I keep hearing people saying streaming killed the cinema experience. But I took my 3 boys to the movies this weekend, and I’ll tell you what killed it. The fucking price.
1x Adult, 3x kids, 1x large drink, 3x small drinks, a large popcorn to share, a family bag of malteasers to share.
$153.60!!!
And my 5 year old spent the whole movie sitting on my knee. So I could have just paid for three seats.
I should have gone to Pak N Save and bought a 1.5L bottle, a bag of microwave popcorn and a bag of malteasers for about $10 and watched something on my couch.
In fact. Next time I will.
/Rant.
Yes, it's always been the price! The other day I heard on the radio that cinemas are quickly becoming extinct because of Netflix, Amazon, etc.. but that is only some of the truth. The main contributing factor is the price, which is ridiculous.
i assume there is a feedback loop of cinemas increasing prices due to less customers, resulting in even fewer customers and even higher prices
Most/all of the ticket price goes to the distributor on a sliding scale depending on the movie/how long it's been out etc. The cinemas are lucky to get 50c or so from the ticket price.
Most of their money and pretty all of their profit comes from snacks.
Thats on them to fix their business model or they can just not change and keep getting less and less customers
I think most cinemas in future will just be smaller screens in galleries and universities and cafes and so on.
I'm not in the industry; but I'd imagine going up market and boojie like Silky Otter where you can order in an overpriced burger during your movie is where the profits are at these days.
Same here. I used to go to the cinema quite a bit until we had kids. The last thing we went to see was in Gold class or something. I would pay for that all the way, get some expensive food, drinks, reclining seat with no one sat next to me. Happy to pay but will go less.
What I think has ruined cinemas is other humans and phones for one. Although there has always been dicks.
Less films for adults/less good cinema. I dont want to watch a Marvel movie thanks although I get heaps do. There is less films i want to actually watch.
Streaming gives you an easy library without getting off the couch (this trend is backed up by similar business models, uber eats etc. Covid contributor?) As a society we dont have as many shared experiences as we did in the past. I remember watching Jurrassic Park at the cinema that was major. People knew the top 10 in music. People watched the same TV.
People's attention span has reduced. YouTube etc and short form media is more popular. Competition with social media, gaming, streaming, internet. We went to the Cinema because we were bored and would watch "something', now we are not.
Price.
Cinema I work for is going this route. Redoing all the screens to have fancier seats at half the capacity, adding a "kitchen" to reheat premade burgers and pizzas and the like which will no doubt cost double what they should. Adding a bar.
Streaming has slashed the number of cinema goers, so now its all about how much money you can squeeze out of the remaining customers.
How are the cinema operators supposed to control movie production studios? What's their alternative to screening new movies? What change do you think they have control of that will keep their doors open? I don't see how you can blame cinema operators who are merely local businesses rather than the large billionaire corporate studios that don't give a damm about their brick and mortar partners or even the movie-goers who buy tickets. Cinema owners and staff are your neighbours. Hollywood moguls are the greedy bastards.
I guess this is why see boutique cinemas around playing art house stuff and old flicks.
Very likely, but it's not a model that every cinema could successfully switch to. Plus, their profit margins on ticket sales are probably still pretty thin.
“That’s on them” exhibitors don’t get to negotiate terms with organisations like Disney and Universal lmao
How many distributors do you reckon we have in NZ?
fourteen, at least for local films.
not sure tbh - but if you are pinning the blame on them, then I agree!
You also won't be getting back the customers who redirected those funds into an expensive home-theatre setup.
It's the American media cartels raising their cut that forces the cinemas to raise prices to pay the rent. Disney is the worst for this.
Capitalism in a nutshell
Preface by saying this is Brisbane.
Cineplex adult tickets are $10 (some films or session times are charged at a higher price, usually $12). Elsewhere, they are $22+.
They have seven cinemas and have been operating for years. If they can make a profit at that price, the others must be raking it in.
sounds like sky's strategy
Also the size and quality of TVs and/or home audio systems.
Watching at home on your 72 inch HDTV with surround sound is a much better experience as compared to the day of a 21 inch CRT & a pan and scan DVD.
And at home I don't have to ask someone in front of me to get off their phone which is set to max brightness for no good reason.
I’m always surprised at how bright they are, I wonder if they got that model specifically for its ability to replicate the sun.
Outdoor screen visibility is a fair selling point.
And it's a great feature, but auto brightness adjustment is a setting for a reason.
