I just came from the movies today and was schocked at the prices of the food. $4.75 for a small popcorn. $4.00 for one hot dog. $3.75 for a small soda. WTF??? Why do the charge so much. The tickets aren't cheap either.What's up with that??
2007-12-14 14:06:04 · 19 answers · asked by kystik83 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
Almost all the profits come from these outrageous concession prices. Unless a movie is a huge hit, the movie theatre doesn't make much profit on the ticket sales. The 1st couple of weeks during a big budget movie run, the theatre pays a high fee to run the movie. That fee drops after a few weeks, but by then ticket revenues will be down considerably. You may have noticed that even $100+ million grossing movies lose 50% of their business every week(except for the unusual smashes or movies that build on word of mouth). So the theatres have 1 steady source of income, the concessions, and they pray for the mega hit that can bring in the audience from weeks 3-10 when they can start to make money on ticket sales.
2007-12-14 14:17:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
MONEY! First of all, people don't want to pay $12 to take a chance on what might be a crappy movie. So they wait for DVD or cable, which they're already paying for. That means the movies make less money in theaters, so they want a bigger percentage of the first two weeks of a film release up to 90%!
So the theaters have no choice but to pay their rent by ripping us off at the concession stand just to break even. Do I care about the theaters making money? NO WAY!!!
I've got my own problems. If they lowered the price to $5, then maybe they'll make money, we'll save money, and we'll all live happily ever after! THE END.
2007-12-14 14:21:27 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can charge that much because people will pay that much. To some degree, the buyer sets the price. If nobody would pay $4.75 for a small popcorn, then prices would come down. There is a lot of profit in popcorn, they could sell it for $2.00 and still make a profit.
2007-12-14 14:17:44 · answer #3 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to live in France and I was chocked how cheap it was to see a movie in USA, like three of four time cheaper.
Now, when I go to France, I'm chocked to see how expensive tickets are...like $15 and they don't ever have food and drinks (and in England $22!).
At least, in USA, I get food for the same price and people who don't have a lot of money can still go see a movie if they just buy the ticket.
It's like some people in USA complaining about the price of gas...go live in France and pay four times more!
I think the USA system is better but it does not look that way when you have to pay very high price for cheap food.
2007-12-14 14:23:47 · answer #4 · answered by Sallie W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way I understand it, theaters owe movie studios a percentage of the money they charge for tickets. The same is not true for the concession stand - the theater owners get to keep all the profit. That's why they charge so much - kind of like how restaurants make more money on alcohol than they do on the food.
2007-12-14 14:13:59 · answer #5 · answered by Jeff H 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's just a way of ripping people off and making tons of money. I go to bargain matinees for $7.50, but by the time I get a small coke, small popcorn and a hot dog it's up to about $20...
2007-12-14 14:29:58 · answer #6 · answered by Joe B. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To make up the pricing of the movies themselves. For instance, a theatre only makes $3 for every $8.50...With that kind of mark-up, hey can cover the losses of paying the studios and what have you. It is sad but to make a decient profit, they have to mark up over 110% of the prices of concessions.
It is just a fact of life....If you don't want to pay that, bring candy from home and hide it well!!!
2007-12-14 14:24:35 · answer #7 · answered by slickkittykattwhopurs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is how the theatres pay for the staff and other bills. Most of the money for tickets goes for the price of the film royalties.
2007-12-18 13:45:08 · answer #8 · answered by LORD Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They charge that much because they can. No matter how much popcorn, candy and soda costs at a movie theater, there will almost always be a line to buy it. I eat before I go or I sneak in my own bottled water, peanuts, and skittles.
2007-12-14 14:12:56 · answer #9 · answered by happytam 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
here's the facts
and this is from a theatre manager i know
the theatres have to rent the movie copies
that costs money
then they give the money earned by tickets to the same companies
the only money the theatres make is off consecion
thats why its high
2007-12-14 15:42:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