Moviegoer sues theater over snack prices

[KRCummings]

In the winter it's easy to smuggle in goodies in big coatss with deep pockets, I once smuggled in an 8" cheesesteak. My friend smuggled in a bottle of chardonay and actual glass glasses.

But it really depends on the movie theater and what time you go. In the summer when blockbusters are coming out every week I used to wait until I had a day off on in the middle of the week. I couldn't wear a big coat but I could still smuggle in a pack of skittles or starburst or something. I'd go into the megaplex at noon, maybe 10 people in any given theater, pay for my first movie, pay for a large popcorn and drink, and then sneak into a couple more movies afterwards and leave around 6pm.

Now I don't go to the movies at all anymore, everything is in 3D, another way the movies have found to separate more cash from my wallet, plus the glasses give me headaches.

Much more happy now at home with a Netflix DVD or streaming directly to my TV and whatever I want to eat.

I've done the trick with paying for one early movie and sticking around all day before. It used to be easier than it is now but it can still be done. Can't be when big blockbusters are playing though because they sell out too easily.
I miss those days. Like when you had to hide people in the trunk going to the drive-in. That was fun. Nowadays they just charge by the car instead of by the person. Takes all the fun out of it.

 

[phrodeau]

Another useless lawsuit. He has every right NOT to stuff his face with overpriced concessions.

A heretical thought, I know, not shoveling crap into one's mouth whilst watching entertainment.

This is one of those suits where the "Loser Pays" priciple would be very applicable.

He'll go in front of Congress now like Saundra Fuck and demand taxpayers cover the cost of his movie snacks.

Yes, and I don't blame him. If Sandra Fluke can get free orgasms, there's no damn reason why this guy has to pay for snacks.

I'm sure you all feel the same way about the price of gasoline.

 

[KRCummings]

It really is a loser of a business to get into anymore. Within in couple generations, probably only a small percentage of the theatres will be around.

I was thinking about this. I wonder if we'll go back to the days of studio owned theaters albeit in a different manner than before.

 

[miles]

And even at concerts I've had girls feel me up and down and KNOW I was sporting a bottle and pass me thru.

How might one get a job like that?

 

[KRCummings]

Well, here the prices are so high that I take a bigass purse and stuff bottles of water and a few items. Have never been checked unlike, at say, Dolphins or Heat games. How the fuck do you allow yourself to get caught like that?

And even at concerts I've had girls feel me up and down and KNOW I was sporting a bottle and pass me thru.

Concerts are different. Most have a no smoking policy, too and that goes over real well.

 

[Kruge]

I was thinking about this. I wonder if we'll go back to the days of studio owned theaters albeit in a different manner than before.

Might almost have to happen in order make owning a theatre a viable option in the future. Otherwise, these studios will be suffering to find decent public venues to show their "blockbusters"

That is if you can tolerate paying $10+ per person to see most of the crap coming out of Hollywood.

 

[Noor]

This is a ridiculous lawsuit on many levels.
No one forces you to buy snacks at the movies.

This is where theaters make their money, from concessions. It always has been. Ticket prices rarely if ever cover the cost of showing the movie.
Here is a breakdown of Regal Cinemas. I used to work corporate in a large theater chain and the numbers were similar.

Sounds like a lawyer who needs more work, its a long shot but maybe the publicity is worth it.

 

[Kruge]

How might one get a job like that?

Seeing as they were girls doing the feeling up, you might start with a sex change operation

 

[AnotherOldGuy]

I got thrown out of a movie theatre here because I brought in my own water and diet snacks (diced fruit and nuts).
I made a complaint to the manager, because they don't sell water or diet eats at the concession stands, and there are signs everywhere banning you from bringing your own.
I told him it was discrimination against those people with health issues that meant they couldn't eat the crap they sold.
Ended up with a 12 month gold pass and a written apology.

I love it!

When I was in Orlando a couple of decades ago, there was a movie theater that was fronted by a food court and you could take anything from the food court into the theater, from pizza to salad to beer to all of the candies. It was still Mall Food Court prices, but that was a lot better than theater prices ... and of course, the selection was vast and -- because they wanted the shops to vary, you could bring in anything you wanted from the outside, too. It encouraged variety and lower prices, both.

Always wanted to start one of those here in Oregon. We have the McMinnemins theaters (which I'm sure I spelled wrong), but it's not quite the same.

 

[Noor]

I was thinking about this. I wonder if we'll go back to the days of studio owned theaters albeit in a different manner than before.

I wouldn't say the theater chains are so independent, look at National Amusements (Showcase)/ViaCom/CBS

 

[KRCummings]

We have a cinema grill here where you sit in a restaurant atmosphere and watch a movie with some decent food. They take your order before the movie starts and bring it to your table about 20 minutes or so into the movie. It's kinda nice for a change of pace but not something I'd do often.

