Everyone has their own opinion about the future of movies. Will people even GO to the theatre in 10 years from now? Well a report has come out that says so far, we are going to just as many movies.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) on Wednesday released its yearly film industry statistics, reflecting a 5.4 percent increase in U.S. box office receipts in 2007 to an all-time high.
Continuing a recovery that began in 2006 after an industry-wide slump in 2005, domestic box office ticket sales climbed to a record $9.63 billion over the previous year’s level of $9.14 billion.
So with all the talk of Home Theater systems taking away from the cinema experience and even worst threats of how Piracy will destroy the popcorn and linewaiting excitement of the theater we find out that generally the same number of people are going to the movies!
The only real reason we saw an increase in box office receipts is due to an increase in ticket prices. Now much like bellybuttons everyone has an opinion too and we all think Movie Ticket prices are too high. Let me throw a thought at that one while we are all here.
I like to equate the movie ticket debate to that of John’s favourite hockey team. The Toronto Maple Leafs. Everyone who knows anything about hockey knows that the Leafs suck. Even Leaf Fans. But much like movie ticket prices, the theatres have nothing to gain by lowering the ticket prices. Just like the Leafs have nothing to gain by making their team better.
You will still go.
There, I said it. The tickets do cost too much at the theater, but there is nothing to be done about it. You will still go.
So assuming you are all movie fans because you are reading this site in the first place, can you say you have gone to MORE movies, or less in the last year?
8 bucks/movie sounds like a steal to me. I live in Vancouver and the local multi-plex charges $10.75/movie more if it’s an IMAX. Despite this astronomical fee I’ve gone to more movies this year than last. The biggest reason for that is probably that fewer movies this year looked horrible. I think transformers got me excited about movies again, and Indiana Jones may keep it up. Not to mention cinematic gold like Super Bad and it’s ilk.
I just read that while attendance only slightly declined from 2006, there was 200 million less tickets sold than in 2002. That doesn’t bode well for theater owners who rely on the flow at the concession stand for their revenue.
My theater going habits have not really changed much in the last 15 years. I regularly see 2 movies a week in theaters. I do watch more mives at home than I ever did before becasue of improved technology -I have a large 200+ title DVD collection, always have 3 Netflix DVDs laying in wait and watch many films that I record on DVR from cable (particularly classics on TCM). Nothing, however will ever replace seeing a move in the theater. I love the big screen and the communal experience of seeing a film with other people in the theater. I do go to early matinées on Saturday and Sunday (unless it’s an event movie for which I try to get a group together for opening night) and this saves me money (one major chain here in San Francisco has $6 screenings before noon on weekends). The crowds are less unruly at these screenings too. I also think San Francisco audiences tend to be more civilized and respectful than audiences I’ve seen in Chicago, New York and LA.
OK. YEAH, I STILL WENT TO MOVIES. BUT I ONLY STOOD IN LINE FOR THE REALLY BIG MOVIES. OTHER THAN THAT, I’LL BUY ONE TICKET AND SNEAK INTO ANOTHER. THAT WAY IF IT SUCKED, I AT LEAST PAYED FOR ONE. AND IF IT DIDN’T SUCK, I’LL BUY THE MOVIE ON DVD.
Yeah, I’m gonna have to join in with a few of the others and say, I’ve seen more movies this year than last, but I haven’t had to pay for most of them.
One of the things I find most fascinating about reading this thread is noting how much viewing habits have changed…and how this reinforces the facts as they exist right now regarding studio revenues.
It seems that many people of all ages are no longer that interested in having ‘the cinematic experience’. That the reference points have changed. Whereas it used to be that a) the only way you could watch a movie was at a cinema, and b) it was a ‘night out’ to go, a special event, it had cachet to see a movie in a cinema, now people seemingly aren’t interested in seeing movies this way because a) of the expense, b) the rudeness of fellow patrons and/or c) they’ve ensconced themselves in their home theatre setup and prefer THAT experience.
The big question…sometime down the road…is going to be ‘What happens when the paradigm REALLY shifts?” What’s going to happen when the theatrical release of a film is no longer the primary means of ‘getting the word out’ and begin the generating of receipts? Because that’s where we’re headed. In a way, I’m always shocked by peoples’ comments about how few films they see each year at the cinema…but then a) I refuse to watch films anywhere other than a cinema and b) I regularly see an average of 200 films per year.
I think this topic would make a great series for John and Doug to explore, ‘Where are we headed in movie-watching?’
Just my inflation-battered 2 cents’ worth.
“…studios will think ticket prices are fine and will mark it up again later.”
