The Death of Movies: Less Than 5% of US Go To Movies Frequently

[Shellhead]

The old guy had probably seen part of one episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and thought that's how you were supposed to act in a theater.

It's even possible that it was one of the MST3K guys, since they're from the Twin Cities.

[Shellhead]

The movie theater experience has not changed one bit. There has always been expensive concessions, people talking amongst themselves, people yelling at the screen, people laughing at what the people are yelling at the screen, people "SHHH-ing" the talkers, babies/kids crying, people spilling their sodas/popcorn, and the rare ruckus/argument/altercation, and your crowd of people that just want to sit quietly and enjoy the movie. Such IS the American movie-going experience, and this CANNOT be duplicated at home. What changes is that you go from being the loud/over-excited kids/babies;/teenagers to being the older crowd "SHHH-ing". lol

The only thing that has changed is the delay time between theater to home-media release, but if you think about it, what happened before the invention of home-viewing (VHS/Betamax)? People probably thought that would be the decline of the theater because "in 3-4 months, you will be able to watch it at home anyway.

The home-viewing experience can be even worse. I recently had a couple of friends over at my house to see a movie. None of us had seen the movie before, and all we knew about it was that it (Winter's Bone) was critically-acclaimed. Five minutes into the movie, one of my friends just started talking about his recent dating woes, and I asked him to save until after the movie. Ten minutes into the movie, the other friend started to tell us a long story about his recent trip to Europe, and I asked him to save it until after the movie. Both of these guys are generally very polite and reasonable, and seemed genuinely unaware that they were being selfish and inappropriate. After the movie, they both said they really enjoyed the movie, and we hung out and talked for a couple of hours, including about the dating stuff and the trip to Europe.

[jesse_custer]

Many of the dumbest fucking headlines feature the words "death of."

[jediracer]

How do they define "frequent"?

[Vibranium]

The home-viewing experience can be even worse. I recently had a couple of friends over at my house to see a movie. None of us had seen the movie before, and all we knew about it was that it (Winter's Bone) was critically-acclaimed. Five minutes into the movie, one of my friends just started talking about his recent dating woes, and I asked him to save until after the movie. Ten minutes into the movie, the other friend started to tell us a long story about his recent trip to Europe, and I asked him to save it until after the movie. Both of these guys are generally very polite and reasonable, and seemed genuinely unaware that they were being selfish and inappropriate. After the movie, they both said they really enjoyed the movie, and we hung out and talked for a couple of hours, including about the dating stuff and the trip to Europe.

you don't tell me what to do dad gummit....this is 'Merica

ask me to save it till after the movie.....hell Ill go stop up your toilet with a dump Ive been saving since Friday

[jesse_custer]

How do they define "frequent"?

Moreover, given the bad economy, why would one expect the majority of Americans to go "frequently" to the movies?

If you have a family of three, you're paying $20 or more on the film itself.

[thwhtGuardian]

Moreover, given the bad economy, why would one expect the majority of Americans to go "frequently" to the movies?

If you have a family of three, you're paying $20 or more on the film itself.

I'd go with more, twenty dollars is the price of two tickets around my parts unless you go on a bargain day.

[kalorama]

Moreover, given the bad economy, why would one expect the majority of Americans to go "frequently" to the movies?

If you have a family of three, you're paying $20 or more on the film itself.

Is there actually somewhere in the U.S. where you can still buy three movie tickets for $20?

[jesse_custer]

I'd go with more, twenty dollars is the price of two tickets around my parts unless you go on a bargain day.

It depends on where you live, when you go, and how old your child is. If I go to a regular showing in Mississippi, it's going to be $16 for me and my fiance and $4-$6 for her 7-year-old daughter. A 3-D film would obviously cost more.

[kalorama]

It depends on where you live, when you go, and how old your child is. If I go to a regular showing in Mississippi, it's going to be $16 for me and my fiance and $4-$6 for her 7-year-old daughter. A 3-D film would obviously cost more.

Southern hospitality, I suppose. I'm pretty sure you can't buy a regular priced ticket for any show for any age in the DC area for less than $7 or $8.

[jesse_custer]

Is there actually somewhere in the U.S. where you can still buy three movie tickets for $20?

If you go to a matinee, you can get three tickets for less than $20 in Mississippi and Alabama.

[thwhtGuardian]

It depends on where you live, when you go, and how old your child is. If I go to a regular showing in Mississippi, it's going to be $16 for me and my fiance and $4-$6 for her 7-year-old daughter. A 3-D film would obviously cost more.

I think at most places in New England it's about 8 bucks a pop for adults and around 6.50 for children and 3D is like nearly double that. Though as I said there are usually bargain days, I think all National Amusement theaters around me do a thing called Throw Back Tuesdays where all tickets are 6 bucks.

Either way you slice though it's not exactly a cheap night out, but it doesn't really seem to be hurting the bottom line of the big grossing movies all that much so I think its safe to say the premise of the article is more than a little bit flawed.

On a side note, I'm always interested in comparing regional variances in pricing.

[MegaNaught]

It's even possible that it was one of the MST3K guys, since they're from the Twin Cities.

Maybe Joel was trying to relive his glory days.

I'd go with more, twenty dollars is the price of two tickets around my parts unless you go on a bargain day.

In Central Illniois it's about $9 for an adult after 6pm. There is a theater about 45 mi from me that has $6 shows before 6pm, but, counting gas, it's cheaper just to pay $9 per ticket.

[Vibranium]

I think at most places in New England it's about 8 bucks a pop for adults and around 6.50 for children and 3D is like nearly double that. Though as I said there are usually bargain days, I think all National Amusement theaters around me do a thing called Throw Back Tuesdays where all tickets are 6 bucks.

Either way you slice though it's not exactly a cheap night out, but it doesn't really seem to be hurting the bottom line of the big grossing movies all that much so I think its safe to say the premise of the article is more than a little bit flawed.

On a side note, I'm always interested in comparing regional variances in pricing.

its about that here in CT....the theater I go to is new (less than 10 yrs old) so its a little more pricey but worth it for nice seats and cheese fries

that being said...you all know whats cheaper than a night at the movies?

roller derby...and they serve beer

[J. Robb]

How do they define "frequent"?

The actual question in the survery is: "What source of entertainment do you turn to most often?" Which changes the context a lot- even people who go to the movies fairly regularly (like me) aren't go to consider it "most often".