This is topic Steep increase in AMC discount ticket prices in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 09-12-2002, 07:03 AM:
As of September 3, AMC (at least in Overland Park, Kansas) has eliminated their $3.75 twilight shows. All matinee shows before 6pm are now $6.50. After 6pm, adult admission is $8.00. That's a pretty steep increase. Knowing that for a movie in its first few weeks in release, 90% of that increase is going to the distributor. AMC has done an effective job in the area of eliminating the competition, but many people now cannot afford to go to the movies. Double ticket prices are rapidly converging with the price for a family to own the DVD when it's released.I know you guys are theater managers and what not. I know that the distributors make your profitability in line with the American farmer. But does it really make sense to almost double your discount ticket prices when so much of that goes to the distributor anyway? I hate to say this, but couldn't a more moderate increase at the concession stand have brought about the same result without locking people out of the theaters?
And whatever happened to the idea that AMC was going to sell a monthly pass? Did the distributors nix that idea in the bud?
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 09-12-2002, 09:11 AM:
QUOTE:
quote:
Knowing that for a movie in its first few weeks in release, 90% of that increase is going to the distributor.
Only after the house allowance is subtracted from the total boxoffice. It's 90 percent of the "net", not the gross. In more cases than not, the floors have kicked in, even during the first few weeks, with 70 percent for the first week or two, then 60, 50, 40, 35 and out the door. Theatres actually generate more income from the boxoffice than is usually believed. It still takes both boxoffice and concessions revenue, however, to make a stable business. A larger percentage of a theatre's overall profit derives from the snack bar, but there's still some profit to be made from the boxoffice as well.
Posted by Jeff Leyland (Member # 1092) on 09-12-2002, 01:41 PM:
Mitchell,Simple, just go up I-35 to the Cinemark Merriam.
Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 09-12-2002, 01:56 PM:
Dickinson still has several theatres in the area comperable to AMC as well...
Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 09-12-2002, 02:35 PM:
Mitchell is referring to shows that start between 4-6 PM, Monday through Friday except legal holidays.The AMC Hamilton discontinued its twilight discount earlier this year.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 09-12-2002, 03:36 PM:
A couple of years ago when I was still dealing in 35mm management, I believe the minimum average ticket price most film companies wanted for first run was $4.00. It sounds like AMC got tired of paying 25 cents a head for the privilege of selling twilight prices. (Oversimplified, I know)On the other hand, maybe they just decided that if the customers were willing to pay it at the competition, they might as well charge it too.
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-12-2002, 05:59 PM:
Friends told me that AMC raised prices the same way in Central Ohio. They are going to find alternate entertainment from now on, and I will be avoiding AMC whenever possible.
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 09-12-2002, 07:36 PM:
At least you have bargain times, in Manhattan at the AMC Empire 25
it's $10.00 all the time. The only bargain is the Loew's State in Times Square it's $4.95. It's no bargain to go to this theatre.
As a operator I've gone to this theatre about three times. It's
Film Done Wrong, every time. They have a electric marquee in Times
Square, it shows film that played at that theatre 4-5 weeks ago.For the Worst operated Theatre, the award goes to the Loew's State
in Times Square.
Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 09-13-2002, 12:57 AM:
I've got to give props to the Times Square Loew's for an excellent incarnation of the vertical sign in the LED/fiber optic era.
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 09-13-2002, 01:52 AM:
Since I qualify for senior citizen admission, I have not bought group tickets in years but I do know that our prices are the lowest in the country. Thank God, I qualify for senior citizen prices! 
Here in Hawaii, all senior citizen ticket prices is $4.50 for all show at most of Conslidated's theatres and all of Signature's. Since I refuse to see Movies at Wallace Theatres, I have never bothered to find out what their prices are for senior citizens but I assume it is the same as the two other chains. The only theatres that charge more at Consolidtaed are the Ward 16 and all three Waikiki houses because they are the premium theatres in Honolulu. They all charge fifty cents more for their senior citizen tickets and regular admission. Their first class quality presentation however makes it all worth paying a little more.
