How many ticket sales to break even at the movies?

[MongGrel]

You forgot to mention the 100 foot screen and 20k watt sound system in your house.


oh wait, you don't have that.

It's all a bit relative.

If I had a 100" screen from 12 feet or so away I'd be more than happy, the 7.2 sound system is all ready large enough here for the room size. If I crank it up the wife freaks out a bit, and she is fine with the theater.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

The economics probably prices most families out of the theater. Ticket plus snacks for a single person, $20, for a family you're talking $80-$100 for 90 minutes of entertainment. That's a pretty serious hit.

And the bigger the family, the better the return on investment for buying it on blu-ray or paying to stream it. Cost is the same, but if 5 people watch instead of 2 it's much less per person. Back in my dating days movies were a decent option. Now they're far less so. Home theaters and high def DVDs are great and there are no idiots on cell phones.

Netflix and chill.

 

[Ns1]

Ours is 104 inches, but we sit about 6 feet away. no 20k watt sound system, ours is nothing amazing but it is a decent midrange 5.1 that sounds good enough when you crank it up.

It's all a bit relative.

If I had a 100" screen from 12 feet or so away I'd be more than happy, the 7.2 sound system is all ready large enough here for the room size. If I crank it up the wife freaks out a bit, and she is fine with the theater.

this is totally the same thing as watching a movie on a 100 foot screen with dolby atmos.


somewhat real response:

I get what you guys are saying and if I lived in a shitty town with shitty theaters I'd also have a ridiculous home theater system. As it stands, I'm 10 minutes away from where they had the Star Wars premier screening as well as where they do all the Disney screenings. So there is no shortage is super premium theaters around me (with corresponding premium services and rates).

 

[Eug]

Yeah, and it's not as if I can go buy a copy of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on Blu-ray right now.

 

[Jeff7]

You just figured this out???

Evidently theaters are still fairly popular.

I didn't know that so many people bought snacks at theaters, given how overpriced they are. It's not like you're going to starve in 90-120 minutes.

You forgot to mention the 100 foot screen and 20k watt sound system in your house.


oh wait, you don't have that.

On the occasions I am dragged to a theater with no believable excuse available not to go, I bring earplugs. Not a fan of loud noise at all, and good christ theaters are so goddamn loud.

Ours is 104 inches, but we sit about 6 feet away. no 20k watt sound system, ours is nothing amazing but it is a decent midrange 5.1 that sounds good enough when you crank it up.

That's just it: Smaller screen, but you typically sit closer to it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

this is totally the same thing as watching a movie on a 100 foot screen with dolby atmos.


somewhat real response:

I get what you guys are saying and if I lived in a shitty town with shitty theaters I'd also have a ridiculous home theater system. As it stands, I'm 10 minutes away from where they had the Star Wars premier screening as well as where they do all the Disney screenings. So there is no shortage is super premium theaters around me (with corresponding premium services and rates).

:thumbsup: I'm a big fan of the luxury theaters. Of course you pay more to see a movie there but it's worth it. You have assigned seating, you have huge leather recliners with cup holders and a small table that pivots out of the way if you aren't using it, plus you can order drinks from their bar and real food delivered to your seats if you want. I had martinis when my wife and I saw the Wolf of Wall Street.

 

[K1052]

I am curious how many people have a 70mm/5perf projector with custom built Ultra Panavision ratio lenses in their "pretty much as good as the cinema" home theaters. :hmm:

 

[Ns1]

:thumbsup: I'm a big fan of the luxury theaters. Of course you pay more to see a movie there but it's worth it. You have assigned seating, you have huge leather recliners with cup holders and a small table that pivots out of the way if you aren't using it, plus you can order drinks from their bar and real food delivered to your seats if you want. I had martinis when my wife and I saw the Wolf of Wall Street.

the high prices keep out the riff raff.

 

[MongGrel]

this is totally the same thing as watching a movie on a 100 foot screen with dolby atmos.


somewhat real response:

I get what you guys are saying and if I lived in a shitty town with shitty theaters I'd also have a ridiculous home theater system. As it stands, I'm 10 minutes away from where they had the Star Wars premier screening as well as where they do all the Disney screenings. So there is no shortage is super premium theaters around me (with corresponding premium services and rates).