And no one is kicking the back of your seat, putting their bare feet on the headrest next to you, talking loudly etc. etc. Haven't been to the movies for quite a while; no plans to go any time soon.
sssh, can you get off reddit, im trying to watch the movie. /s
Yeah, and people are happy to wait. Movies don't seem to have as much cultural relevance any more so rushing to see it on release doesn't happen as much.
Especially when you might only have to wait a month before the digital release.
Yep 4k bluray sets me back $30, I own the film forever, and looks much better on my screen than the cinema (let alone streaming!)
And if I need to go to the toilet I can pause it, and of I miss something important I can rewind it, and my couch is more comfortable
I recently upgraded from an old TV to a new 55 inch TV with a Dolby Atmos soundbar. Cost a modest $700……but wow tv has progressed a long way.
Just watching Chicago PD on a weekday night with some supermarket icecreams is fantastic.
If Netflix buys Warner Bros then it's very much going to be them that kill the cinema.
Unless they decide to invest in "premium" film experiences. And I can't see it happening. Much more likely they'll chuck cash at the Academy to allow filma only released in streaming to be eligible (the only reason Netflix does limited cinema releases).
I like all the memes about how we're basically one streaming service merger away from reinventing cable. It's pretty close to accurate.
People still stupidly pay and we go full circle all over again
Cable? This is New Zealand.
We've never had cable.
(But I get your point if you're talking about North American media)
TelstraClear did install cable TV in a few parts of NZ (only in Kapiti I think).
I've read this reaction to the Warner Bros acquisition by Netflix many times that it will be the death of cinema, is this just an overreaction or is it accurate?
I know that Netflix is often portrayed as the evil villain and is hugely unpopular with the Hollywood creative community, but death of cinema?
Movies have survived previous threats, what makes this one so different?
And the price is typically on the studios, Cinemas make the majority of their money on consessions, not ticket sales. Which sadly means that Cinemas don't have a lot of power to fix this problem, and when it eventually kills them the studios will just license to streamers instead.
The studio share of the box office is around 45%. The cinemas control the pricing as suppliers are not allowed by law to dictate what something sells for. Studios dont make much from theatrical releases.
I can get $10 tickets to most films through cinebuzz I still don't go unless it's a screening I can be pretty confident it won't have many people in it. Other cinema goers are the biggest peeve I have.
I need to see a price breakdown. That's crazy!
Im a Hoyts VIP member so I get discounts but 1 adult ticket to a film on the Xtream screen is $19 after the added fee. A kid is $16.
So 3 kids + 1 adult would be $67....
I recently got the VIP card and it cost me the same amout as the discount on 2 adult tickets.
To see Wicked 2 at Queensgate:
3x Child $61.50
1x Adult $26.50
4x Booking Fees $7.00
Total price $95.00
The booking fees thing is some bullshit for sure.
I'm surprised they didn't offer up an extended warranty with that level of grifting
At least there is no "tipping" on top like the US yet.
Never encountered cinemas asking for tips in the US, but it has been a couple years since I went. But a $7 booking fee means a $21 ticket is $28. Which is absurd all by itself.
Should be one fee per transaction. It doesnt cost you any more to process 20 tickets compared to 1
Yes like we will do the job and pay for it?
Why 4 booking fees? It's just one booking though. Fucking rip off.
I hate the bullshit booking fee. If it's compulsory, it should be part of the ticket prices.
If you just pay at the cinema rather than booking online then you can avoid it.
It should be *cheaper* to book online, you are saving them labour.
Even if you ignore that, $7 is totally unrelated to the cost of running a booking web site. Pure gouging.
Could be to do with more the privilege of selecting a seat well in advance without having to go in, but $7ea is a bit on the rich side....
What of the privilege of knowing demand for movie sessions well in advance?
I hate using AA to purchase cheaper priced movie tickets and then when you redeem them on the Events cinema website they still charge you a ticket price plus a booking fee. Compared to when I used VicRoads membership in Melbourne to buy tickets to either Hoyts or Village cinemas and was only charged a small booking fee when redeeming them.
all your wages are gone with that money
The standard Nelson cinema price for 3 kids 1 adult is like $57.
I’m also a Hoyts VIP member and my local Hoyts is $12.50 per adult for the Xtreme screen.
Which cinema is $19 for VIP XtremeScreen? I regularly go to XtremeScreen at Riccarton (my local) for $15.75 (Plus Booking Fee is $17.50, but I book in person so i don't pay it).
Here's our local, booking fees and large drinks not smalls, but still.
