for me but I'm single and I often go to the cinema alone. At the price you end up paying if you're taking for example a family (parking, tickets and snacks) I can see how it's really expensive. I still think it's less expensive than spending an evening clubbing or pub crawling or dining out in a good restaurant... do you also sneak food and drinks into these places??

Your comments got me thinking. Why are we obsessed with eating while watching a movie anyway? We're such suckers to the system saying things like "It's not the same without the snacks." I'm totally guilty of this myself but really, it's only two hours! We 'll all survive if we don't eat while watching movies.

I just remembered there's a cinema closer than I mentioned in my previous post. 10 minutes walk but its one of those super cheap cinemas which shows movies long after they had been originally released. i would have usually already watched them by then so I never go there.

Posted by: barf at October 7, 2009 5:56 PM

What did you pay? Was it worth it?
I think it was nine bucks. For District 9. Glad it wasn't District 25.99. HAHAHAHAHA!

Did you pass up cheaper alternatives?
I'll definitely see a half-price matinee over a night showing. Plus there's usually less people at a matinee, which is good for me because I hate people with a blinding rage. Hate.

The most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket?
You throw in a hummer, I'll drop 50 bucks. I'm not saying I'll give you a ride home, but I'll take you out for a couple drinks afterward. Then I'll tell all your friends you blew me at Alvin & The Chipmunks 2. Sure, it might seem hateful at first, but over time, you'll grow to appreciate the humor of the situation. Heck, you might even be inspired to write a novel!

How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens?
Less than ten minutes. I believe there's fourteen inside and one out back. It's not so much a screen as it is a couple of drunk hobos acting out scenes from various films. More often than not, they end in unnecessary fisticuffs, but hey - I liked their version of Steel Magnolias better than the original...

How far is it to the nearest indie?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAaaaa... HA! Over an hour.

The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages?
I'm always carrying water with me, but if there's some sort of deal, I'll usually buy a pop and popcorn to split with somebody. I usually hit people up in the restrooms - "Hey, nice penis. Wanna go halfsies on some pop and popcorn?" or "Sounds like a pretty big poop you're taking in there. How about we refill that belly with some pop and popcorn?"

Do you routinely sneak stuff in?
Like I said, water. Not really sneaking it in though, as I just don't make eye contact with the person who'd normally tell me not to take it in. Other than popcorn or Milk Duds, I'm not big on eating in the theater. I'd rather focus on the film than trying to properly prepare a burger with the exact combination of condiments...

Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest ?
Albinos should pay double. All the time. And they should have to sit in the very front row. All the time. And if there's an Albino in line behind you? They should have to pay for half your ticket. Lastly, if it's a remake, I should be allowed to pay what I feel is appropriate afterward.

Posted by: Skitz at October 7, 2009 6:01 PM

I have an awesome stereo system, a huge TV, and patience, so I wouldn't pay more than like $4.50 to see a movie... particularly with the shitty attitude that the entertainment industry takes toward their customers. Makes commenting on fresh movies here fucking difficult though...

Posted by: Eep at October 7, 2009 6:02 PM

zombieland. full price. two of us. totally worth it. got snacks. i always take my own water in; and sometimes candy from the dollar store...

Posted by: maxpurr9 at October 7, 2009 6:14 PM

Last movie I saw was Zombieland and I paid the AMC weekday escape price of $5 (which was a steal for that movie). Before that I went and saw the Toy Story 3D two-fer and paid $13 for that.

When I go to the AMC/Cinemark, I may get something to drink but no food (no need for candy). However, whenever I went to the Alamo Drafthouse, it was certain that I'd order food (Brisket BBQ Quesadilla or Chicken Parm sandwich or just a Cheese and Fruit platter).

And I don't mind paying full price if it's a movie that I know I'll like or have looked forward to. If I've any doubt, I wait till the weeknights -- I avoid matinees as I've found out that I got ZERO tolerance for the tween crowds that hang out at the movie theater cause they got no place else to go.

Lousy kids!

/hikes up pants and gets on his lil' rascal

Posted by: Fredo at October 7, 2009 6:20 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?
10 bones, and it was inglourious basterds, so yes

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)
only theatre within 2.5 hours driving distance, no matinees

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket?
10 sucks enough

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?
live less than 5 minutes from the theatre, 10 screens

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie?
there was an old artdeco era single screen theatre that used to have 75cent matinees and 1.50 nights down the road, but it closed 10 years ago, and was building was bulldozed last summer.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?
i try not to buy concessions, as the prices are insane, never worth it.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in?
all.the.time. corner store popcorn and 99cent cans of iced tea.