I actually have a top notch theater about 5 minutes away, and still avoid it most of the time.

 

[Ns1]

I actually have a top notch theater about 5 minutes away, and still avoid it most of the time.

you don't love cinema. nothing wrong with that.

 

[ControlD]

We were just discussing this at work today, and something still doesn't add up.

In the city where I live, we have one movie theater. It is a Regal Theater, 12 screen relatively new complex. I guess a movie ticket is something like $12 give or take with 3D costing a couple of dollars more.

In the town where I work, there is a single screen movie theater, probably built back in the 1950's. A movie ticket will cost you $3.50 there, no matter what they are showing. They will be showing the new Star Wars movie starting at midnight tonight, so it isn't like they are just going with second-run movies.

Is it simply the overhead of the large 12 screen movie theater that makes the ticket price three times higher at one location compared to the other? Concessions are also considerably cheaper at the single screen theater so it can't be explained that way either.

 

[Ns1]

We were just discussing this at work today, and something still doesn't add up.

In the city where I live, we have one movie theater. It is a Regal Theater, 12 screen relatively new complex. I guess a movie ticket is something like $12 give or take with 3D costing a couple of dollars more.

In the town where I work, there is a single screen movie theater, probably built back in the 1950's. A movie ticket will cost you $3.50 there, no matter what they are showing. They will be showing the new Star Wars movie starting at midnight tonight, so it isn't like they are just going with second-run movies.

Is it simply the overhead of the large 12 screen movie theater that makes the ticket price three times higher at one location compared to the other? Concessions are also considerably cheaper at the single screen theater so it can't be explained that way either.

as some poster noted above, film rentals are typically a percentage of revenue. I'd guesstimate with Star Wars first week we're probably talking in the realm of 90% of that $3.50 back to the studio. Having said that, I'm surprised that Disney would not require a floor price on tickets.

 

[ControlD]

as some poster noted above, film rentals are typically a percentage of revenue. I'd guesstimate with Star Wars first week we're probably talking in the realm of 90% of that $3.50 back to the studio. Having said that, I'm surprised that Disney would not require a floor price on tickets.

Ahh .. I think I must have skimmed over the importance of that post. I guess since the single screen theater is a local family owned place without shareholders they can have lower prices and still make enough money to be satisfied.

 

[K1052]

We were just discussing this at work today, and something still doesn't add up.

In the city where I live, we have one movie theater. It is a Regal Theater, 12 screen relatively new complex. I guess a movie ticket is something like $12 give or take with 3D costing a couple of dollars more.

In the town where I work, there is a single screen movie theater, probably built back in the 1950's. A movie ticket will cost you $3.50 there, no matter what they are showing. They will be showing the new Star Wars movie starting at midnight tonight, so it isn't like they are just going with second-run movies.

Is it simply the overhead of the large 12 screen movie theater that makes the ticket price three times higher at one location compared to the other? Concessions are also considerably cheaper at the single screen theater so it can't be explained that way either.

This is actually an extremely common situation. Presumably whoever owns the single paid it off long long ago and has not spent money to modernize (thus requiring an increased ticket price). Consumers vote with their feet....people willing to pay more for a better experience will. Those who aren't or don't care will stick with the older facility to pay less so it continues to eke out a living.

 

[K1052]

Having said that, I'm surprised that Disney would not require a floor price on tickets.

IIRC, the US v. Paramount decision is what directly prevents studios from setting admission pricing (including floors).

 

[Eug]

I refuse to see any big blockbuster in a crappy theatre, regardless of the price, unless I'm seeing it for the 3rd time or something and just accompanying someone who hasn't seen it.

Often the quality of the image is poor, and the audio may suck. This is especially true of the film-based projectors. Yes, film is awesome, but to get the quality out of film you need a pristine print and a projector to match. These low rent theatres get 5th generation copies on film, and have crappy sound systems too. If you don't have the right film print and equipment, you're better off going with a good digital system, even 2K.

OTOH, if I'm going to be seeing a low budget documentary or something, there is no need to go to a geeked up theatre.

