Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Advance tickets on Monsters Inc., Harry Potter

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Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-01-2001, 05:10 PM:

At least 2 chains in New Jersey (Loews, Regal) are pushing advance tickets on Monsters Inc. and Harry Potter. I mean pushing advance tickets well before release date.

Disney demanded advance tickets be sold on Pearl Harbor. It underperformed on that part and thus underperformed in the US. Disney is now demanding advance tickets be sold for Monsters Inc. Warner Bros. is doing the same for Harry Potter.

Something tells me this isn't the time to demand that theaters push advance tickets -- especially with the economy as it is and the aftermath of 9/11.

Are advance tickets in your locations boffo, so-so or no-no?

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 11-02-2001, 06:42 AM:

In the UK advance tickets sales for Harry Potter have beaten advances for any prevoious film.. A large number of tickets are being bought up by companies to take their employees out for a treat leading to headlines in some of the tabloids that claim "true " fans and children will have to wait past the opening weeks to get a chance to see the movie.

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 11-02-2001, 01:20 PM:

We have been selling an incredible amount of advance tickets here in Vegas. These two movies are really outselling Pearl Harbor.

Posted by Steven Pickles (Member # 785) on 11-02-2001, 03:03 PM:

quote:
Something tells me this isn't the time to demand that theaters push advance tickets -- especially with the economy as it is and the aftermath of 9/11.

What does selling tickets for a film have anything to do with the state of the economy or any terrorist action? By pushing the sale of advanced tickets a company is looking to earn money -- they are not forcing people to purchase tickets. If someone cannot afford or is too scared to go out then they will not go out. I do not believe that it is any company's responsibility to do or do not do something just because of the state of the economy. For one, that is how the economy turns around.. by having people buy things. "Demanding" that theatres sell the tickets in advance is another way for them to sell tickets.. thats it, nothing more. I am not being harsh in any context but I believe that your commment was a little odd because I do not see any connection.

Also, to answer your other question; the advanced sales for Monster's Inc., were nothing to write home about. Probably two or three tickets sold before Thursday, November 1.

Posted by Gordon Hedges III (Member # 863) on 11-02-2001, 07:20 PM:

I agree with Steven Pickles about how irrelevant the economy has anything to do with ticket sales. I would go off into a rant, but I won't.

As for advance ticket sales... They weren't very good until today. But what is so wrong with the advance sales. , we advance sale tickets every week. Maybe not two weeks in advance (i.e. Harry Potter), but tickets are available for the weekend at least three days in advance. This is really not a new concept. If people really knew about this, box office lines may be smaller during the weekends (unless they are picking up their WILL-CALL or MovieFone tix), and they can definitely bring enough money to purchase concessions.

Posted by Zach Zagar (Member # 379) on 11-03-2001, 10:32 PM:

Goodrich Quality Theaters (IN/IL/MI/MO) have been selling them since 2nd or 3rd week of October, prior to Monsters Inc, we were up to probably $400 worth at my theater (a 9-screen in a Chicago suburb in Indiana). I've been on vacation for Monsters, so not sure where they stand now, but most Monsters movie-goers will probably want Harry P too.

------------------
If ya smell, what the Zach is cooking.

Zach Zagar, the most electrifying man in theater entertainment today.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 11-05-2001, 02:25 AM:

Harry Potter premiered in the UK last night. At last report there are 500,000 advance sales nationwide.

Posted by Christopher Finn (Member # 938) on 11-06-2001, 11:19 PM:

Is anyone else tired of hearing the words "Harry Potter" yet?

I do agree that it looks like a good flick, and am even reading the book now so I have a basis of comparison when I screen it, but these parents are mean!

They act as if we attempted to pee on them when we tell them that our tickets for opening day will not be on sale until Tuesday, the 13th, when the box office opens at 3:45. "Don't you know how big this is..." screamed an fanatical mother at me today. "Really? You think this is gonna be a big movie?" I wanted to reply.

What it boils down to is that it is simply a movie. If you don't see it on Friday, the 16th, chances are good we will still be showing it the next day... the next week... the next month... and probably into the new year. It isn't as if it is La Streisand's farewell tour. (Bad analogy, I know, as she has had more than one "Farewell Tour.")

I also don't think it is a fair thing to do to offer tickets for sale this far in advance. I don't think it gives everyone a fair shot. I know other theatres in the area that are sold out already for the entire first day! I realize that most of us will be sold out the entire first day, but where is it written that we have to do it over a week in advance?

Ok, thanks for letting me vent.

Chris

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"All I want for Christmas is my liposuction, so I can look real purty!" -- RuPaul

Posted by Wes Hughes (Member # 981) on 11-07-2001, 02:37 PM:

I am not opening my box office for Harry Potter ticket sales until 9:30am on the 16th.

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-07-2001, 07:36 PM:

BTW, the stadium theater I go to is not doing advance sales on Harry Potter. Should have mentioned that when I started this thread.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 11-09-2001, 04:05 AM:

Harry opens here around 11/29 from memory. Our 6.30 is already sold out (840 seats!) and today is only the 11/9!

This summer's gonna be huge...

On 12/26 we open Fellowship Of The Ring, Monsters Inc. and Vanilla Sky.

Like I said...it's gonna be huge.

It'll make a nice change from last year.

Posted by Wes Hughes (Member # 981) on 11-11-2001, 03:57 PM:

I changed my mind...I am doing advanced sales starting on Monday.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 11-12-2001, 02:23 AM:

It's amazing how persuasive the smell of money is!

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 11-12-2001, 08:52 AM:

John W: Can we say 'Interlock'?

Posted by Wes Hughes (Member # 981) on 11-12-2001, 11:42 AM:

You're right, Dick! All those people standing outside my theatre waving cash, offering to pay double, and threatening me made me change my mind!!!

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 11-09-2002, 10:05 AM:

Bumping up for this year's version . . .

Most chains began selling advance tickets for Harry Potter 2 in mid-October. Reading Cinemas in Manville NJ didn't start selling advance tickets till this past Wednesday. Why? Thanksgiving product flow. Reading isn't sure yet if it'll open 2 or 3 prints of Harry Potter 2.

Incidentally, Reading played the first Harry Potter for 6 weeks and dropped it when The Royal Tenenbaums became available for New Year's.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 11-09-2002, 12:03 PM:

Charles -

Most chains that are selling advance tickets for Harry Potter aren't selling for all prints yet. They are selling for one or maybe two. Watch for next Monday/Tuesday, when additional showtimes will be added.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 11-09-2002, 07:13 PM:

We have been selling Harry Potter ticket for just over a week now. We are unsure of our bookings so we are just selling for one print even though I am expecting three. A somewhat funny situation happen last year when we sold advance tickets for two prints and opened four. Basically we sold out all the shows for two prints for the first two days, however, the other two prints shows all have plenty of seats left and we had situations where we had a long line of people waiting for a 7:00 showing of Harry Potter, which had sold out days prior, and had people just showing up and getting in to see the new 6:30 showing which had open up when we got our final bookings. So people who bought their tickets ten minutes before the 6:30 showtime got to actually see the movie before the people who bought their tickets three weeks ahead of time. I expect more of the same this time around.

Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 11-14-2002, 11:09 AM:

I would sell tickets but I use Pacer