Here is an educational and informative note on the movie theatre business. Of your ticket money, the distributor (not the theatre owner) gets 90% to 110% (in the latter case, the theatre owner is paying a premium to get the picture). That leaves very little if any of the ticket money for the theatre. So the only source of real revenue is the concession stand. Like Pamlicorat, I may not like it but if I want to see movies on the big screen, I have to be willing to pay that freight.
^ sure hope they have better popcorn than EVERYWHERE ELSE I go. I mean, not only do I pay out the tail for it, but then it tastes like it came out my tail. And who do I blame? All those nancies that ruin everyone’s food because they want to impose over reaching food regulations.
Heck, I have yet to go to a place where half of the popcorn doesn’t burn in some manner because of the garbage oil they have to use. So it doesn’t cook as good nor does it taste as good. And worse, some places I’ve been to don’t even cook their own popcorn, yet still sell at full price.
I can remember going to theaters and there truly was nothing better than the popcorn. I could eat a whole tub and still want more. Now, I’ll be lucky to make it through a small while tossing much of the worst bits out at the same time.
And so I don’t go to the movies any more.
In fact, as a child I remember when the K-Mart had a little food vendor in the store that had Icees, pretzels and massive bags of popcorn (which was less than a dollar). That bag of popcorn was some of the best I’ve ever had in my life and it could last 3 days and rarely had a bad kernel in it. But now, I can’t find popcorn ANYWHERE that even comes half of close.
ARG! Okay, I’m done. I just really wish we could have good food again, especially such simple stuff like popcorn. Even if it had to cost way too friggin much.
freeholder, I’ll take TexTech’s numbers at his word, but he’s certainly right in principle.
However, those percentages drop after the opening weeks; when a movie stays in the theaters more than a few weeks, the percentage of the ticket price that the exhibitor keeps rises. So theater owners are very happy to have a movie with “legs”, whereas the studios’ best interest is served by having everybody rush to the the New Must-See movie on the opening weekend, and then replace it with another as soon as the audience drop-off occurs. For the opening weekend of a new blockbuster, the exhibitors REALLY have to hope people buy the snacks.
It’s been ages since I’ve been anywhere that can support a Drive-In theater, but I can think of a couple of possibilities why the business model might differ: they don’t start running a film until after it’s already been playing indoors for several weeks; or they run non-studio films that they buy as “packages” from specialized distributors. I seem to recall the first scenario from my childhood, and I know that the second scenario exists (or has existed) in some places.
Concerning the cartoon itself, I don’t mind if a movie is educational and/or informative, but if a movie is being promoted as “Inspirational!” that’s a big red flag for me.
the last movie i saw in a theatre was neither educational nor informative. Casino Royale for those who wonder. the newer one, not the Sellers/Niven version.
comicgos over 13 years ago
Only 1200 calories!
GROG Premium Member over 13 years ago
Today’s movies are over-rated anyway,
Good Morning, Fellow Cave Dwellers.
LittleSister18 over 13 years ago
Thumbs up and thumbs down.
yyyguy over 13 years ago
educational and informative? i hate when that happens!
Yukoner over 13 years ago
It can be educational or informative, but not both. That would violate union rules.
Elaine Rosco Premium Member over 13 years ago
I agree..love the popcorn.
pamlicorat over 13 years ago
Good Morning Lonewolf, Gweedo, Grog, Montana Lady & Everyone
There is nothing like movie popcorn. cost .25 cents to make and they charge you $4.50.
gobblingup Premium Member over 13 years ago
It wasn’t long enough. My nap was cut short by the ending.
Good morning, BCers
TexTech over 13 years ago
Here is an educational and informative note on the movie theatre business. Of your ticket money, the distributor (not the theatre owner) gets 90% to 110% (in the latter case, the theatre owner is paying a premium to get the picture). That leaves very little if any of the ticket money for the theatre. So the only source of real revenue is the concession stand. Like Pamlicorat, I may not like it but if I want to see movies on the big screen, I have to be willing to pay that freight.
Neanderthal over 13 years ago
A future in agriculture.
freeholder1 over 13 years ago
Ah, Tech: our local Drive in jobs out the concessions and they’ve been in business for thirty years. Something is a bit wrong with you info
midiranger over 13 years ago
*freeholder1 * that concessionaire will be paying rent for that space. The Drive In is still getting their concession money . .
freeholder1 over 13 years ago
You ever been to a drive in? What concession money?
DjGuardian over 13 years ago
^ sure hope they have better popcorn than EVERYWHERE ELSE I go. I mean, not only do I pay out the tail for it, but then it tastes like it came out my tail. And who do I blame? All those nancies that ruin everyone’s food because they want to impose over reaching food regulations.
Heck, I have yet to go to a place where half of the popcorn doesn’t burn in some manner because of the garbage oil they have to use. So it doesn’t cook as good nor does it taste as good. And worse, some places I’ve been to don’t even cook their own popcorn, yet still sell at full price.
I can remember going to theaters and there truly was nothing better than the popcorn. I could eat a whole tub and still want more. Now, I’ll be lucky to make it through a small while tossing much of the worst bits out at the same time.
And so I don’t go to the movies any more.
In fact, as a child I remember when the K-Mart had a little food vendor in the store that had Icees, pretzels and massive bags of popcorn (which was less than a dollar). That bag of popcorn was some of the best I’ve ever had in my life and it could last 3 days and rarely had a bad kernel in it. But now, I can’t find popcorn ANYWHERE that even comes half of close.
ARG! Okay, I’m done. I just really wish we could have good food again, especially such simple stuff like popcorn. Even if it had to cost way too friggin much.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
freeholder, I’ll take TexTech’s numbers at his word, but he’s certainly right in principle.
However, those percentages drop after the opening weeks; when a movie stays in the theaters more than a few weeks, the percentage of the ticket price that the exhibitor keeps rises. So theater owners are very happy to have a movie with “legs”, whereas the studios’ best interest is served by having everybody rush to the the New Must-See movie on the opening weekend, and then replace it with another as soon as the audience drop-off occurs. For the opening weekend of a new blockbuster, the exhibitors REALLY have to hope people buy the snacks.
It’s been ages since I’ve been anywhere that can support a Drive-In theater, but I can think of a couple of possibilities why the business model might differ: they don’t start running a film until after it’s already been playing indoors for several weeks; or they run non-studio films that they buy as “packages” from specialized distributors. I seem to recall the first scenario from my childhood, and I know that the second scenario exists (or has existed) in some places.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Concerning the cartoon itself, I don’t mind if a movie is educational and/or informative, but if a movie is being promoted as “Inspirational!” that’s a big red flag for me.
yyyguy over 13 years ago
the last movie i saw in a theatre was neither educational nor informative. Casino Royale for those who wonder. the newer one, not the Sellers/Niven version.