3x $8 Kids Tickets - $24.00 1x Cinebuzz Adult offer - $12.00 4x Booking Fees - $7.00 1x Large Pop and Coke Combo - $17.10 3x Large Drink - $27.00 1x Maltesers 140g - $9.00
Total Price $96.10
I just checked event cinemas albany website 1x adult and 3x childs standard tickets for Zootopia 2 (the movie OP is most likely to see with a 5yo) for this coming Saturday comes to $88 (+$7 booking fee if you reserve online). You can save $2 a ticket by being a member.
They don't have food prices online that I can see but a mini popcorn using the seniors special is $5. When I go with the family there is usually a 2 medium drink/2 medium combo for twenty something dollars and that is what the 4 of us share.
Are you actually trying to defend the ridiculous pricing by saying "It's not $150, more like $130"? Wtf? Lmao
No, I'm saying that even if I cut back the snacks to a minimum it costs $120 for a family of 4 to go to the movies (assuming you don't have to pay for parking as well).
I can totally see how the OP spent $150 taking the kids to movies and it is why my kids only go maybe twice a year.
I remember growing up the thing that stopped my friend and I from going more than once a month was the lack of transport to somewhere with a cinema, or why growing up my father went twice a month (if not more often).
Cost is killing cinemas faster than streaming.
I think its a commonly agreed opinion/knowledge that the biggest reason is the price.
unless you're a movie theater, then it's streaming and before that, piracy.
Never the price they charge...whatever could they do? maybe put prices up some more.
Surely then only premium customers will go? Perhaps black tie movie nights with complimentary champagne and $100 ticket prices.
See, I'd kinda be inclined to go see something with that kind of vibe, maybe once or twice a year, and realistically it'd be for big films (classic ones in all likelihood) that are proper experiences. Like if they did a Ben Hur or Laurence of Arabia screening like that, the experience could be worth it.
Piracy isn't stealing, and it's a service issue
Offer good service, and nobody (who would pay otherwise) will pirate
And the data shows how true this is; before Netflix started streaming, piracy was at it's peak.
But as people realised what a deal Netflix streaming was, piracy dropped off in a way that had never been seen before. No previous effort had the effect of simply offering a better deal.
This lasted for almost ten years, but recently the cost of being a streaming customer has exploded. Netflix lost half their content to rival streaming sites, people are paying for 5 subscriptions to access what used to be on one. And like clockwork, torrent traffic has roared back to previous levels, and even higher.
The signals from the market couldn't be clearer, but they can't help themselves.
Lac of creativity on cinemas too IMO. You could try like flash back Thursday for cheaper tickets for rescreening older movies. So many big actions films I would go and see again.
Not to defend prices at all, but at the heart of it is that the cinema makes most of their money from food and drink you buy, rather than tickets sold.
Even if they are super busy with a blockbuster movie release for the first few weeks during that release period they are paying the majority of that ticket price back to the distributor for the right to show the film.
I love going to the movies but there can't be any argument at home is cheaper. And the gap in what you get with picture and sound options at home has shifted enough for many people to not bother at all with going to the movies.
It is really hard to trade those truly amazing cinematic experiences with a full audience for the idea of everything viewed only at home. I will keep going to the cinemas, but obviously nowhere near as much as I'd like given the cost
Price isn't great, but thats not what puts me off. I'm happy to pay for an outing with friends or family. Its that to me it seems movie etiquette has changed. I dont want to pay to have some assholes sit on their phone and talk throughout the movie. It gets me unreasonably angry, and then I'm the bad guy for telling them to stfu. Don't get me wrong, the price is also ridiculous, but i can justify a high price for a great memory. Chances of having great memories of movie visits seems to be next to nil these days.
There is some pretty tone deaf behaviour in public these days. I wonder if people are learning how to behave online.
Especially given there's always a big shaming announcement telling you to turn your phone to silent. I dont understand how they have the stones to continue.
There was a guy snoring for the full two hours of a movie I went to last weekend. Extremely loud snoring. I left the theatre to tell an employee it was ruining the experience for the rest of the theatre and they did absolutely nothing.
It's not just movies either. People are bringing infants into the symphony and just letting them cry it out. Since the pandemic it seems people just forgot how to behave in public.
I think the cinemas/venues are the ones to blame here. People are always going to take the piss - it’s up to the cinema/venues to enforce the rules to make it a positive experience for everyone. I hear too many stories that cinema staff just can’t be arsed doing their job and it ruins the experience for people who have paid a huge amount to be there. And it’s those people who then decide not to bother going to the cinema in future because their experience was ruined.
