How Much Does A Reel Cost?

[Ash]

I wonder if any of you might know the answer to this query.

You know when you go to the theater to watch a movie?
How much does that giant reel that the movie is on cost the theater?
No, not just the metal reel, but the whole shebang...film & all.

Having worked in a theater myself in 1997, I was instructed by the manager at the time to carry three films up to the projection room, each of which came in a heavy plastic case.
I remember that one of them was "Batman & Robin"...I can't remember what the other two were.

I remember asking the manager what each one costs and she said, "A lot!" and would give no more details.
I tried to prod further but she told me that she wasn't allowed to reveal the prices to anyone except other managers.  I thought it was a load of BS.
It turns out, the theater I worked in wasn't the only one who had strict rules on discussing prices like that.
Other friends who also worked at competing theaters were given the same runaround when they asked.

Any ideas on what the cost is?
Does the cost depend on the film and/or length?
Any directions toward websites that may give details on the prices?



Post Edited (11-04-04 08:33)

[The Ghoul]

You had a chance to run off with the reel of 1997's Batman & Robin
and light it on fire in a back alley. Thus saving hundreds if not thousands of lives plus their hard earn money and you did not??? You coward! The things people will do for minimum wage. That movie cost me my lunch for several days if you want that answer.

[peter johnson]

The figure I hear is around $20,000, but that is probably out of date/years old.
peter johnson/denny crane

[Brother Ragnarok]

I don't know how much a reel costs, but if anyone here works at a theater and could snag me a discarded film canister, one of the small ones trailers come in, I'd be grateful.  I need somewhere other than a cardboard box to store my Hellboy trailer reel.