Movie Ticket Question

[ER]

What would be the problem with pricing movie tickets on a scale? If you're seeing a would-be summer blockbuster with a $300,000,000.00 budget, okay, you might expect to pay full price, even above full price. But if you're going to see an art film shot for 5% of the budget of a superstar-filled blockbuster, mightn't it be logical and fair to pay less? Would there be a flaw in charging different prices for different films? Say $8.00-$12.00 depending on the genre and other factors?

[Torgo]

At least around where I live the art house type theaters actually do charge less for films than the major chains.

[schmendrik]

Well, I'd hate to cut down the income of the art-movie producers. Anybody know how that ticket dollar is sliced? How much to the theater, how much to the distributor, how much to the production company?

I've heard that theaters make big profits on concessions, so I suppose if you want to reward the art houses at least, you could buy popcorn there and boycott it at the 50-screen Giganto-plex.

I'm going to assume Ash's post was a joke.

[Rev. Powell]

What would be the problem with pricing movie tickets on a scale? If you're seeing a would-be summer blockbuster with a $300,000,000.00 budget, okay, you might expect to pay full price, even above full price. But if you're going to see an art film shot for 5% of the budget of a superstar-filled blockbuster, mightn't it be logical and fair to pay less? Would there be a flaw in charging different prices for different films? Say $8.00-$12.00 depending on the genre and other factors?

Are you serious?!
You're a girl.  Where I come from, the guy usually pays.  So why do you care?

(unless you have trouble getting dates)

So she can sort the big spenders from the cheapskates based on which movie they offer to take her to.  Sheesh.

Actually, it's an interesting question.  True, some theaters charge less than others, and most charge less for matinees, but they all charge the same for films shown during "prime time", regardless of the popularity of the movie.  Charging less for smaller budget, niche pictures would probably make the producers more money through increased ticket sales.

Anyone have any insight into the economics of running a movie theater?  Pilgermann, you there?

[Raffine]

Sort of off-topic, but I really miss those 'bargin theaters' where you could catch second-run films for a dollar. It was a great way to see stuff like HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH and MARY SHELLY'S FRANKENSTEIN in a theater setting without paying the full ticket price.

These theaters were also usually a bit sleezy and run down, and the prints a bit battered, which added a lot to the atmosphere. I recall it taking well over two hours to get through the 90 minutes of John Waters' HAIRSPRAY because the film kept breaking and nobody in the projection booth was paying attention. The four of us sitting in the theater took turns going to the lobby to let them them know the film broke... again. 

[BeyondTheGrave]

At least around where I live the art house type theaters actually do charge less for films than the major chains.

Thats funny because thats the exact oppsite here. Theres a major chain theater that a couple of blocks from me that has the most awesome and reasonable mantinees. All day tuesdays is only $6.25 and on other days from opening to 3:00pm its $6.75 than from 3:00pm to 6:00pm its $7.50. Its has very confortable seats and all that jazz not a cheap theater.

Theres other theater near me that has $5.00 Wednesdays but it is cheap and hard as hell seats.

Neither of these have any type of independent movies every.There is a reason for this though. Manhattan has almost a monopoly on art house theaters. They can charge anything they can because were are you going to see it? Plus Its expensive place, Its NYC Manhattan so you get the drift.

[ghouck]

If you're going to do THAT, just charge the sheep that go see the regular schlock DOUBLE, , and the rest of them show for free. Chances are the sheeple won't go to the free shows since if it isn't big budget, it CAN'T be any good. .

[CheezeFlixz]

Say $8.00-$12.00 depending on the genre and other factors?

$8.00 - $12.00 what do you think I am Rockefeller?

Ticket around here are $5.00 evening, $3.00 matinée. I go to the matinée.