I went to go watch the Chainsaw Man movie recently. I waited until the very last day so that the showing would be empty. It was about $40 for a bucket of popcorn, drink and ticket, which was pricey for sure but I don't go out to the movies often, and I don't mind spending on snacks at the movies because that's how they make their money. I walked in and the showing was about 1/4 full, which I was okay with...
There was a guy sat right behind me that I had to tell off twice for tapping my seat with his foot. There were a group of young men sat a few rows below that were genuinely the worst, talking throughout the movie, made loud remarks to the whole theater that they thought was funny, etc.
Honestly there's probably not a whole heap of people at my age that actively wants to go out to the movies, we'd rather just wait for streaming in part due to experiences like this. If Hoyts actually policed their theaters I'd actually be more encouraged to get up and support them more often, even if it's a pricey experience for 2 hours.
When you can buy a 75 inch TV for $1800, why the hell would anyone go to a theater? Have you sat about 2 metres away from a 75" screen with a decent stereo? It's pretty much as good as the cinema and you get all the peace you want.
I don't know how cinemas are going to stay in business.
This is it for me. I'm happy to pay a bit more for a night out - but to pay that much to watch something being talked over or with kids running around really gets my goat.
And bringing far too young children to a movie. Get a goddam babysitter. I have forever had Avengers: Endgame ruined for me - spoiler ahead if for some reason you haven't seen it.
During the highly emotional and quieter scene of Tony dying. It was a wonderfully crafted event, really had you in the moment. And somebodies young child decided this was a perfect time to very loudly babble incoherently. Absolutely tore me out of the moment, so completely jarring I can never forget this event when I rewatch the movie. That child was obviously too young to be there. 'M' rating does fuck all, it's just a recommendation for mature audiences.
This is years ago now, but there was a screaming baby in the cinema when we went to see Mad Max: Fury road. An actual baby - not a toddler (not that a toddler would be better). Aside from the noise of the baby, the movie itself was LOUD like it was making me uncomfortable - god knows what it was doing to the baby's sensory system. We did go out and find an employee to complain and that then meant we also missed some of the movie. It sucked.
Last time I went to see a movie, there were people in the back row throwing lollies at other people's heads. Staff were not helpful, said they were unsure what to do as had no proof at that stage of who exactly was doing the throwing. After the movie finished, I saw the empty bag of the same lollies left behind on the back row of seats. Was such a disappointing experience.
This is why I stopped going, post covid humans are just inconsiderate animals in public.
Exactly this. The last time I went to the movies the other people were really annoying.
I haven’t been back in 7 or 8 years.
I went to see A Quiet Place one weekday afternoon (obviously a while ago!). The whole first part of the movie is pretty much silent. There was me, a woman with 73 jingly bracelets that needed to move her arm every 5 seconds, a noisy wrapper snacking person, and a couple with a cough/cold. It was a constant jingle crunch rustle cough jungle sneeze rustle jingle. I was on the verge of hysterical laughter as it was so ridiculous.
I had one doosh vaping in front of me while my daughter was next to me. I told him do it again and he's gunna have to see a doctor
This. I like going to the movies as a social thing but I am very particular about which cinema and which session/movie I will go to. I want to watch and listen to the movie- not other people talking, on their phones or snoring. And the idea is don’t move unless you need to— it isn’t the gym or the mall. And babies should be at child friendly sessions and movies- nobody wants to pay to hear other peoples’ children but other parents of similar ages with their children will tolerate it.
To add to that people just don’t seem to have social awareness anymore. It’s a rare occurrence that I get to enjoy a movie in its entirety without hearing people talking, whispering or making other loud noises. I paid to watch the movie, fuck up.
the other thing that keeps me away is the number of people who have no idea how to act in a movie theatre.
Agreed! That can be an issue at times, I remember watching some new MCU film and it was pretty full with a lot of younger people, I had taken the seat on my ticket because it was so full I didn’t want to get chased off halfway through the ads by someone telling me to move out their seats and soon as the movie started, a group of teenage boys put their feet up on the seat from behind me so their feet was right beside my face. It was pretty annoying but I didn’t want to disturb everyone else watching the movie.
I’m in Napier and the issue is so bad that every time I go to the movies I have to gamble with how likely it is the movie experience is going to be ruined. It just kills it for me. I’ve always loved going to the movies but other people have sadly ruined it for me.
Buying food from the supermarket to sneak into the cinema is a long held tradition really.
If you're an AA member there's the deal for 40% off tickets at Event cinemas I've pretty much exclusively used that the last 5 years or so, works out cheapest going outside of peak times as well.