Posted by: samma at October 7, 2009 6:30 PM

@ cockroach

Mon the central belt! The independent I was referring to was the GFT on Rose Street.

Funnily enough when I went to see Juno some wee bams at the back spent the entire film throwing sweets at random people throughout the audience. The moral outrage I felt was somewhat muted by the fact I'd made my way through a couple bottles of Bucky that I'd snuck in. And the 16 year old I was supposed to be looking after ended up dropping a pill and spent the second half of the film hugging and loving his seat.

Good film though.

Posted by: TSF at October 7, 2009 6:34 PM

What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?
-Last I saw was Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince, in Dallas. Totally worth it.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)
Yes. We had thought of watching Wolverine at the cheapo $2 theater, but decided to go with Harry instead.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket?
no more than $8

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?
About a 10 minute drive, and it has about 10 screens.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie?
HA. There's no such thing in Honduras.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?
We got popcorn and cokes, I think it was under $10 for a lot of food, so it was worth it. Here in Honduras, though, a tiny bag of popcorn costs about $2 and not worth it. It's the US "small" bag and they call it a large. The "small" here holds about 20 puffs.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in?
Yep. Candy, mostly.

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest?

Well theaters here are pretty cheap in US standards(only $3.15 for full price, but it IS a lot more in our currency. Tuesdays and Thursdays you get half that price. The big problem is we get a very limited number of movies: 1) the big American box-office movies, 2) mediocre BO movies that we get about 2 months too late, 3) Oscar winners, about 6 months later and 4) animated movies, dubbed in spanish. It sucks, and isn't worth the crowded theaters or the price. That's why I'm always watching movies months later.

Posted by: figgy at October 7, 2009 6:35 PM

Skitz >> I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stand blithely by and let you offend my Albanian heritage like that.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at October 7, 2009 6:38 PM

I made a spur of the moment decision to go see Zombieland over in Calabasas at the Edwards Theaters on a Friday afternoon. The first show cost $9.50. I go there because it is a very upscale theater and you can usually find good seats. (Before they opened the Arclight in Sherman Oaks, it was my Date Night theater of choice).

Seeing Zombieland was definitely worth it. However, it cost $5.75 for a Large Diet Coke and $6.00 for a small popcorn. That was ridiculous, but I hadn't eaten, so they got me on that. I did go back after the movie and get the free D/C refill though. I told the guy I was coming back on Sunday for another refill in order to make it cost effective. He laughed and said, yep, they are a bit pricey.

I have never smuggled stuff in. But the prices at this theater may lead me to doing so. Not like people are working there, I waited 7 minutes for someone to show up at the concession stand for my refill. I could have looted the place and been gone in the time it took. Oh, to be young again.

Posted by: Rubble44 at October 7, 2009 7:49 PM

$17. Seventeen fucking dollars for my last ticket. From a chain of cinemas, not far from my house in the mother-fornicating suburbs. No, wait, that was for Inglorious Basterds. I paid the same amount at a city cinema to see Up.
Both films would have been worth it for, say $12.50, the cheapest price you can get tickets for (Tightarse Tuesday, oh how I love you). Up might almost be worth $17. Until I remember that, for the cost of me and the future Mr Geek to see it once in cinemas, we could buy the DVD and watch it all we like. Then I feel bitter, and sad, and slightly stabby. Take it as given that I only ever buy the ticket at the cinema, nothing else.

There's a legal battle in Australia right now - an ISP is being sued by various 'pubishers' for 'encouraging illegal downloads'. Want to know what REALLY encourages illegal downloading? Seventeen fucking dollars to sit in a shitty theatre with sticky floors, crying babies and 100 other people.

Posted by: ScienceGeek at October 7, 2009 8:18 PM

1. District 9, totally worth it.

2. I usually opt for the cheaper options (Tightass Tuesday, Ladies Day etc.), but not this time.

3. When Dark Knight opened in Japan, I paid roughly $20. It hurt, but I had already waited 2 months after it's American release.


4 & 5. Right now, there's a megaplex and an indie cinema about 10 minutes drive away, aroud 25-30 screens.

6. I paid around $10 for a box of skittles and a small coke. It was not worth it.


7. I sneak stuff in, but if it's a special movie (i.e. a decent blockbuster along the lines of Batman or HP), then I get popcorn.

8. I lived in Japan up until recently - and though ticket prices were generally horrible (around $20 at the big megaplex), they had 1/2 price off tickets on Wednesdays ("Ladies Day") and for showings after 8pm. $10 is still a lot, but at least food was cheap - I could get a large popcorn for $3, and a coke for $1.50-$2.