 

[KRCummings]

I wouldn't say the theater chains are so independent, look at Showcase/ViaCom/CBS

About 50 or 60 years ago the Supreme Court ruled against studio owned theaters. It's a somewhat complicated thing that goes into all different aspects of the film industry but it effectively stopped studio owned theaters. I think they are technically still ok to have but due to the ruling aren't worth it. Something like that. It's been a long time since I've read about it.

 

[miles]

Do theatres actually project film or are the movies broadcast by satellite?

 

[AngeloMichael]

I've done the trick with paying for one early movie and sticking around all day before. It used to be easier than it is now but it can still be done. Can't be when big blockbusters are playing though because they sell out too easily.
I miss those days. Like when you had to hide people in the trunk going to the drive-in. That was fun. Nowadays they just charge by the car instead of by the person. Takes all the fun out of it.

It's been a few years since I've done it but when I did, I'd usually go see 2 or 3 of the blockbusters that had been out for a while, they were never sold out especially for matinees in the middle of the week. If it was a hot and sunny day, fuhgeddaboutit, the place would be dead, everyone who had the day off would be at the pool or the beach.

They say people go to the movies to be in air conditioning on hot days, but in my experience, the rainy summer days were alway busier than the sunny ones.

I'm not quite old enough to remember movies and snacks all for $1 but I do remember $5. When I was a kid prices were $2.50 for kids 12 and under and $4.50 for adults. When it came to going to the movies I was 12 until I was 14.

I'd go with a fin and with the extra $2.50 after paying for my ticket I'd buy a huge tub of popcorn, a half gallon of orange soda in a soda cup they actually folded up like a milk carton, and enough left over for the big box of jujyfruits.

Those were great times.

 

[garbage can]

GC, sorry, but that's just stupid. Every orgasm I've ever had was free. Never paid a dime for any of them.

C'mon Sigh, is this even worth discussing??

Hey, it's been awhile..... You're lookin' good, Sigh......

 

[AnotherOldGuy]

I was curious about how the theater industry was doing, so I searched for "are movie theaters profitable". These are the first two online stories that came up; it's hardly a scientific study, but it was interesting because I didn't imagine that they were out pan handling on the street. I've only ever seen 2 theaters close in Eugene/Springfield (Oregon) where I go to the movies, and neither of them was because of profit, it was because their land was far more valuable under other usage.

This article says that without the high concession prices, they would go belly up; and this one is about AMC, which I think was the in the original posting, wasn't it?

 

[Kruge]

Do theatres actually project film or are the movies broadcast by satellite?

Newer/updated theatres are using digital media. I believe older theatres are still using film stock.

 

[Comshaw]

I love it!

When I was in Orlando a couple of decades ago, there was a movie theater that was fronted by a food court and you could take anything from the food court into the theater, from pizza to salad to beer to all of the candies. It was still Mall Food Court prices, but that was a lot better than theater prices ... and of course, the selection was vast and -- because they wanted the shops to vary, you could bring in anything you wanted from the outside, too. It encouraged variety and lower prices, both.

Always wanted to start one of those here in Oregon. We have the McMinnemins theaters (which I'm sure I spelled wrong), but it's not quite the same.

Mcmenamin's Olympic Club, Centralia Washington, dinner and a movie:

http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/search/Any?&location_id=15


Comshaw

 

[Ham Murabi]

Next: Joshua sues Cadillac.
Why are Escalades so fucking expensive?

 

[garbage can]

Next: Joshua sues Cadillac.
Why are Escalades so fucking expensive?

How about a class action suit against Exxon Mobil..?....

 

[pornstarwannabe]

I've been inspired to sue some pimps downtown. BJs used to be $5. They are up to $25 now.

 

[phrodeau]

How about a class action suit against Exxon Mobil..?....

Why not? There's one for BP.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I saw MONEYBALL when it came out. The concession prices were unreal, 6.50 small Cokes, 6.50 small popcorn. But what cinched it for me was the ads. Musta been 30 minutes of ads for cell phones and Angies List etc. No more!

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I've done the trick with paying for one early movie and sticking around all day before. It used to be easier than it is now but it can still be done. Can't be when big blockbusters are playing though because they sell out too easily.
I miss those days. Like when you had to hide people in the trunk going to the drive-in. That was fun. Nowadays they just charge by the car instead of by the person. Takes all the fun out of it.

Pull up in a van & sneak in a Smart Car.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I love it!

When I was in Orlando a couple of decades ago, there was a movie theater that was fronted by a food court and you could take anything from the food court into the theater, from pizza to salad to beer to all of the candies. It was still Mall Food Court prices, but that was a lot better than theater prices ... and of course, the selection was vast and -- because they wanted the shops to vary, you could bring in anything you wanted from the outside, too. It encouraged variety and lower prices, both.

Always wanted to start one of those here in Oregon. We have the McMinnemins theaters (which I'm sure I spelled wrong), but it's not quite the same.

West Oaks Mall?