When is the last time you went to a movie theater to see a movie?

Atlantic City, New Jersey
April 4, 2013 11:29am CST
The cost of going to a movie theater has sky rocketed in my opinion. I remember when it was $5.00 per ticket plus their overpriced candy, soda and popcorn. Now its more like $17.00 per person plus the cost of the candy is ridiculous in my book. I wish they would come out with a service for those of us that DON'T want to go to the theater to be able to watch newly released movies and some lower cost from home. I personally have not stepped into a movie theater in years for a movie I actually wanted to see. I have taken my friends little ones to see movies like Rio and The Lion King..and even those movies are terribly expensive to be spending on a 4 yr old that will barely sit still through the entire movie...lol. So my question is- do you still go to the theater to see newly released films? If so when was the last time and what movie did you see? Did you think about the cost at all?
4 people like this
31 responses
• United States
15 Apr 13
I went yesterday. I saw 42.I Had to see this film. I saw the promo and fell in love. I always take in the matinee.In my area it is 6.00. It is early in the morning , before 12pm,so I don't have popcorn or candy. I went out to lunch afterward. Like I said I had to go. The plot touched me. Usually I just wait for a movie yo come to cable.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Apr 13
If you love the Dodgers? If you love baseball? Or even if you are just a history buff you Must see this film. It is great!
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
18 Apr 13
I can't claim to love the Dodgers because I'm a Yankee fan :) But I am a huge history buff...which is my main reason for wanting to see it!
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
15 Apr 13
Im a dying to see this movie!!! And you just gave me a great idea!! I am also going to take a matinee to see it..because I cannot wait for it to be streamed online! I hear it is an awesome movie!
1 person likes this
• Estado De Mexico, Mexico
5 Apr 13
hello there, It's been almost like 6 months now haven't been to a theater for a movie.Love watching movies in theater's,But the prices :( damn high these day's becuase of multiplexes and stuffs.screen size too small and not much of a crowd. Now when i'm in a different country,haven't been to any theater here as they play all sort of boring stuffs,English action movies are not mostly played here,missing my country a lot .. :(
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
6 Apr 13
wait, where are you at? and where are you from originally?
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
8 Apr 13
• Estado De Mexico, Mexico
6 Apr 13
Well I am from India and at present i am in Bahrain.
1 person likes this
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
4 Apr 13
I went to the movies last year probably more times than I had been in the past ten years. I also don't go that much because of the cost but there were several that I wanted to see at least once on the big screen. The movies I went to see were The Hunger Games, Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D, Titanic in 3D, The Avengers, Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises, Brave....that was actually a date, The Lucky One....at the request of a friend, and Les Miserables. I think that was all of them. I usually wait til they come out on video and buy them. I really enjoyed going to the movies last year despite the cost and I may do it again this year if there are any I want to see before video release. Of course, going to the movies isn't that much of a problem for me because I don't have a family to buy for. I remember reading some years ago something about the cost of going to the movies. I remember it said that movie theaters make very little if any profit on the sale of movie tickets and that is why the cost of concessions are so high. I wonder how many people are aware of that? Of course it doesn't make the cost of going to the movies any more bearable.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
The Avengers was a GREAT movie and one I wish I would of seen on the big screen for sure! And Brave was such a cute movie!! I have seen that one now numerous times (only from home). I also read somewhere that movie theaters don't make much on movie tickets sales and I just don't understand that logic. I mean they are the ones who have the facility to put it out to the main stream...why wouldn't they make a larger portion? Especially since some of these movies gross millions at the box offices their opening weeks. Brings me to a recent thought I had...celebrities are over-payed - I mean to me its like professional athletes- you get to do something you dreamed of..why should you make millions doing it? Oh well...I'll stick to watching my movies from the comfort of my own home
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
5 Apr 13
I've never researched it but I assume that the very little profit the theaters make on ticket sales has something to do with the command on profits that the movie producers, directors, and actors have and that probably has a lot to do with the guilds and unions that they are members of. That could explain why concessions prices are so high. The theaters have to make a profit somewhere. But, like I said, I've never researched it so that's really just a shot-in-the-dark guess on my part. I may be way off base here.
1 person likes this
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
5 Apr 13
I remember thinking to myself after I watched The Avengers that it would definitely be the number one movie of 2012. I was wrong. I think that honor should have gone to Les Miserables and I think it actually did. Also, Titanic 3D was worth every penny. That movie was just perfect for the 3D format. And I'm not saying that because I'm a Titanic fan either. On the other hand, I was not impressed with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 3D. It reminded me of the old days of 3D in which the effect only really stood out in certain parts of the movie. The rest of the movie looked no different than the standard 2D format. I don't think the other movies should be released in 3D and I doubt I'll go see them if they are.