Posted by: loulou at October 7, 2009 8:22 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it? $10.75 for a 3:30pm The Informant! at the Regal Verizon Center in Washington DC.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? Not really.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? With friends, $20 if it is premium seating at the Muvico O'Hare/Rosemont - but that includes popcorn, valet parking, and an oversized recliner seat. Alone, I haven't been to a movie alone in probably five years. I'd probably pay $7-$8.

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? A junky 80s strip mall 6-screener is four blocks from my house. I'd rather kill myself than watch a movie there. The closest real complex is about three miles away.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? Probably 25 miles.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it? No, we had just finished a massive lunch at the Clyde's outpost next door.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in? When I used to go alone (much more in the pre-broadband 90s), I'd usually sneak in a small package of Combos or pretzels and a package of M&Ms. With friends, I don't care about the price of the snack bar.

Posted by: Suspended at October 7, 2009 8:36 PM

ScienceGeek just won the EEs...

Unless there's a certain videotape admin is willing to cast his eyes upon... C'mon, Canadanadian, 2 Girls & a Cup ain't got jack shit on me. So says my co-star, the brilliant and sexually underrated Mister STEPHEN MOTHERFUCKING HAWKING!

Normally, I'd "WHOOT!", but I think it's being a little overused these days...

Posted by: Skitz at October 7, 2009 8:37 PM

What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it? $4.00 total to see Up at the Dollar Theater. I would have paid full price, what a great family movie!

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? You mean like stealing the DVD from Wal-Mart? Yes, yes I did pass. Because Wal-Mart smells funny.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? Ten sounds good, 12 max.

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? 2 Miles How many screens there? 12

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? Three miles, a Drive-In two miles away and also a Dollar theater less than ten miles. I'm a lucky little movie whore.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? Ayuh. What did you get? Most theaters have a Kids Pack with Popcorn, a small pack of candy and a small drink for five bucks. It's a lot of stuff. I shamelessly get it. I'm Hobbit Sized, they dare not deny me! About how much did they cost? Five bucks. Were they worth it? Mmmmmmmmmmm......

- Do you routinely sneak stuff in? Bitch, I would bring an entire pizza pie to the Drive-In. We had so much food during Harry Potter I could have turned the car into a for-profit Roach Coach.

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest (or boobies, as the case may be). No. I am thankful. I read comments where folks can't see a certain movie, or where the Drive-In no longer exists, or in bigger cities where tickets are so high, and I feel blessed. I'll always remember taking my kids to the indie theater to see classic 70's Disney movies and Anime, the First Run theatre to see Wall-E and LOTR, the dollar theater when we're poor. Most of all I'll remember taking them to see Harry Potter at the same Drive-in where I saw Grease as a kid, and pulling up the back hatch, folding down the back seats, spreading out the sleeping bags, and trying not to tremble with happiness when the summer air breezes through my daughters curls by the light of the big screen. Movies are magic, y'all.

Posted by: Stacy D at October 7, 2009 9:00 PM

The last movie I saw was Star Trek at the second-run theater, I paid $3.75. It was totally worth it. In fact, it was a steal.

I didn't pass up any cheaper alternatives, $3.75 for a movie is as cheap as it gets.

I think my top price would also be $10, which might be a problem in the future, as I think a regular, non matinee ticket costs $9.75 right now. Hm. Guess I'll just always have to rock the matinee from now on. Not a problem.

I think the nearest theater is about two miles away and it's a drive in and it has...six screens? I'm not really sure. For the nearest normal theater, I think the second-run theater and the regular theater are about the same distance, five miles. The regular theater has twelve or so screens, the second-run one has four.

The nearest "indie" theater is about fifteen miles away and it's not any cheaper than a megaplex. And it's downtown, so there's no parking. It's also a "historic" theater and has really old, uncomfortable seats and smells funny. It's a nice landmark and a terrible movie theater.

When I went to see Star Trek, I did buy a soda. I got a medium and it was $4.25. But it was a much bigger "medium" than at the megaplex theater and while it was a slight rip off, it wasn't that bad.

I ALWAYS sneak food in. I carry a giant purse and it usually has food in it anyway (I think it has a granola bar and a fruit strip in it right now). Throwing in some pumpkin seeds and cinnamon bears doesn't take a lot of effort. Sometimes I'll sneak in a whole meal, last time I brought in a burger and fries. I usually buy a drink at the theater, but that's it. When I go to the movies, I make at stop somewhere first. Grocery store, JackintheBox, whatev. Food first, then movie. It works for me.

Posted by: mandasarah at October 7, 2009 9:01 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?