I remember my flatmate sneaking some bottles of Steinlager into a cinema in the 90’s. The whole audience laughed when he opened one at the wrong moment when the soundtrack stopped suddenly.
I have no problem with someone drinking on the sly as long as they're not disturbing people. Fuckers pulling out their phones to scroll instagram can go straight to hell
It's a tradition but it also guarantees the cinema will close soon. The food and drinks are the only thing they actually make money on, they are lucky to keep a third of the ticket price.
If nobody bought food there, they'd be closed in a week.
I'm not saying that's terrible, maybe it's inevitable.
Independent cinemas are where it's at! $5 Wednesdays for Academy in Auckland. The Hollywood is cheap too. The prices for big chains are a joke.
Price
Paying to watch Ads
Shitheads in the cinema
Grubby
Mostly shit mainstream movies.
Fuck, even large families on very tight budgets can sort a super large TV and a streaming service, it's pretty democratised.
ive got a bigscreen tv, massive sound system and a comfy couch at home. i can sit here and watch a movie without hearing kids talking all the time or people constantly rustling through their popcorn.
Or have someone's phone on outdoor brightness glaring in the corner of my eye... While they flick endlessly through mind numbing tictok slop
Fuck tiktok has destroyed people's ability to concentrate for more than about 30 seconds. What brain rot.
Pause and go to the bathroom anytime I want without accidentally falling off the end of the bleachers because I thought there were stairs at both ends
First reason: too expensive
Second (and most important) reason: No more Tangy Fruits/Jaffas/Snifters
Not to mention the ads go on for 30 minutes now
Who buys food from the movies? 🤣
You best believe back when I went to the movies I was walking in with a duffle coat filled with Skittles and M&Ms
Eating some jaffas and a fuckton of popcorn is integral to my movie going experience.
Who said that had to come from the concession stand though?
Sneaking in maccas from the food court is better
I do, but that's because my local cinema is an independent and serves alcohol and full meals.
Teaching my kids we take a bag and we buy snacks for the supermarket, open them before the movie starts and eat from ya bag lol
never, total rip off
The last time I went to the movies I saw Mickey 17 on Imax Queen Street.
Movies and some popcorn/ice cream for two people came to $115 or something like that, factor in parking/petrol and easily another $30.
The Imax screen didn't even look good, it looked grainy and the stuttering of the movie as the camera panned across scenes looked bad. The audio was loud, harsh and fatiguing, I couldn't wait to get out of the cinema...
At home I have a 4K TV and entry level home theatre system, and I can tell you, I'm happy as a pig in shit there as I eat my $2 home made popcorn, $4 fancy drink from the supermarket, and the dollar or two I paid to watch whatever I movie I am watching as part of my streaming subscription.
All in all around $10 for that experience, will go again...
I brought a projector for the lounge for less than that now hubby and I just sail the seas watch what we want, pause for intermission and snack refils and use whatever mind altering substance we want when we watch to boot. I've been to the pictures once this year and that was only for a special occasion and the cost reminded me why we cant be fucked any more, its not special now its just expensive
The sound systems are too loud and there’s not enough sound proofing between cinemas. I shouldn’t be able to hear the movie next door.
There’s a much cheaper and appropriately sound systemed cinema about a 40 min drive away but the seats are super uncomfortable and painful to sit in.
Movie popcorn smells rank.
The movie experience is just too over stimulating.
For me it’s the behaviour of other people. It’s the parents bringing their babies and small children to the 9pm showing and letting the cry or run around. It’s people playing on their phones with the screen as bright as they can make it, it’s people talking and the worst are those that eat loudly and chew with their mouths open.
I have never bought refreshments at the movies, I thought we agreed back in the 90s that it was way better to bring your own.
The tickets alone are still a lot when big screen TVs have never been cheaper.
Movie popcorn is the best popcorn though…
If there's a movie I want to see enough to consider seeing at the cinema I'd much rather watch it at home instead.
My TV looks nicer than a cinema screen, my sound system is enjoyable without deafening me, my couch is more comfortable, and most importantly I don't run the risk of it being ruined by misbehaving audience members.
This.
15-20 years ago it was really expensive to have a decent setup at home. Now it isn't.
And you can easily pause when you need to pee without missing anything 😂
Every bloody movie is 3+ hours and then there is part 1 and 2. What happened to good old 90 minutes standard length movies. All of the ones I have seen didn't need to be that long. Looking at you Peter Jackson. If I have to get up and pee in the middle of it, it's too long.
