Box offices continue to struggle

[db44]

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Despite a good showing by the top three films on this weekend's box office list, receipts for movies nationwide were down for the 14th straight weekend -- compared to last year. It was expected the new "Star Wars'' film would help pull the movie industry out of its more-than-three-month-long slump. But now that it hasn't, even movie industry insiders are suggesting the blip might be more of a trend. The head of the box-office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations says while he's optimistic things will turn around eventually, he notes "it takes a lot more to excite people today'' and the current crop of movies hasn't exactly inspired people to go flocking to the multiplexes.

Of course they blame the public...

Hey, Hollywood! Here's a clue: It takes a verrrrrry special movie to make me shell out $11 a pop. Especially when I can buy the same movie on DVD for about the same price and play it on a home entertainment system with surround sound.

[V-Money]

It's not just the lack of good movies that is keeping audiences away. I went to the movies at least 40 times last year. I don't think I've even been to 10 movies this year. Ticket prices are insane, people are ruder than ever, parents can't keep their kids quiet, cell phones and other flashing devices make it almost impossible to concentrate on the film. Ticket prices HAVE to be lowered and theatres have to do a better job of enforcing their policies. Until then, I don't blame anyone for downloading movies off the net. Eff Hollywood!

[aguilera_lover]

If movie tickets weren't so damn expensive, I'd go more often. I am in no way wasting that much money to see a movie that will most likely suck.

[LJK]

The audience is rude, the employees are rude, the movies aren't always worth it and some theaters won't refund money or give a pass for another movie, even when you walk out after a few minutes. Worse, sometimes the screen is bad, the print is bad, the picture is out of frame or the sound is bad.

I work in a theater now and I see movies for free. I still get annoyed though, because it's my time, too.

[bekahbeans]

Where do you freaks live? Movies only cost like 5-6 bucks. No big deal. I've gone and seen three this week already.

[db44]

... And today you're supposed to see the only movie which matters.

Around here, non-matinees are $10-12. Matinees are over $6.

[evildoc]

The audience is rude, the employees are rude, the movies aren't always worth it and some theaters won't refund money or give a pass for another movie, even when you walk out after a few minutes. Worse, sometimes the screen is bad, the print is bad, the picture is out of frame or the sound is bad.

I agree with your statement LJK. I hate going to the theatre, and being surrounded by people who won't stop talking. There was one instance of this that I got so fed up, I leaned over and told this group of guys that if they want to talk they can take it outside. I guess I looked angry because they got up and left.

[LJK]

Where do you freaks live? Movies only cost like 5-6 bucks. No big deal. I've gone and seen three this week already.
A matinee here is between $5 and $6.50, depending on the theater. Matinee prices are for the first show only, or for movies before 4 pm or 6 pm, depending on the theater. Regular prices are $8 to $8.50. I make $7 an hour. If I had to pay for movies, I'd see a lot less of them.

[junio]

For the past 6 years or so I have not seen more than 20 movies per year in theaters. And it seems like with each year that goes by I go see less and less movies in theaters.

Ticket prices are not exactly a problem, though the price seems to be on the rise, that goes for pop corn, sodas and candy from the concession stands, too. The last time I went to see Star Wars the price for a cine combo of pop corn and a soda had risen by 25 cents.

The fact of the matter is that if the movie being shown is good, or if I expect it to be good, I'll pay to see it. IN THE THEATER! I love seeing movies in theaters and the experience is not the same as seeing it in your computer. Not even on your flat, plasmabolic TV screen... I'll even buy the expensive pop corn if I feel like it. But the movie has to be good. That's the bottom line.

[bekahbeans]

Don't you guys have chains like Celebration Cinema or whatever?

Anyway, I almost always go to matinee shows. It's more fun because there are fewer people, and it's cheaper. Plus, if you tell 'em your'e a student after the matinee ends, it's only a dollar more and it's not like they ever ask for your i.d. I'm gonna be a student forever. And the concession stands are such a rip off. If I'm really that hungry, I'll go buy something at the grocery store and bring it in with me.

This has been, "How to Watch MOvies" with your host, me. Now go see Kicking and Screaming. It was really funny

[evildoc]

Your guide to movie watching would be ok if we had that chain of cinemas. The city I live in it is 6.25 for a show before six and 8.25 after. In Charlotte, I believe it is like 9.00 for the evening show and 7.00 for the matinee.

[VenConmigo]

Here matinees are $7-$8 and regular tickets around $10. All the cheap theaters are replaced with Wal-Marts or Starbucks. I remember 10 years ago I used to go with my friends to $1 theaters that had month old movies.

I agree with most of you, this year's movies have been horrible and the multiplexes are getting worse and worse.

[LJK]

We have a couple cheap theaters here. One is a place that serves food, too, but the screens are very small. The other chain is $2 per movie, but the theaters all smell so foul I can't sit in there. Plus I'm not waiting that long to see the movie.

I just hate some of the rude people who go to movies. And when did it become acceptable to put your dirty, filthy shoes on the seat in front of you? Like I want the dog crap you walked in yesterday to be on the seat I'm going to sit on.

[bekahbeans]

Yeah we used to have the second run theatres too but they all went out of business. They had sucky seating though.

Chains. So comfy.

[santiago]

lower prices would bring audiences back. $8. $9 even. dvds come out way too soon now, so people will just wait and netflix something if they think it might not be worth their dough. i am both enjoying and worrying about this box office drought

[db44]

Chains. So comfy.

:blueeek: ...

[junio]

There is a 75 cents theater in Orlando and I always felt interest to pay it a visit, but my friend Bernadette says it really smells bad, so I never saw any pictures there.

Here in Puerto Rico we have one that offers old-er movies, like a few weeks after they are out of the main theaters, and it is cheaper, and the quality of the place is pretty good. I don't go there often, but it's not a bad choice.

As for matinees, I never go to those... It's way too early and my ass likes to be in bed at that time of the day. I do love Tuesdays, as those are student days and it's like $1.50 cheaper or so...

[Annoyedlistner]

Your guide to movie watching would be ok if we had that chain of cinemas. The city I live in it is 6.25 for a show before six and 8.25 after. In Charlotte, I believe it is like 9.00 for the evening show and 7.00 for the matinee.

How close are you to concord mills? i think the matinee is only $4.50 to 5 and if you go after six its like 6.50 or 7. That might be your best bet...but there are better deals in charlotte.

[evildoc]

How close are you to concord mills? i think the matinee is only $4.50 to 5 and if you go after six its like 6.50 or 7. That might be your best bet...but there are better deals in charlotte.

I am half an hour away from there. If you are referring to the AMC then it is 6.50 for matinee and 8.50 for evening. I usually go there or to the one in pineville.

[Miss B]

In Huntsville movie tickets cost $3 before 6:00pm and $6 after. The screens are pretty small but there is one big screen for the big blockbuster type movies.

[MOMMY]

its true u go to the movie u have to pay 10 buckss and some rude ass people eat and talk really loud