$10 for Zombieland. It was well worth it. Awesome movie. And I saw the 11:45pm viewing so there weren't many people there and the few that were seemed to be around my age.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)

Technically yes since I could have gone to the matinee the next day. But I have to work weekdays and do homework over the weekend. So nights are the best time for me.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)

$15

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?

About a mile. 10 I think.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? (Fortunately for me, the second-run “always $5” place is about equidistant to the two 12-screens at the shopping complexes, which is to say about five miles.)

About 30 minutes

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?

I bought a large coke and popcorn for about $8. No, not at all. The price for concessions is 10 times worse than the price for tickets. They have to be making enormous profit off this stuff.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in?

Not routinely. Its hard to sneak stuff in with jeans.

Posted by: Dave at October 7, 2009 9:47 PM

— Nothing. My date paid. I try not to pay for movies. Everything here costs $10, so I try not to pay. That's probably the most I'd ever pay to see something in theaters, though.

— The nearest theater is like a 4 minute walk from me. Benefits of being in a city. Its...8 screens? The nearest indie place is about 5 minutes away. But it's very expensive and usually filled with old people.

— Nope. Don't buy the food. It's never worth it, unless the theater serves amazing popcorn. Yes I sneak stuff in, because movie theater food is never worth it. At home, there's a creperie right next to my favorite theater, so I usually sneak in crepes. Here, there's a great burger place near the theater, so sometimes I beef it up during movies.

— Why don't they have super cheap theaters around colleges? I'm superpoor. The last movie I actually paid to see was Star Trek. And even that took a significant amount of consideration before making the investment. TICKETS COST $10 HERE. WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS?

Posted by: esme at October 7, 2009 10:32 PM

My boyfriend and I saw Extract at a matinee on a Saturday. We paid under $20 for the 2 tickets, and I think it was $14, but I'm not certain. Was it worth it? Eh. We could have held out for the DVD, but we were really in the mood for going to the theater, and we'd already seen all of the movies we could agree on/wanted to see more.

No, there may be movies that are +/- a dollar or so, but I think tickets in Austin are generally consistent. There may be a discount theater in Round Rock, but it may just be that they charge less because it's so far from the city.

For just the movie, I guess my limit is about 15 dollars, like at an IMAX or possibly in 3D. We saw Star Trek at the IMAX with a big group of people, and while I'm not a big fan of the movie, the experience of seeing on a screen that big was well worth it. Plus, they encourage you to bring snacks. We paid around $30 to see Inland Empire, but that included a Q&A with David Lynch, and it was at the Paramount Theater(not an actual movie theater), so it was also worth it.

The nearest theater is a 12 screen Regal theater. It is a 5 minute drive, 15 minute walk. They show indie movies frequently and also, a lot of Indian/Bollywood movies, which I've yet to see, but I think it's really cool, nonetheless...

The nearest indie is the south Alamo Drafthouse, which is about a 15 minute drive. They just opened the Highball, which is a cocktail lounge/bowling and skeeball alley/dance hall/karaoke lounge/diner, next door. If I had disposable income I'd make an evening of the two all the time.

I didn't buy anything, but my boyfriend bought a drink and some popcorn.

If I go the Alamo, never. I've honestly never even thought about it. Their Wild at Artichoke Heart Pizza is sometimes better than the movie. But if I go to other theaters, hell yes. I don't eat the kind of crap that our theaters sell, and even if I did, I wouldn't pay that price. $8 for a microwaved, styrofoam-textured, gymsock-flavored soft pretzel? They cost around $0.25 wholesale! $5 klondike bar? The hell you say. Even the water they sell is disgusting! If they carried anything other than Dasani, I would buy water sometimes, but that shit tastes like moldy seawater. I usually take a package of Manner, roasted nuts, or choclate and always water.

I knew a woman who would take a whole meal, in Tupperware, and snacks, and set up camp like she was having a picnic. And yes, barf she would also take her own food to restaurants occasionally.

I've already ranted about the food, but my other complaint is that our nearest theater has combos "deals", which most theaters have, but the combos here actually cost MORE than the sum of the individual items. They never have the prices for the combos listed, so you'd think you were getting a deal, especially if you had kids with you, or were running late for your movie or were otherwise harried. Seriously, they add a $5.00 medium drink, and a $5.50 medium and the total will be $13.00 instead of $10.50 or less. The sizes are also much smaller than the typical trash bin 'o popcorn and gallon of soda (not that I think people should consume that much food in a sitting, but if they offered that much food, I'd at least be able to understand how they justified a still-ridiculous price).