Back in the day, a reel of celluloid film was 90 mins. So either a movie was edited to 90 mins or there was an intermission whilst the film reel was changed. Digital removed this constraint. This has not been a good thing, see also the shift from vinyl to CD which saw 45 minute LPs get an extra 15 minutes of filler added.
They banned bringing external food in to my local cinema . They thought they would make money money from the concessions stand. They didn't realize that... ....I always have some twix up my sleeve.
Dad is that you? Joke checks out
lmao bold of you to assume a good sized bag of malteasers isn't already $10
Lucky for me our thrifty parents raised us not to eat in the cinema :-) and I've passed that on to my kids. I do really like seeing things on the big screen if possible.
For me it wasn't even the price. I would happily pay that price if it meant I could sit down uninterrupted for the entire length of the movie and actually enjoy it. The two recent times I went to the movies some random kids were running around and another time another couple was just randomly talking and making obnoxious loud noises. Cinema etiquette doesn't exist anymore so why should I pay the prices if I can't even focus and enjoy the movie anymore. That's what's killed it for me
I'm more comfortable watching a movie at home on my second hand wide screen TV with supermarket snacks and no one else making noise or ruining the experience. On top of that, you're absolutely right. It's just far too expensive. There are very few movies I would actually want to pay that much money for to go to the theatre when I can just watch them at home.
Money and pay to park the vehicle. The noise/sounds of the theater unit.
For me its:
1) price
2) people's etiquette, people wont shut up
3) quality of popcorn, its been rubbish the last 3 times I've gone, microwave popcorn would be a massive improvement, im probs just unlucky
the real question is, if they lowered the price, would cinemas full up again or would they remain empty.
Really, covid is what killed the cinemas. It stalled the creation of movies... there were no patrons... that's a big hit for a large commercial space.
I don’t know about other cities but in Hamilton they did exactly this. Cinemas were obviously dead pretty much since covid so this year Event cinemas dropped their prices to $10 any movie, anytime and they’re packed almost every time I’ve gone so much so that Hoyts followed suit with their own $10 tickets.
its a smart play... it makes so much more sense to have a cinema packed at $10 than a handful for $25...
One could argue that the price could be justifiable if families had the disposable income to spend on entertainment. In the current economic climate is the lack of disposable income that, I'm guessing, drives frugality on discretionary spending.
They were in trouble already, that was just the finisher.
Edit: although now that I think about it probably in the dinosaur killer asteroid kind of finisher way.
Ye mate. Took my daughters to watch a 40 year old Imax rerun of the Shining. 4 tickets, slush coke, Malteasers and popcorn hit me for ~200 NZ Pesos.
Fucking moron in front of me was on his phone intermittently throughout. I asked him to stop but he couldn't understand English. Fuck knows what he was watching an English movie for.
I love the cinema but cannot justify this.
Yeah the real reason is because it’s an affordability crisis which is why I now only go to movies that I really want to see as opposed to being curious about a film that I’m not sure about.
Yes, and you don't have to pay to deal with inconsiderate people in the cinema!
I've never really understood the allure of the movie complexes tbh 😅
It's always either too hot or too cold, uncomfortable seats, the screen is too big, the volume is too loud, you can't pause it if you need to pee, and then there are all the people doing weird or generally annoying things.
Have loved streaming because I can be at home, comfortable, avoid the whole sensory nightmare.... Can sit there eating a hot supermarket chicken if you really want to (haven't done this, but... the possibilities)
Yea it's bad. I also doubt any of the movies will be any good. Haven't watched a really good new movie in years.
To get bums in seats they should start showing classics one night a week. I'd love to go watch a Pulp Fiction or similar at the cinema on a Friday night.
Last time I went to the cinema the projector was on the fritz plus it was way too goddamn loud, constantly over 80db and I already have tinnitus.
Yes, we went in the weekend it was $110 for me and 3 kids. Husband stayed home to save money. There was us and one other family in the cinema.
AA Members Get a Discount to Event Cinima
Uber One Members get a discount to Hoyts Cinema
Event Cinema does Half Price Tuesdays and Cinebuzz Movie of the week discounted tickets
Don't buy food or drinks there at all. Put some food or drinks in a bag or jacket.
Last 2-3 times I saw a movie was Half Price Tuesday at Event Cinema, New Market. There was Barely anyone there. I paid for a regular seat then laid down in one of the Beds at the front. V-Max Cinema I think it was. I watched F1 with Brad Pitt this way and was pretty amazing. Then also SuperMan
FAR too expensive! Ticket prices too high. Expensive parking miles away from cinema. Rip-off prices for snacks and drinks. Uncomfortable seats. Noisy audience. Inability to pause or repeat. No toilet breaks. Why would anyone bother! Far better to stay at home and watch what you want, when you want.