 

[Ns1]

IIRC, the US v. Paramount decision is what directly prevents studios from setting admission pricing (including floors).

interesting, thanks for the info.

 

[ImpulsE69]

While we don't go to as many movies in the theater since getting a 70" - there is still something great about a huge screen and a crowd. Maybe it's because of being in the midwest, but most of our theaters are great and don't have all the annoyances from people that you hear about all the time.

Occasionally we'll go to the drive in, but that is typically more for the experience than to seriously watch a movie.

 

[ControlD]

So I just checked and I guess they are charging $5 for Star Wars rather than the normal $3.50.

This theater does have a 3D DLP projector by the way, but it has old school seating.

 

[Ns1]

Often the quality of the image is poor, and the audio may suck. This is especially true of the film-based projectors. Yes, film is awesome, but to get the quality out of film you need a pristine print and a projector to match. These low rent theatres get 5th generation copies on film, and have crappy sound systems too. If you don't have the right film print and equipment, you're better off going with a good digital system, even 2K.

sugoi

 

[MongGrel]

you don't love cinema. nothing wrong with that.

Of course I do.

Drive over to the Tampa IMAX MOSI Dome now and then.

"Florida Hospital IMAX Dome Theatre opened on July 1, 1995. Architect Antoine Predock designed the building. The theater is one of 250 around the world, and is the only IMAX Theatre in the state of Florida with a dome screen. The picture is ten times that of a standard theater. From the center of the dome the IMAX screen completely surrounds the viewer and can be seen in all fields of vision. Because of the enormity of the presentation, with over 10,500 square feet (980 m2) of visual imagery, viewers are warned of possible dizziness, and are not permitted to re-enter the theater once the lights have gone out and the presentation has begun. It features 340 seats and an 82-foot (25 m) hemispherical movie screen housed within a distinctive 85-foot (26 m) blue stainless dome."

 

[Eug]

So I just checked and I guess they are charging $5 for Star Wars rather than the normal $3.50.

This theater does have a 3D DLP projector by the way, but it has old school seating.

Is it a good projector though? And how's the sound?

---

Regarding the other comments about home vs. theatre:

I have a 90" image with my (2D) projector system. I have a Paradigm Studio system and a ginormous SVS subwoofer too. I don't actually use it much anymore though, since with little kids it scares them. It's not as if I can sit through a 2 hour movie anyway with them around.

My primary movie watching these days is on my iPad with the headphones on. Or else sometimes my 42" TV with wireless headphones.

Going to the theatre means either that the kids are away, or else have babysitters. Or else sometimes the wife and I alternate. She goes to the movies with her friends while I watch the kids, and sometimes I go to the movies with my friends while she watches the kids. But if I'm at home watching a movie with kids around, it's probably not going to be in the home theatre.

But this brings me back to my other point. It's not as if I can buy a copy of the latest Star Wars on Blu-ray anyway.

 

[ControlD]

Is it a good projector though? And how's the sound?

---

I'm not sure honestly. I mean, it looks OK to me.

The sound isn't great. It isn't terrible either, but not great. I don't normally go to that theater to be honest mainly because it is 20 miles from home so we normally go to the newer, more expensive place.

 

[JTsyo]

Ticket sales go something like 75/25 or 70/30 with the studio/distributor getting the bigger share and the theater getting the smaller share. But that doesn't keep the theater in business, on a $10-$12 admission the theater is only keeping a couple of bucks. The concessions are almost pure profit, a coke and large popcorn going for $10 is probably less than a dollar to them, so they're making $9. No matter what the percentage is and no matter how huge the markup on snacks, they're clearly not making money with only two people in a given movie at a given time. But they were probably showing 6 other movies during that period and selling tickets and popcorn to a hell of a lot more people than the ones on that single showing.

And that being said, I still don't understand how theaters stay in business. The economics clearly works for them as long as they can draw decent crowds, I just don't know why people go to the movies anymore. It's a fairly crappy experience, watching a movie at home is a hell of a lot better for the customer.

I've read that it varies with time. So the first few weeks the studio gets most of the ticket sales but then it shifts towards the theater later. They probably keep all the money from concessions and ads though.