1 person likes this
@Pegasus72 (1898)
7 Apr 13
The last movie we went to see was Burt Wonderstone it was not nearly as good as we thought it would be. Hoping to see another movie in the next few weeks.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
8 Apr 13
I have never even heard of this movie. Must do some research to find out what its about :)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
10 Apr 13
Interesting..I will have to check it out!
@Pegasus72 (1898)
9 Apr 13
It had to do with magicians.
1 person likes this
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
5 dollars per ticket I am ready for that I have spent in my day 2 times that but yes the cost of the snacks are way to much
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
4 Apr 13
Thats why you have to find a way to sneak those snacks in. Another reason why I do it is im not much of a junk food person..so I sneak in grapes and fresh fruit to much on...lol
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
18 Apr 13
you must watch movies online like I do
• Mexico
4 Apr 13
I do all the time when I go then all i have to do is buy the soda but well the last time i went to a movie was over 10 tears ago
1 person likes this
• Serbia
4 Apr 13
ohh no way, not anymore. I used to go when i was a kid with my parents and when i was a teenager with girls or friends and everything. But i hadnt been in a movie theater in years mainly because i get to watch whatever i want, whenever i want, in the comfort of my own home from the internet. For Free. I mean its just a win-win situation in many ways as far as im concerned to stay home than go out to a movie theater.
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
4 Apr 13
Much like you I watch everything from home- for free too. But sometimes I feel a twang of guilt because the movie may have been written by someone I would of liked to support- or directed by someone that I was fond of. But in the same sense I think to the many millions these people make off of us...and most don't give enough back...so I don't feel so bad after all :) lol Much like my music-- although I get most of it for free- there are just some artist that I will still go to the record store and spend the money on their new album- because I want to support them. But they make way to much as well! Celebrities in general need a reality check...the rich get richer as the poor helps them get there.
• Serbia
5 Apr 13
Yeah i agree with supporting artists or movie producers/actors you are fond of and enjoy. Back in the day id buy CD's and movies sometimes for them and for me, to have all the originals etc. But in the past couple of years with the economy and my life, everything ive been through. I have stopped doing that. One day, one day... :)
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
12 Apr 13
LegalAlien- I know the feeling- had to stop my collecting when I lost my job a few years back. I just started working again full time about 2 months ago and still playing catch up on bills ...so no collecting for me in the near future :)
@peavey (16936)
• United States
4 Apr 13
Wow, is that how much it costs now?? I haven't been to a movie theater for years and years. I think the last movie I saw in a theater was Jurassic Park! I'm not much of a movie fan so what I can find online is usually enough for me. I would have liked to see a couple though, but it's not worth that much money and I won't go alone so I'd probably have to pay someone else's way to go with me. I don't think so...
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
4 Apr 13
Exactly!
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
4 Apr 13
shoot paying my own way in is enough..I don't want to be responsible to have to pay someone else's way in as well! lol
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
18 Apr 13
I do not go to theater to watch movies and watch movies through the television. I think now a days the theaters are very expensive.
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
18 Apr 13
Your thinking would be right! The movie theater is way to expensive if you ask me. I prefer to stream my movies online and just purchase the DVD's of the ones I really like. That way I save money.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
6 Apr 13
Last time I went to see a movie in the theater was just last month, when I went with my girlfriend to see "Oz - The Great and Powerful". It was a really fun watch, and a great little trip out to the theatre in the middle of the city on the 4th floor of this 3-storey mall. The movie cost me nothing to go and see, because I have a credit card that gives me points towards seeing movies every time I spend money on it. So, every month or two, I have enough points to go and see another. I never buy any of the food at the theatre, either, because the popcorn is really bad for you, and it's ultra expensive, so I just bring in a candy bar and a bottle of water or something like that. And, there may be many people who don't go and see movies in the theatre so much anymore, but there are loads of people who do want to see them. All of the highest grossing movies of all time have come out within the last few years.. look on here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films The only movies on that list which were released pre-1990, are ones that had multiple runs in the theatre. Half of the movies were originally released in the past 5 years. You may not like the movie theatres so much, but they will be sticking around.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
8 Apr 13
Now there is a reward from a credit card company I would not mind getting. I hate when they offer you airline miles only..because as much as I like to travel- I don't travel nearly as much as I wish I could. I also seen Oz- The Great and Powerful- AWESOME movie!! and thanks for the link
@marguicha (215345)
• Chile
4 Apr 13
I went to see a movie at the cinema about 2 weeks ago for the last time. Iam always invited by friends, maybe once a month. They come to my house every Tuesday for te with lots of nice things to eat and a drink. Si, once in a while, they take me out, either to the movies or for diner, their treat.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
4 Apr 13
well sounds like you have a round of very nice friends. Every time my friends want to go its already known that we all pay for ourselves :(
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
25 Apr 13
Yes you definitely cannot put a price tag on good food and good times spend with friends :)
@marguicha (215345)
• Chile
5 Apr 13
The thing is that they come every Tuesday to my house and I give them coffee and sanswichs and cake and whatever else I can cook. It`s almost a diner as afterwards we also have a drink with appetizers. So they sort of repay that inviting me as I don`t have the money to go to those places. Now, thinking about it, I would probably have more money if I did not send it on inviting my close people. But it is a lot more fun this way.