-Claude
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-13-2002, 08:36 AM:
I can buy BLADE II the first week of release on DVD for $15.99 + get a CD of the music free. I can play it at my leisure at home as loud or as soft as I want, stop it when I please, and snack on popcorn at about $.30 a bag. I can buy two bags of miniature Milky Way and Snickers candy bars for $3.00 total. I can hear the film on a 6-channel system (yes, there is discrete 6:1 DTS-ES) and modify the system to match my personal tastes. Why should I spend my money at a theatre?OR, I can stay home, and watch whatever comes over STARZ and have almost everything in 5:1 Dolby Digital.
I certainly not going to stop going to movies, as for some pictures, the big screen experience is essential (I will only look at LAWRENCE with a 70mm print), but I'm certainly seeing FEWER pictures in theatres.
This constant hype about grosses is meaningless since the prices have gone up. There is a LIMIT to how much the public will spend on going out.
Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 09-13-2002, 12:42 PM:
Is there some sort of "Top 10" or "Top 100" that lists films based on number of tickets sold, not how much money the picture made? I know there are ones "adjusted for inflation" which are roughly accurate.I agree, as prices rise, the meaning of "box office gross" falls. The first 20 films in the "Top 100 grossing movies of all time" list were either produced after 1990 or have had substatial amounts of re-releases. (with the exception possibly of Jaws) IMHO, "director's cuts" or "special editions" (ET, Star Wars) grosses should NEVER be counted with the original picture. If anything's changed, they're not the same movie!!
=TMP=
Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 09-13-2002, 01:35 PM:
Mark
I'm beginning to think there are alot of others out there who are doing the same as you.
I read somewhere recently that the numbers going through the turnstiles were down, but money was up this summer. When I hear about $10 ticket prices I cringe. Seems with the "home video boom" we are pricing ourselves right out of the market.
Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-13-2002, 05:02 PM:
Before long it may cost just as much to see a movie as a play on Broadway.
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 09-13-2002, 05:36 PM:
The Broadway show "The Producers", the standard scale ticket for a evening show is $99.00 , $45.00 , $35.00 . With Wednesday Matinees
going for $94.00 , $40.00 , $30.00. And add one dollar from each
ticket going to the theatres Restoration fund. If you want Premium
Tickets they go for $240.00 a show. Thats $199.00 plus the one dollar
for Restoration fund and a $40.00 service charge. But other shows
range from "42nd Street" ($30.00-$100.00), "Throughly Modern Millie"
($60.00-$$95.00), "Lion King" ($35.00-$100.00) plus add one dollar
for the Theatres Restoration Fund.
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-14-2002, 07:06 AM:
$40 service charge?!?! What kind of service is this? Are they delivering the tickets on silver platters or something?
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 09-14-2002, 09:25 AM:
That 40 dollar service charge is for a special section of seats that are held for sale to those attempting to get tickets to the hot show the day of the performance. It's the new LEGAL way to get scalped, being done by the theatre and not by people on the streets. Like the "brokerage" fee you pay out here in Southern CA.
Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 09-14-2002, 11:51 AM:
quote:
When I hear about $10 ticket prices I cringe. Seems with the "home video boom" we are pricing ourselves right out of the market.
Almost every Manhattan theatre is $10 for adult admission at all times. In the outer boroughs, it's usually $9 or $9.50 although a few charge as little as $5.50 during weekdays until 5pm.
I think the problem is that there's no difference in admission price between an old, dirty, poorly maintained theatre with poor presentation and a nicely appointed theatre with great presentation.
I can live with paying $10 to go to a decent theatre. It's paying that much to go to a cruddy theatre that drives me nuts. If there were a difference in prices, the better theatres would train the audience to pay for quality, just as you do when going to a restaurant. The problem is that the cruddy theatres aren't going to lower their prices, so for this to happen, the better theatres would have to raise their prices even beyond the $10.
Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 09-14-2002, 02:40 PM:
Somehow I don't have a problem with a theater in midtown Manhattan charging $10 a ticket for a Film Done Right type presentation. I can imagine such a theater is barely getting by considering the real estate it's on. Of course, hopefully, the theater is more full than not.
Posted by Mitchell Cope (Member # 32) on 09-15-2002, 12:36 PM:
Jeff Leyland suggested quote:
Simple, just go up I-35 to the Cinemark Merriam.
Well I did that yesterday. I went the 7 extra miles down the Interstate and saved $4 between my wife and myself. Take note AMC.
Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 09-15-2002, 09:46 PM:
Mitchell - If your time allows ... at Cinemark you can take advantage of the Early Bird, first show of the day, M-F.