I love Austin, and am very thankful for all of the indie theaters, general movie love, early premiers and cool movie related events, but I miss some things from my hometown, like the drive in, dollar movies, and semi-reasonably priced food.

Posted by: Christina at October 7, 2009 10:37 PM

Alright. I did a Control F and found that ashes hadn't posted. She went into Zombieland with a fifth of Crown....Just wanted to say that.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at October 7, 2009 11:30 PM

Last movie I saw in theaters: Zombieland. Paid full price (actually, the boyfriend paid full price), which is $10.25 on weekends. It's $9.75 on weekdays, $6.50 for matinees, and $7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Did we pass up on any cheaper options? Technically, yes, since we could have waited and gone to a matinee or on a weeknight...but it was ZOMBIELAND. We had both been waiting far too long to see it as it was, so paying full weekend price was not an issue.

I don't think I would pay more than $15 for a movie. When The Nightmare Before Christmas was doing it's 3D run a couple years ago, I had to be convinced by someone who was going a second time that it was really worth the $13.

The nearest theater is about 5 minutes from my house, but it's the mall theater, so I try to avoid it at all costs. There's a second multiplex about 15 minutes away--it has about 15 screens (so it's bigger than the 10 screen mall theater), it's cleaner, and there are significantly less teenagers to yell at.

The nearest indie theater is about 25 minutes away...but, as a Rhode Islander, that is simply too far to drive to see a movie on the regular. The boyfriend I have been there a few times to see things like The Wackness and (500) Days of Summer, but we don't make a habit of it.

I'll buy popcorn and a soda occasionally, but not always. I carry big ol' purses, so it's very easy to stash a couple of sodas and some candy inside. I have yet to smuggle booze into the movies--I've just never really thought of it--but I think I might try it next time I get dragged to a movie that I have no interest in seeing.

Other rants? There used to be the best little second-run theater about 2 minutes from my house when I was younger. The picture sucked and the theaters were tiny and horribly structured (the left side of the theater had rows that were probably 20 seats across, and then the right side had rows of, like, 4), but I have some of the best memories of going to see shitty teen comedies with my junior high friends in that theater. It also ran The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight on the weekends, and I regret that it closed down before I was old enough to go.

And you know what's there now? A fucking Dunkin Donuts. Because the northeast needs more of those, obviously. Sigh.

Posted by: Bethany at October 7, 2009 11:54 PM

Paid $14 to see D9. Didn't go to the matinee because the Friday Movie Night Crew is not only a movie-going experience but also a major social event. We meet for drinks in the lounge, see the flick, then have an argument about it at dinner afterward. There are about 20 of us. It's a hoot.

The most I'd pay for a ticket is probably $20, but I am paying $8/ticket to take about 30 girls in foster care to see The Princess & The Frog, so I guess that means I'm willing to pay $240 for a movie, eh?

I'm in LA, so damn near every theater is within a 20 min drive. There have got to be 20 I can choose from on any given opening day. My closest theater (The Bridge) is 3 mins from my house, 10 if I ride my bike. There are 14 screens, a bar, and a (real) IMAX screen, not that AMC bullshit.

Indie theaters are plentiful in LA, the closest to me being about 20 mins away in Santa Monica. The $3 theater is also about 20 mins away in Torrance.

I don't buy snacks at the concession stand. I don't drink soda, so I usually bring in my own water bottle. And Red Vines. I cannot watch a movie without Red Vines. I buy them at the Cheveron Food Mart by my house. If I eat concession food I'm usually bumming off a friend or my nephew.

And HEY! It's not sneaking if it fits in my very large purse.

Posted by: ceejeemcbeegee at October 7, 2009 11:54 PM

Deist, that is because what you don't know is I just so happened to finish that fifth last night (with very little help, mind you), and composing a gramatically correct, coherent sentence is incredibly hard right now. I'm not even going to try.

Posted by: ashes at October 8, 2009 12:29 AM

I'm in London, UK, I paid £9...something last night to see Zombieland. So you're talking, what, 15/16 bucks there? I think it should be cheaper. If it was I would go more, and I go a fair amount now. I avoid the West End cinemas here because those are around £12.

I work during the week so miss any cheaper tickets there, although maybe it's cheaper on weekend afternoons, but I don't usually go then. So maybe I should stop complaining about the price?

I have paid the £12 before, I think it was a last resort, so I guess that's my limit.

My nearest cinema is about a half hour bus ride. Actually it's not the nearest but it's the nicest and I'm less likely to get stabbed there for telling the knobhead behind me to shut the fuck up during the film. My usual cinema has around 12 screens I think.

There's an independent cinema just up the street. It's no cheaper, last time I looked, but it plays things you don't normally get.

