2011 Movie Attendance the Lowest in 16 Years

[theeedude]

I am sure SOPA is going to fix this

 

[mmntech]

There are smart movies out there. Lots of them. As Roger Ebert correctly points out, it's just that the local megaplexes never show them. Of course I don't hold much regard for a movie going public that made Transformers III the second highest grossing film of 2011.

I'd love to see the cinema experience go more upscale. I'd be willing to pay more for showings that have actual ushers who can give trouble makers the bum's rush, and didn't allow children.

My local megaplex isn't bad. Cineplex has special screenings for parents with babies, to keep them out of the rest of the theatre. Tickets are $10.75, which isn't too bad. Plus you can buy them online so you don't have to line up. The trick is to go during the week (except Tuesday, cheap ticket night and Friday) when the kids are in school. Go at least a week after the film opens. The theatre is usually deserted.

Sadly, my local theatre is one of the ones that only plays blockbusters and crappy family films.

 

[purbeast0]

eh my wife and i still go see a decent amount of movies. for us to go to a movie and get a drink, maybe a hotdog, it's like $30 or $35. that really isn't that much money for us to spend on a friday night out.

but the last 2 movies we saw were from $5 fandango tickets from google offers, so it was even cheaper.

but prices of tickets have definitely gone up. i won't pay $19 to see it in imax either, and i don't see 3d movies anymore.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

2011 was simply full of terribad movies

the best movies of the year were smaller films like Drive

the typical mega blockbuster sequels this summer were some of the worst of their respective franchises, Transformers 3, Pirates 4. Even the good Superhero movies this summer (like X-Men First Class or Captain America) were simply sub par relative to the best Superhero movies of the past, and really only stood out because movies this year really were mostly disappointing.


That being said, 2012 might be one of the best movie years ever, what with a lineup like this:

movies that won't fail to draw record breaking crowds:

The Dark Knight Rises
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Avengers
The Amazing Spider-Man
Titanic 3D

movies that are likely to be huge:

Django Unchained (Tarantino)
Prometheus (Alien prequel)
World War Z
Skyfall (new Bond)

 

[shortylickens]

You guys need to go to better theaters. A home theater is nice but it's a COMPLETELY different experience. I generally go to dinner theaters if I'm bringing kids or if it's a date I spend the extra $2 to $3 to go to one of the VIP theaters where there are maybe 20 spots, it's 21 and up, there is an usher who brings you drinks, and the seats are love seats. It's plush and a great experience.

Actually, I'd rather save my money and one day have a mini-theater inside my house.

 

[DaWhim]

the price is just absurd. last time I went to a theater in US was for 2012, iirc.

when I was in colombia back in july, I went to see transformer 3. three tickets with 3d glasses cost about $20, that was why I went to the movie.

 

[foghorn67]

10-11 bucks a ticket plus 10-15 dollars worth of snacks.
And they wonder why?

 

[TheVrolok]

http://www.rogerebert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111228/COMMENTARY/111229973

Ebert basically nailed it.

Fortunately, there's a small theater a few miles from me where tickets are still 5 bucks, the shows are generally empty (I go weekday nights at like 10), and even the concessions aren't too bad if I choose to indulge. Can get a ticket, popcorn and soda for like 11 bucks. Not bad.

 

[classy]

Tickets could be cheaper, but I enjoy going to the movies. Its a nice time out and if the movie is good then it makes for a great time. A nice dinner for two and a movie costs $60, better than guzzling some alcohol some where. I go about 30 times a year and truth be told, most movies are at their best on the big screen .

 

[PieIsAwesome]

http://social.entertainment.msn.com...spx?post=f3710b54-370c-4812-95fc-ac66fa5a9bed

There were a lot of excellent films released in 2011. . .

What? Where?

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1” and “Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows, Part 2,” as well as several surprise hits including “The Help,” “Bridesmaids,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Smurfs.” Yet many films the studios were banking on performed well below expectations — “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Happy Feet Two” and “Tower Heist” to name a few.

LOL.

 

[classy]

This year I went only 20 times, so it was a down time for me. But there were some good movies out this year.

 

[Red Squirrel]

With most people having a 50" or more TV in their living room, and the ease of downloading or streaming movies, there is hardly any reason to go to the movies these days. They need to change their models if they want to make more money.

The only way a theatre movie may be better is like a big time action film in 3D or something. Theatre quality 3D is still far ahead of what you'll get at home. For a standard film, unless you absolutely can't wait till it comes out on DVD so people can rip it and put it on TPB, then you can always go watch it at the theatre.

