Do you go to the movies? Is it too expensive?

[GoOKC1991]

Movies: U.S. Moviegoers Think Ticket Prices Are Too High

I still go, but usually matinee's, not as expensive and not as many people, especially teenagers.

[AP]

I go to the movies frequently, as Harkins is a few blocks from my place. I do prefer matinees because they are a bit cheaper but the price doesn't keep me from attending at night.

[Pete]

I've always been an avid movie fan but I go less than I used to, and cost is certainly a factor.

I already pay for cable and Netflix and with my TiVo, I can record and keep movies very easily.

As an example, I had wanted to see Grand Budapest Hotel (big Wes Anderson fan) but never got around to it, then last weekend my cable company (FIOS) had a free HBO preview, so I snagged it and now have it forever.

I love the free premium channel previews because I'll go through and record about 20 movies during that window.


I still love going to the movies but with the cost and all the different delivery mechanism, I definitely go less now than just a couple of years ago.

[kelroy55]

I'm patient and can wait, that way I can watch them them on my big screen and surround sound. Plus I can pause when I want to and make my own $5 popcorn.

[Pete]

^

That's a good point. Now that so many people have big-screen TV's and home theater systems (I do!) the gap between the theater and home viewing experience is narrowing.

[GoOKC1991]

I try to avoid buying food or drinks at the movies at all costs, WAY too expensive

[bchris02]

I don't see how people could complain in OKC. You can do a matinee at Cinemark for $4. Of course if you want popcorn you have to pay for that. If you want a premium experience like the Warren, expect to pay more.

[TheTravellers]

We don't go much, only to something that should be seen on the big screen (Great Gatsby 3D version) usually. We don't watch the big blockbusters (don't believe we've seen *any* of the comic-book movies that have been so epidemic these past few years), and we get tired of all the cell phones, talking, people bringing their own refreshments in super-loud bags, seat-kicking...... No, not all of those happen all the time, but unless it's something truly awesome, it's not worth all the hassles to go. It's usually not about the price, though, since we only go infrequently (last 2 movies we saw in the theater were Rudderless and Great Gatsby, I believe).

[elitespy]

We don't go much, only to something that should be seen on the big screen (Great Gatsby 3D version) usually. We don't watch the big blockbusters (don't believe we've seen *any* of the comic-book movies that have been so epidemic these past few years), and we get tired of all the cell phones, talking, people bringing their own refreshments in super-loud bags, seat-kicking...... No, not all of those happen all the time, but unless it's something truly awesome, it's not worth all the hassles to go. It's usually not about the price, though, since we only go infrequently (last 2 movies we saw in the theater were Rudderless and Great Gatsby, I believe).

You say epidemic like it's a bad thing.

[RadicalModerate]

I think the last film we saw in a theater was "Lincoln" (it was worth it, btw). I did, however, just watch two films on Netflix that I was considering going to see in a theater ("Get Low" and "Nebraska").

[kelroy55]

There are some movies I will go to the theater for. I saw Gravity in 3D at the Imax and that was really cool, even more so since you could get beer in there

[Roger S]

If I want to see it in 3D I go to the theatre.... Otherwise I can wait.

[tfvc.org]

I go maybe once or twice a year. Too expensive especially after drinks and popcorn. I usually Netflix, Hulu, or torrent it.

[TheTravellers]

You say epidemic like it's a bad thing.

Ha, um, well....

[elitespy]

I don't own a TV and only pay for NetFlix so I'm still a solid theater consumer. Plus, they are just great excuses to get out in the evening that's not a bar. Yes, there are other options but the theater remains an entertaining one.

Wha?! There is never a reason to not be at Skinny Slims.

[kevinpate]

Last time to a theater was a while back. MIB3 was at a dobber theater, now closed for quite a spell, and I stuck around to see Abe Lincoln Vampire Killer while my lovely went shopping. What can I say. I likes me some mindless entertainment way way more than I likes to try to keep up with her when she is engaged in a full on shopping mission.

We DVR many things and watch at home. If one of the children or her father needs us, we pause the DVR and the cell usage doesn't turn us into one of those rude cell nutsos we are not fond of out in public.