Id expect as an adult to be able to buy my ticket for ~$20 unless getting a lux ticket. Food comes from the supermarket, and I eat a bit. The movie would come out at less than $30. I imagine the food is about half your ticket price which is why its so expensive
Yeah I haven't been in years because it's just not really worth it anymore
I remember learning on my student exchange to Germany that their expression for a rip off literally translates to "cinema prices".
So what youre saying is you stole the rite of passage that is teaching your children that you bring in the drinks and treats from the supermarket and only pay for tickets. Sheesh. Id only pay for a movies with drinks and stuff if i was gonna date a woman lol
I still go to the movies for the real theater xp - the big and loud. But I'll only get the ticket. Also yes, when I'll willing to pay to kill time.
I still go to the movies occasionally for Gold Class - it's a good date night. Would never consider going to the standard movies though. $27.50 + booking fee for an adult? That's crazy money.
Its cheap enough at my local. Still hardly ever go. Last time i went there were noisy kids and the place was a mess.
The reality is there is so much entertainment available at home. Large TVs and decent sound systems are cheap enough..... combine that with Stremio and Realdebrid account, why would i go to the movies often?
APPALLING! Justified rant.
Yup! I also enjoy being in the comfort of my own home tbh
Then it's more 'streaming has killed cinemas because people now have an alternative option to the ridiculously high ticket price'. You can bet I'd be going to the movies every week if it was my only way to watch things
My gripe is my local cinemas run their projectors into the ground, so the image is really dim even in a pitch black cinema. One time a speaker was clearly blown, and you just had to deal with the whole movie having a crackly over tone.
Why deal with that kind of crap when I can just watch whatever I want at home with a 75 inch TV and Dolby Atmos?
I have given up on normal seating and candy bar. I go to smaller theatres/gold class where you get a recliner and can order actual food, shits basically the same price
All honesty if they lowered the price of all foods and drinks by a ton and upped the price of tickets I think more people would start going back idm paying 30$ for a ticket if I know I'll be able to get cheap as fuck drinks and snacks either that or charge a small fee to let me bring my own food in instead of having to sneak it in id like the ability to pay a small fee and bring own pizza in or whatever
I don't go to the moves because I sail the 7 seas.
Plus a beautiful 55 inch flat panel TV is like $500 now.
I remember like 3 years ago the tickets to readings were like $10. Now theyre back up to $16-18 for an adult. I was like wtf
A couple of months ago I inadvertently showed up on cinema day where it was $5 a ticket and I’ve never seen the cinema so busy I only just managed to get the last two seats to Weapons
It seems like a stupid business practice. You sell tickets for $5-$10 max sell more seats. Sell tickets for $18 virtually no one shows up!
Just bring your own food in. Always bring a bag of food and they dont care
No mate. The real reason is that most movies are not worth seeing. If it's by Nolan, Cameron or any other big film (Dune) you bet your farking ass I'm gonna see it in the biggest screen.
Never buy movie food, always bring your own
While I agree the price is too high I personally just hate the cinema experience.
Why would i want to go be around loud annoying strangers when I can watch a movie at home with my dog and better snacks.
Yup. I was blown away at the mark ups on kai
Reading Cinemas are super cheap, let you bring your own food etc. They are the future (if there is one for cinemas)
Nah, what really killed cinema is the endless cash grabbing remakes and sequels that have no soul.
This year I only really wanted to go to the movies at the start of the year to watch the ones nominated for the several awards around that time, after that it was always looking at what would come out that week and thinking “yeah, not this time…”
Support local privately owned cinemas. Sure the seats might not be as comfortable (Light house Petone) or the AC might not be as good (Monterey) but the ticket price is better at both of the aforementioned venues than at Event Cinema.
I’ll take the cinema or a physical disc over streaming any day. Or piracy. Quality of streaming services is always worse than a disc or pirated copy
And the half hour of ads beforehand, and the fact I can hear the film playing in the next cinema too.
I’ve kept an eye on on trademe and over time have managed to put together a setup at home for less than the cost of 4 of OP’s cinema outings. Much more comfortable, and I don’t get side-eyed by other cinema goers when I decide I want to watch a movie in my undies.
Thing is it's been expensive for the past 2 decades. The reason I don't go anymore is other people. Talking, on their phones, etc. It's just a nightmare. I used to go to the movies every couple of weeks, now it's maybe once a year.
Prices have been crazy for a while now.