I don't buy snacks there, I buy them elsewhere and smuggle them past the sweetie police. A bottle of water is stupidly priced there, never mind the chocolate etc. It's ridiculous.

It's too expensive! They need to lower the prices! But then that's London. I think it's cheaper in other areas, they just like to shaft you well and good here.

I think this is the longest comment I've ever left here. And no one will read it...

Posted by: Carrie at October 8, 2009 4:42 AM

No rants I want to on, just want to make you all you Americans jealous. All that annoying behaviour you guys complain about; people shouting talking on their moblies, sorry, cellphones, that hardly ever happens over here,even at evening and weekend screenings (at least I've hardly ever ecountered it.

Oh how I wish this were true. London, the land of people who are unable to control themselves in a cinema.

Posted by: Carrie at October 8, 2009 4:50 AM

I live in London, UK & a phone company does a 2 for 1 deal every Wednesday... so that's when I go.
I go to the local cinema, which is £8 - but split between 2, it's £4 each - is that like $8 - $10.

I'm totally ok with that price.

I'd pay more for a double feature or something special, but I'm not anal about seeing any movie in the first week so I just see things when they're on around where I live...

2 Indies on my doorstep - the Rio in Dalston is 5 mins walk away and has 2 screens, the Rich Mix is 5mins bus away and has 4, The closest Cineplex is 20mins by bus and has 10ish screens, but I only go there for BLOCKBUSTERS!!!

I bought popcorn & my man bought wine from the theatre last night - We saw Fish Tank, it's brilliant!
I usually take sweets in and a bottle of water - but I don't think there are any rules about that... In my poorer days I have snuck microwave popcorn in
:-)

Posted by: missh at October 8, 2009 5:53 AM

Also, Carrie - the West End is INSANE! I think I paid £15 once when I was a London newbie...

(see people do read your comments!)

Posted by: missh at October 8, 2009 5:55 AM

Heh! I stand corrected.

Also, Dalston! You are not far from me. I'm a Stokey girl. :)

Posted by: Carrie at October 8, 2009 6:01 AM

EASTLONDON4LIFE!
(Ha ha!)

I'm just on Kingsland Rd at Dalston Junction - we're practically neighbours...

Posted by: missh at October 8, 2009 6:18 AM

I live about 5mins walk from a small independent with two screens. When we go there, we buy our snacks there, as the owners a nice guy and as far as I know, the snacks are the majority of his income. We occassionally travel to the next town over for the blockbustery movies - but our mate works there, so free tickets and snacks are the norm, heheh!

Posted by: derfelcadarn at October 8, 2009 7:07 AM

The West End makes me homicidal. I prefer to keep to more to the east (I'm in Hoxton).

Movie watching split between Rich Mix, Islington Vue and the BFI (which is a short walk from my office). I only go the West End to watch films when it is my only option (usually the Curzon Soho)

Posted by: WestCoastPat at October 8, 2009 7:15 AM

I paid $7.50 for the last movie I saw, which was actually for three movies at the drive-in. And, yes, it is always worth it to pay that little for that many movies. I don't think there was any way to see the movies cheaper, unless I streamed them in shit quality on the interwebs.

I think $9 is probably my top price for a movie. Unless it was something super-awesome like getting to see The Dark Knight or Labyrinth on the big screen again.

We live about 5 minutes from the closest regular theater. It is a Showcase Cinemas with ten or so screens. The nearest Indie theater is about 20 or 30 minutes from me. It is called The Neon and I really wanted to see The Hurt Locker there, but it didn't happen. The drive-in is about 30 minutes from us.

We didn't sneak any food into the last movies because you're allowed to bring in outside food. So, we had cheeseburgers, popcorn, chips, and pop from home. We did pay for some nachos and they were $6.50. Nachos are so worth it though.

I have been known to sneak in candy and even cans of pop to the regular theater.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at October 8, 2009 8:17 AM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw?
Was it worth it? $18 for my wife and I to see District 9. On the netflix scale, we gave it 4 stars. I think it was worth it. Before that we saw Inglourious Basterds- also worth it.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives?
$9 per ticket is about you can expect around my town. There's a dollar show about 30 minutes away (versus the 10 minutes I normally drive) but District 9 wouldn't have been there yet.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket?
If it goes over $10, I'm out. Date night will become microwave popcorn and whatever Netflix has available for streaming.

