Comments on: Box Office Draw at All Time High in 2007

By: Will

Will — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:51:28 +0000

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.

By: Mr Stay Puft

Mr Stay Puft — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:51:41 +0000

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.

By: sfsilver

sfsilver — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:34:11 +0000

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.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:19:26 +0000

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.

By: calviin

calviin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:24:25 +0000

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.

By: probitionate

probitionate — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:27:54 +0000

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.

By: probitionate

probitionate — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:34:37 +0000

“…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.

By: Roguepirate

Roguepirate — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:13:15 +0000

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.

By: nbakid2000

nbakid2000 — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:52:26 +0000

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.

By: Ricci

Ricci — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:47:26 +0000

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.

By: probitionate

probitionate — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:53:27 +0000

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…

By: Kristina

Kristina — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:02:17 +0000

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:)