I'll only go to the movies now to see a "must be experienced on the big screen" type movie. For me that's Avatar type movies.
Cinema>Netflix>Piracy
The price is the main reason why I prefer small, independent cinemas over Hoyts/Event. They’re a lot cheaper.
I still like going to the movies. At home, I’m likely to get distracted by my phone or fridge. I like sitting in the dark space and not reaching for anything else.
Hoyts (in Australia) has brought back the Cheap Tuesday tickets on all movies. $13 each ticket.
My partner is in the Hoyts rewards so accrue points. You also get free popcorn refills.
So we buy a large popcorn and drink to share and get popcorn refills. We bring our own chocolates or lollies.
2 adults for under $50 isn't too bad. Plus I love movie popcorn.
I go to the cinema a lot, and feel like tickets are quite reasonably priced, compared to prices I hear from overseas. Having said that I never buy snacks there and buy from the supermarket instead, like you mentioned
Most countries deal with the exact same problem with movies and cinemas. Sad to see how hoyts are usually empty even with blockbuster movies. But me and my girlfriend usually sneaks in food from pak n save in our bags and employees doesnt really bother checking them too.
I love going to the theatre because I enjoy the community aspect of it. Sitting in a cinema with strangers watching a movie together for the first time is great imo and hard to come by in the digital world!
But blimey the prices are a joke sometimes! I always try to do Academys 5 Wednesday that we have in Auckland and sneaking in food/drinks is a must!
Hmm. Just looked it up.
Adult $26.50 Child $20.50
Drive, get parking, sit in potentially noisy room with loads of others, maybe a good seat, maybe not. No pauses, no snack when you want - unless you buy during their break and pay their prices.
And if movie turns out to be not so good? Nope can see why I haven't been since the '80s.
Go to a reading or local chain instead. Sounds like you got ripped by Hoyt’s honestly.
The price seemed justified when we had 21" B&W TVs. Not any more.
In addition to tickets and snacks at the cinema being extortionate, a decent home cinema setup is very competitive in terms of both quality and price compared to 15-20 years ago. How many movies do you have to watch before the home rig pays for itself? You also get to watch anything you want and don't have to be considerate of others in the audience.
It wasn't the money that killed the Cinema Experience for me, it was the behaviour of other people. Bright screens, in front of me, people 'needing' to explain what was going on to the people they were with.
Not to mention the under investment in the grotty, run down toilets, dated arcade games in the foyer, and the awful microwave hotdogs and putrid bubble tea offerings - this is Albany Westfield Event Cinemas (but could be any theatre in NZ to be fair).
Also the half hour of ads at the start
We walk in with a large hand bag full of goodies. Paying cinema food prices is foolish. My workmate paid 12 DOLLARS for a coke at Silky Otter 🤣
There are ways to go to the cinema cheaper. Hoyts have Sunday before 12, all tickets are $10, and, I think, all day Tuesday.
Events do a day or two for discounted prices
And you can get cheaper seats by using their online sign in sites. You get rewards ands bigger discounts
I'm not saying it's not crazy expensive. It really is, but at least this is a way to cut down the price .
The other problem, is that high cost, and then they have 15 minutes of TV ads!!! The mainstream cinemas anyway, so frustrating.
15 minutes of ads? Fucking 30 minutes in the US, at 150 decibels. Plus people are noisy and generally a pain in the arse. Plus the cost, its better just to watch them at home. There's a fridge there and a comfy chair. It would have to be fucking awesome to go nowadays - some proper new movie in 3D or something and screened at midnight when most people stay home.
It’s not soo much the price, movies nowadays are soo predictable which is boring 🥱
We have a Silky Otter cinema close by and they are often doing tickets for around $15 and have small cinemas so there are no bad seats. Admittedly the food and drink is pricey but I am happy to skip that if money is tight. Downside is they don’t show independent movies there because it’s not the kind of area they would expect them to be popular but highly recommend
I don't go because it's way too loud. The sound effects and music are now bonkers.
Its the allocated seats and people eating like absolute pigs that put me off going.
Ooof, the drinks and snacks alone were probably $80. Never buy snacks at the cinema.
It's always the price.
It is no wonder the cinemas are so empty as well. At least in my experience. In the past 5 years there's never been more than 30 people watching a movie. Sometimes it's just me (and my friends).
You shouldve went to paksave and brought those snacks in the cinema. Me and my girl do it all the time and that is very regularly
I have a data projector facing my white wall with a corner couch along with second hand surround sound and it’s the best investment. I would say all this cost me $350 and we’ve watch at least 40 movies so far. Money saved!