— How far from your home is your nearest theater?
There's a mall about 2 minutes away with terrible seats and obnoxious teen crowds. We pass that right up and make a 10 mile drive to a much nicer theater.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?
We get movie-style boxes of candy or drinks at the Walgreen's next door. Candy is a buck, whereas the same stuff at the theater is $3 or $4. If we get anything at the theater, it's only when our AMC watcher's card nets us a free popcorn.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in?
Walgreen's candy and Rockstar energy drinks usually. Used to see movies with a buddy who lined his coat pockets with ice packs and smuggled in a few beers.

Posted by: Napalm Clambake at October 8, 2009 8:50 AM

Sciencegeek, you are SO right. Even after you've paid $17, there is no guarantee that you won't have some idiot sitting behind you trying to impress his girfriend by guessing out loud what's going to happen next, a couple of old biddies who haven't switched they're hearing aids on, and can't hear a thing, saying "what did he say, dear...", or someone who's determined to share whatever communicable disease he/she has by coughing, wheezing, hacking or sniffling their way through a movie.

Posted by: Mrs Nesbitt at October 8, 2009 10:06 AM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?
£8, and no. The film was 'Pandorum' (not my choice) and all it did was make me anxious!

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)
Again, not by choice, as the other person couldn't go any other time.


— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)
Depends on the whole experience. I paid £15 to see 'Star Trek' in true IMAX, but I've also paid £12 to see a film in the smallest screen of a multiplex, and that's NOT worth it. I think £5-£10 is fairer. Movies just cost more in the UK...

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?
About a minute's walk, and I'm not sure, maybe four.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie?
Since the indies I would go to are in central London, about 45 minutes travel.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?
No. I don't buy movie food.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in?
I usually bring water, but that's it. I don't go to a film to eat, and the noise of others grazing pisses me off.

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest (or boobies, as the case may be).
Yes, that movie tickets are so much more expensive in the UK than in the US. Why? It really is a rip-off, especially in London's West End, where two tickets for a big new release can cost £25.

Posted by: Tarn at October 8, 2009 10:29 AM

Skitz,

Just wondering what Wendell pays, or do you sneak him in? Seems like half price would be about right.

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at October 8, 2009 11:04 AM

Ah, one of the beauties of living in a 3rd World country is that we get the movies almost at the same time as they open in the US (maybe 1 or 2 weeks later), but at much more affordable prices. The downside is, indie films take forever to get here, if they ever do. So:

1-. Paid $2 each, give or take a few cents for G-Force. Yes, it was worth it because it was what my son asked for his birthday (to see this movie in the theater with his friends) so it saved me a lot of birthday party-related hassle.

2-. Yes, I did pass up the 2x1 Wednesday deal.

3-. I have paid up to $5 for the 3D Premium theater. More than that, I would consider armed robbery.

4-. The nearest theater is about 10 minutes from my home. I think 5 or 6 screens.

5-. Just 2 theaters showing indie movies in the whole country, and only 1 of them is "commercial", the other one belongs to the University. They are both about 20 minutes from my place.

6-. Nope, I don't believe in eating in movies. Specially not with children! Next thing you know, you need to take them to the bathroom. One by one, because they never need to go at the same time. So, no eating or drinking for a couple of hours, we all survive. And I make sure we all use the bathroom before the movie begins, I hate when people starts waking in and out, so I don't do it unless it's a veritable, life-threatening emergency.

7-. Please refer to #6.

8-. Not really, after reading the comments of those living in the US and the UK, I think we have it pretty sweet!

Posted by: Cuca at October 8, 2009 11:18 AM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?

Hm, last movie, last movie... Star Trek? At the crappy theater closest to my home. So, $11 a ticket, I think? It may still be $10.50 there.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)

That theater doesn't have matinee pricing. (Edit: THey do have matinees... for the low, low price of only $8.50.) Most of the ones around here don't anymore. Since the pseudo-Mr. was going with me, I didn't really have that option anyway (he won't get out of bed before 11 a.m.)

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)

Well, I paid $13.50 to see both My Bloody Valentine and Coraline (the theaters now charge $2 extra for the 3d glasses, evidently). I didn't like it, but I paid it, and will likely do it again. If I really want to see a movie, I'm pretty much going to pay what the theater it's at charges. I believe the nice, new theater by the mall is up to $12 for a reg-price ticket.

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?

The closest one ("the crappy theater") is a Clearview, and I believe it has 4 screens. Everybody who works there is a teenager who doesn't give a crap, except for the 900 year old man who rips the tickets and tells you what auditorium your movie is in. When I saw one of the LoTR movies there, the film wasn't lined up properly, so it was blurry and sounded like they were all talking through socks stuffed with marbles, and to top it off, they just didn't bother turning the overhead lights all the way down. The floors are permanently sticky, the seats are ratty (although I think they may have replaced those), and the concessions are STILL way too expensive. However, it is 5.5 miles from home (about 7 minutes drive time), and in a slightly out of the way location (less packed than other options).