Besides, the older I get, the more I appreciate napping. Better to be in my favorite chair at home and restarting the movie later then to endure being poked for starting to snore in a theater seat. Have to admit though, I am somewhat interested in checking out a director suite or the balcony at Warren since these are age limited.

[tfvc.org]

I don't have cable or satellite and my TV is 10 years old.

[Just the facts]

I took the advice of someone from my "Need Your Prayers" thread and I now go the movies all the time. It is a lot cheaper when you are only paying for 1. I recently bought a package deal at one of my local theaters which allows me unlimited access for $25/mo - plus a whole host of other benefits.

[SoonerDave]

We would love to go to the movies more often, but don't for two reasons:

1. Lack of compelling content
2. Price.

1. My wife and I are pretty conservative moviegoers compared to most, and as a result we're probably not a good bellwether for content. But we just don't go in for anything that's heavy or preoccupied with the slasher/gore/dark/goth/vampire/sex stuff that's more popular with the younger crowd. Anything we know up front will contain 90 minutes of intense profanity or nudity is almost certainly off the list. I don't unilaterally preclude R rated movies, but I'd best have a pretty good understanding of context for the content - and "Shawshank Redemption" is a great example of a movie with a lot of the language and violence, but it's entirely sensible within the context of the movie. And "Shawshank" is a *great* movie. Another movie that used to be a favorite, but has since gone to the back of the drawer for me is a legal movie called "Presumed Innocent," with Harrison Ford and Bonnie Bedelia. An outstanding legal movie, but it is laced with intense profanity from start to finish and includes an explicit sex scene I find distasteful and gratuitous. And that's an opinion I've formed years down the road, too.

2. Price. If we go, we want the prime experience, and that means the Warren. And I don't mind paying the price. Assuming we found movies we like, though, we couldn't go very often - esp as a family of 4 - that's *at least $40* not counting popcorn at the theater OR dinner before or after. Tis what it tis. Date nights, however, can be come an exception where cost is less a factor.

Just my $0.02.

[Stew]

Price doesn't play into it as much as the fact I have the attention span of a gnat. I do get dragged to the movies more than I like and for the most part it's an excruciating experience except of course for Tom Cruise movies which are pure gold.

[Mel]

Doesn't any one else's wife have a movie purse?

[Richard at Remax]

It's not even prices that limit my movie going, it's the lack of courtesy from other people in the theater who yap and text

[kelroy55]

I took the advice of someone from my "Need Your Prayers" thread and I now go the movies all the time. It is a lot cheaper when you are only paying for 1. I recently bought a package deal at one of my local theaters which allows me unlimited access for $25/mo - plus a whole host of other benefits.

I didn't know they had such things. Is it good anytime or just afternoon showings?

[Just the facts]

It's not even prices that limit my movie going, it's the lack of courtesy from other people in the theater who yap and text

I have grown so tired of people on their cell phones that I have started yelling at them during the movie to turn their phones off. Well, not so much yelling as telling them directly to their face in a very stern manner with a crazed look in my eyes. I doubt the 3 people I have done this too recently will ever do it again because it scared the **** out of them. All 3 exited the theater the second the movie was over and never made eye contact on their way out, and their spouses were less than impressed with their behavior.

[Just the facts]

I took the advice of someone from my "Need Your Prayers" thread and I now go the movies all the time. It is a lot cheaper when you are only paying for 1. I recently bought a package deal at one of my local theaters which allows me unlimited access for $25/mo - plus a whole host of other benefits.

I didn't know they had such things. Is it good anytime or just afternoon showings?

We have a place here called Latitude 360 which has a Cinegrille. I can go anytime I want, to any movie, and bring 5 more people with me for free. The only requirement is that if I want to make sure they have room I need to call ahead and reserve the number of seats I need, and I have a special number to call to do it. Of course, I can also just show up and hope they have space available. The movies are not new releases but are very recent releases, however if I haven't seen them yet, they are new to me. Right now The Box Trolls and The Interview are playing.

For $25 a month I get unlimited movies for 6 people, 1 hour of bowling for 6 people (including shoe rental), $25 game card for the arcade, and 2 tickets to the Comedy Club. I have become the social director for my small circle of friends.

Dining and Family Entertainment - Latitude 360 Jacksonville, FL