There’s no relationship between the studios and cinemas. None.
Other than a contentious business relationship. : )
Think of the studios as the supplier…and the cinemas as the pusher.
But for many, they’re getting their ‘fix’ from another source entirely. ‘Home-grown’, in a way: DVDs and downloading.
I went to a lot less movies at the theatre this year. With ticket prices in Los Angeles being almost $10, unless it’s some blockbuster or a film I really desperately want to see, I’ll wait for DVD. There Will Be Blood, Michael Clayton, and No Country are good films, but I don’t feel that there is much benefit to spend $10 to see that on the big screen.
As for the rising ticket prices, Rodney is right theres nothing that can be done. People can stop going to the theatres but rather than blaming ticket prices the studios will blame piracy then raise prices more, if people continue to go, studios will think ticket prices are fine and will mark it up again later.
Less. I usually don’t go to a theater unless it’s a MUST SEE movie, and even then half the time I don’t go.
That and the fact that most people I know don’t like going to the movies.
I usually just wait for the DVD, because I can usually get 2 or 3 movies for the price of one movie ticket.
I’ve been to more than usual, mainly because there have been so many films in the past year that to me were, must see big screen movies.
The key to understanding what these figures mean is to put them into perspective: is the cinema ticket slice of the ‘revenue pie’ getting bigger, or smaller?
Actually, it’s shrinking. Consistently.
So the studios are deriving less and less proportional income from theatrical releases as the years go by.
Now, THAT is the start of an interesting discussion…
The quick turnaround on DVDs keeps me home as well sometimes. If a movie is a big event flick or something that I am just DYING to see, then I’m there opening day or as soon as it opens near me. Raleigh, NC is like fucking mecca for a film fan. There’s a wide assortment of multiplexes and theaters that specifically cater to indie shit, so it’s not like I don’t have opportunities to see what I want. I have two theaters that are less than a five minute walk from my dorm, while I have at least ten others, including an IMAX, within a twenty minute drive. My buds and I are already planning our trips to see Iron Man and Dark Knight(IMAX baby!) opening day. Indy 4, opening day. Hellboy 2, opening day, bet your fucking ass. But if it’s a run of the mill movie, I have noticed that I’ve started to wait until the discount theater, DVD, or a screening that I can get into thanks to my connections(ooh, I’m connected!). It isn’t really worth it to go to theaters these days due to the amount of fuckers talking. Now, indie theaters around Raleigh are EXCELLENT at policing cell phone fuckers, but the others leave you to your own devices, and it sucks to have to listen to people talk.
But as a tip, the best day to go to the movies is Sunday, especially the first show on Sunday. All the loud fuckers are still in church then:)
I go to the theather about 3-4 times a year now, which hasn’t changed much in the past few years. The theather experience just doesn’t offer much to me. I have a nice home theather that not only allows me to watch films with people I know an invite, but, most of the time, has a better picture. Films are often dirty enough to be distracting to me when I go to a theater. The only reason I go is when there is a group to large for my theater or a movie that I just can’t wait to see (which is about 3-4 times a year).
I am a huge movie fan with over 800 DVDs, but the theater doesn’t offer me enough to get the $8-$10 too often.
I don’t really count for this sort of topic, as I see about 70% of the films I see for free, but I would say there has been an increase in the amount of films I saw this year compared to last year (free films count towards both years).
I went to a fair amount of movies last year, although I’m not sure whether I went to more than the year before. I CAN say that I have raised the bar as far as when I will go see a movie in theaters versus waiting to rent it on DVD. I used to go see a movie almost every week, but now it’s more like once a month, and even then I make sure I go during the week when the theaters are mostly empty. Why should I pay $8+ to go listen to other people talk? I miss my $6 tickets and relatively courteous crowds from less than two years ago.
Well, due to my position on my college’s film committee, I get into a shitload of screenings, so I suppose I’ve gone to more movies lately, but I haven’t paid dime one for them.
more. my ticket stubs pile a mile high this year
Definately went to less movies. Can count theatre trips on one hand. For various reasons though – the high price being one main one. That and the experience in general just keeps getting worse thanks to other people. I much prefer watching a movie in the peace of my own home.
Having said that, the box office numbers clearly indicate I’m in the minority. I have no sympathy for them crying over piracy when they pull in the numbers they do.
can we blame this on piracy? because you know when statistics are given out by the mpaa it always related to pirating. maybe it has to do something with the crack tha’s included with each pirated dvd, oh wait that was cds and the riaa. oh well same difference. i have to say that i went to the movies more this year but not by much but that’s also because transformers came out. haha