Every year it seems as if the cost increases to see a movie in the theater. While some might just say that’s due to inflation and the price tag involved with some of the special effects laden films being produced, there are several other things causing this as well.
The first one deals with something I’ve spoken previously about in this blog. It surrounds the fact that there are many people who aren’t paying for some of the movies they see in a theater because they are sneaking in from one film to another. I know of those that do this regularly, who spend the day in a theater seeing at least three films where they end up paying for only one.
A second reason why ticket prices keep going up deals with the varying options that now exist for movie goers. Many films can be watched in multiple formats including 3-D, IMAX, and then both of them together in a 3-D IMAX version as well. Theaters are now charging up to $3.50 for the 3-D alone and if one ends up seeing the 3-D IMAX combination, that could cost another dollar or more. I know of those who won’t ever go to the theater and see these type of movies because of that extra cost. But what I can’t understand is why the option doesn’t exist to allow a person to save the $3.50 off the cost of their movie ticket by holding on to their glasses from a previous movie outing. One would think that would save the movie theaters and movie companies some money because of the cost involved to shipping them somewhere, getting them cleaned, testing them to make sure they are still good, and then reshipping them back out to the theaters. Ironically, this is leading people to acts of deception when they bring in their own 3-D glasses, pay for a non 3-D movie, and sneak into one that is.
A third thing that’s happening to drive up the cost of a movie ticket is the piracy that’s happening lately with films. A friend of mine a few months ago told me he saw Baggage Claim on the Internet with his son on the same weekend it opened in the theaters. Between those illegal copies thrown up on the web and those being sold on the streets, thousands avoid having to go to the theater to see a film because of the easy access to seeing it for much less at home.
And then there’s my personal pet peeve that I believe is probably shared with many others. It’s one that definitely contributes to the decline of a tremendous amount of movie goers, which then in turn results in an increase in ticket prices. That deals specifically with the constant talking and cell phone use that goes on in a theater while the movie is running. I don’t think many people pay attention to those courtesy clips shown prior to a movie which ask people to not talk or use their phones during it. Often I see many conversations still going on between people, some quite loudly, and then there are those who will light up those white screens on their cell phones and start texting or talking on it throughout the movie.
Finally, it’s probably best to mention that the price of concessions is also related to the rising cost of of those movie tickets prices. People complain all the time about how expensive it is to get a large soda and popcorn at a theater these days but what they don’t realize is that the theaters earn less than 20 percent of the revenue from a ticket sale. The reason why the theaters stay in business is for the revenue they pull in with those high priced concessions. What stinks is that people either stop coming to the theater because of this, or they bring their own meals in, like a family did recently when I saw them eating McDonalds during a movie.
So I’m sure you can see a clearer picture now as to why the prices of movie tickets keep going up. It’s not just the fault of greedy movie production companies or theater chains as some might say. It’s not just because of the expanding options of movies like 3-D and IMAX that’s causing this. It’s not just because of those individuals who drive others away from the theater through their constant talking or cell phone use. Nor is it because of those individuals who cheat the movie system through illegal means like piracy and bringing food into theaters. All of these things are partially at fault but the sad thing is that I’m not sure if it will ever change.
Two famous directors, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, recently agreed on some level to this by hypothesizing that the cost of movie tickets will eventually be upwards of $50 to $100 to $150 in the future. I can’t imagine a time like that. While I know through my spirituality and dedication to God that I would never try to cheat the system to see a movie at that price, costing that much would definitely curb my movie going to a handful of movies as compared to the hundreds I probably see in a given year.
For now, I’m just glad the movie ticket prices aren’t that extreme and I accept the only thing I can do to keeping it that way is to not contribute to any behaviors that may lead to it. That being said, I don’t bring meals into the theater, I don’t text on my phone during a film, I don’t carry on full conversations when a movie is running, and I make sure to always pay for each film I see. While that may not do much to prevent the inevitable price increase of movie tickets, at least I know I’m doing my part in trying…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