The nicer, albeit further away (14 miles-ish) and packed-er, theater is an AMC that was built pretty recently with 16 screens, each with stadium seating. It's beautiful.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? (Fortunately for me, the second-run “always $5” place is about equidistant to the two 12-screens at the shopping complexes, which is to say about five miles.)

Hm, I guess Montclair, the artsy town, would have the closest "indie". That's about 20 mile, around a half an hour drive. Ironically, it's also owned by Clearview.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?

I will generally buy popcorn and a small fountain soda at a theater, because I do know that's how they make the majority of their money. I do refuse to pay $4.00 for a $1.00 bottle of water, so I'll usually carry one in in my purse. Same goes for candy. I believe that a small popcorn and a small fountain soda are in the neighborhood of $9. Worth almost the price of the ticket? Yes and no. Part of the movie going experience, to me, despite those who look down their nose at it, is popcorn (and sometimes Junior Mints), and that's what it costs me. I don't always get it, but I like to.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in? (Last time I did that it was three airline bottles of JD that we poured into a large Coke we bought there; I think we did this for The Hangover, appropriately.)

Hee! I snuck in airplane bottles of Captain Morgan's delicious spiced rum for Grindhouse. Best time I've had at the movies in ages. Poured it in a soda purchased there. If I want candy, I carry some in in my purse.

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest (or boobies, as the case may be).

Sure: $2 is too much for a pair of plastic 3d glasses that you then expect me to return, presumably so you can re-package and re-use them. I'm all for the recycling aspect (as long as they're getting sent back to the mfr. and sanitized before the re-using), but I don't think I should have to pay for it. Also, $12 is too much to pay for a ticket. Of course, I'm sure this is in part due to the area I live in, but still.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverpuppet at October 8, 2009 11:34 AM

I saw "Around the World with Joseph Stiglitz" at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Is cost $11, but an addtional $2 was charged for a "membership". So, I paid $13 for the realization that all one needs to make a documentary is a camera, some still photography and relatively well known (in a small academic circle I'm sure) PhD.
I purchased no treats, but I snuck in some olympic mix and my water bottle, I'm sure Joe would be proud.

Posted by: Agente Provocatrice at October 8, 2009 2:37 PM

— What did you pay for the last movie you saw? Was it worth it?

I saw H2 and it sucked more than a vacuum. I paid $8.50 and if I ever see Rob Zombie, he WILL give me my money back.

— Did you pass up cheaper alternatives? (Matinees, etc.)

With a kid, matinees are a little harder to swing, but it would have been $5 for one.

— What’s the most you’d be willing to pay for a movie ticket? (My top is probably $10.)

I can't believe I willingly pay 8.50 now. $10 is pushing it.

— How far from your home is your nearest theater? How many screens there?

There is exactly one theater in my town. 3 screens, movies usually show here two weeks after they come out. It's 5 minutes from my house to the theater by car. It's five minutes everywhere here.

— Assuming the answer to the previous involves a mall megaplex of some kind, how far is it to the nearest indie? (Fortunately for me, the second-run “always $5” place is about equidistant to the two 12-screens at the shopping complexes, which is to say about five miles.)

You assume a lot, mister.

— The last movie you went to, did you buy snacks and/or beverages? What did you get? About how much did they cost? Were they worth it?

I LOVE popcorn and I especially like the popcorn at our theater. I always get a medium bag for $4.75 and love every second of it. I don't drink soda, so I stick with the corn.

— Do you routinely sneak stuff in? (Last time I did that it was three airline bottles of JD that we poured into a large Coke we bought there; I think we did this for The Hangover, appropriately.)

I always seek in a big bottle of water. It is the only reason I have a purse.

— Any other price-related rants you want to get off your chest (or boobies, as the case may be).

Nope. I'm lucky I pay so little, it would seem.

Posted by: TWoP Fan at October 8, 2009 4:36 PM

Places are usually over ten dollars here as far as I know, but I don't usually go out to see movies, because I'm such an easily distracted add case that it's not worth it. I have friends who love to go out to movies, for some reason, though. It just doesn't seem worth the money to me. I'd rather watch something at home on my couch with a cup of tea and a joint. As for concessions, I don't think I would be so irritated by the prices themselves - nobody is forcing you to buy anything, it's just the fact that they specifically forbid you from bringing your own shit (and patrol and enforce it) that makes me angry. Usually if I sneak in food, it's pretty much ENTIRELY out of spite.

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