 

[randomrogue]

I think it's funny, in the scheme of things, that people bitch about the cost of a movie but have no problem going to a bar and dropping twice what a movie would have run with food.

I don't see many bitching that beers have doubled in price in many cities.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Why go the movies and deal with noisy teens, uncomfortable seats, atrocious parking and high food prices.

Why I invested in a 55" 1080P Sony, Pioneer Elite receiver, and Mirage sub & JBL speakers. I get to skip the previews, pause when I need to pee or refresh my beverage and no cell phones ring!

Ticket prices are high, quality movies get moved on in 3 weeks, Hollywood is out of touch with too many Happy Madison type of garbage movies, the chop cut editing is atrocious as well.

 

[K1052]

There are smart movies out there. Lots of them. As Roger Ebert correctly points out, it's just that the local megaplexes never show them. Of course I don't hold much regard for a movie going public that made Transformers III the second highest grossing film of 2011.

I'd love to see the cinema experience go more upscale. I'd be willing to pay more for showings that have actual ushers who can give trouble makers the bum's rush, and didn't allow children.

Ebert makes some valid points but it isn't always that simple to book art/limited release films many times. Chains that overbuilt to 18-30 screen megaplexes could easily devote a screen or two to those types of films but the larger problem is actually getting the distributor to let you have them.

The cinema experience going more upscale is largely the future of the industry. AMC has been working on various concepts with varied success as are a number of independents (Cobb, Drafthouse, Icon, Etc). Regal and Cinemark have basically not acknowledged the trend at all.

 

[rh71]

I don't go to movies anymore because... we have kids now and don't have the time nor the desire to find a sitter. Parents will sit for free but it's not worth the trouble just to go see a movie unless it's a huge night out for something. And I don't want to pay $12. $8 was high enough when I did go.

 

[Sonikku]

The recession my foot. Recessions have historically if anything been among the best times for movie theaters. Hollywood has simply gotten too greedy. The cost of going to the movies has increased at a rate far greater then inflation. What sucks is Hollywood demands such a staggering chunk of each expensive ticket sold (80-90% of big releases, sometimes 95% of ticket intake for movies like Avatar their first week of release) that movie theaters have to charge staggering amounts of cash off the food and drinks just to stay open. Taken together, the cost of going to the movies as a couple is just gigantic compared to how far your dollar can go elsewhere.

 

[HeXen]

I think it's funny, in the scheme of things, that people bitch about the cost of a movie but have no problem going to a bar and dropping twice what a movie would have run with food.

I don't see many bitching that beers have doubled in price in many cities.

completely different. at least you get a buzz with beer

 

[slayer202]

amc silver passes or fandango codes, usually cost about half the price of a normal ticket.

large popcorn + large soda = $11.75(and you can probably get a smaller size, these things are huge)

about $24 for me and my gf to go see a movie. Quite reasonable compared to going out to do anythiing else. Sure, it's cheaper to do the same thing at home, and we often do, but it's something to do, and it beats waiting a couple months for the dvd.

 

[Anubis]

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1” and “Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows, Part 2,” as well as several surprise hits including “The Help,” “Bridesmaids,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “The Smurfs.” Yet many films the studios were banking on performed well below expectations — “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Happy Feet Two” and “Tower Heist” to name a few.

LOLOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

theres only 1 movie on that list i would even consider watching, all the others you would have to pay me to sit through

 

[Newbian]

LOLOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

theres only 1 movie on that list i would even consider watching, all the others you would have to pay me to sit through

So are you excited about smurfs 2?

 

[Jumpem]

1. Tickets are too expensive. Especially compared to blu-ray on Netflix.
2. What if I spend $30 and the movie is horrible? They should give refunds or a free pair of tickets to another movie if you are disappointed.
3. The Regal theaters here seemn to have picture quality that is worse than blu-ray at home.

 

[nageov3t]

there hasn't really been a whole lot that I've wanted to see.

other than Harry Potter, I went to two movies this year -- both were on dates, both movies were my date's pick, and I was ambivalent towards both (Planet of the Apes and Drive).

both dates were pretty bad too.

 

[Rage187]

You should get a 50% coupon for the Blu Ray disc, if you go and see the movie in the theatre and buy at least two tickets.

They start doing that and I'll start going to the theatre again.

 

[Stuxnet]

My wife and I were at the movies last week and got a little bag of gummies and a bottled water: $9.50 + tax.

We pay through the fucking nose to see GARBAGE, and then have to listen to the shit of the crop tell us how to spend our money and how to vote.