1 person likes this
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
5 Apr 13
The last time I watched a movie was three days ago. In Malaysia the cost of a movie ticket is RM 10.00 to RM 12.00 ( US$ 1.00 = RM 3.00 ). If it is 3-D movie to the cost is RM 18.00 to RM 23.00. So when we convert RM to USD it is much cheaper than yours.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
Much, MUCH cheaper..I need to go watch movies over there! LOL
• Malaysia
5 Apr 13
Since it is much cheaper you may to cost you down to Malaysia. It that case this it is going more. Hey,hey!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Apr 13
That is crazy. We went to a dollar movie the other day and popcorn and drinks would have been like 40 dollars. that is just crazy.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
We used to have a discounted movie theater where thy played movies that were released at an earlier date for a fraction of the cost...but they no longer do it :(
• Marikina, Philippines
18 Apr 13
Yes. We're sometimes worried too when it comes to movie but, at least, we're not always doing it. I prefer watching at home or buy a DVD but, it takes so long to release in DVD or on TV. Maybe it is better that way to save money because buying a DVD is a less price I guess.
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
18 Apr 13
I prefer watching movies at home as well. I only purchase the DVD when I really like to movie and I want to add it to my collection. Other than that I will just stream it online and watch it that way.
@Hugsy25 (274)
• Canada
4 Apr 13
I only go to the movies if it is a movie I am really really interested in. And even then I hate paying for it. The manager at the theater here is my old manager from years ago so sometimes he lets me do surveys for him on their website in exchange for tickets. It works great since I only go to one or two a year. Then I always bring my own pepsi since they sell coke and that's yucky lol. Then I buy popcorn. So really it cost me about $6 if it's just me going to the movie. The last movie I went to see was The Hobbit. The next movie I go to will probably be part 2 of The Hobbit.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
4 Apr 13
Thats a great trade off! I wish I knew the manager of my local theater...I would try to work a deal somewhat like yours! lol!
@Hugsy25 (274)
• Canada
4 Apr 13
It is great now, but it sucked in a way when I had no internet because then I had to find somewhere to go to use a computer. LOL
1 person likes this
• Philippines
5 Apr 13
The last time I went to see a film was November last year to see Skyfall. I enjoy the movie theater experience but I only see the films I really really like and look forward to. Often, many movies are available on HBO a year after the release date. I don't mind waiting a bit for some films. I agree that movie theater prices has gone up. I'm from the Philippines and I remember watching movies in theaters for around 60-75 pesos. Now, it's around 150 least and 350 most depending on the theater and the type of film (2D/3D). I really like watching movies but I find it expensive to see them in theaters. So, I only spend money to go there for movies that I'm really looking forward to.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
I can definitely understand only going when its a movie you really want to see. I don't even do that for myself anymore. If my friends little ones show an interest in a movie coming out..then I will make the exception and take them. But for me..I'll just wait it out till either a good copy gets uploaded online or it comes out on a DVD :)
• Philippines
5 Apr 13
I don't go to the theater as often because I prefer to watch movies in the comfort of our bedroom where I can pause the movie whenever I want to go to the bathroom or take a drink of water. Besides it is also much cheaper to rent movies than go to the theater. In our country, a couple will probably shell out 400 pesos to watch a movie. 3D movies are way more expensive at around 400 per person. I got to see a movie last weekend because a friend gave us free tickets. We watched GI Joe: The Retaliation. Not so great a movie but it was great to be able to watch it FREE!
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
Yes I HATE being in a movie theater and having to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of it. You end up missing a good portion of the movie because usually the bathrooms are packed and you have to wait in line I hate the new 3D movie fad. Im not sure if its because I wear glasses but the 3D hurts my eyes. I rather watch the movie the regular way. I was going to watch that GI Joe movie last night..but instead I loaded Temptation which is Tyler Perry's new film...all I can say about that one is Im glad I didn't spend money to see it at the theater!
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
4 Apr 13
I never feel the need to see movies when they come out. I just purchased the first 3 Resident Evil movies, and Bourne Identity. Cost, $11. Now I can not only did I spend less money than going to the theater once time, but I can see all of them as many times as I want, with all the soda and candy I want, without any noise kids, or people kicking my seat, and I can have captions if I want, commentary, and skip the annoying trailers of movies I have no interest in. Horrible waste of money to go to the theater. It has to be and absolutely insanely good movie, or a super special occasion to get me to pay that cash to sit in a theater.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
When we still had a blockbuster movie rental place near me (I think most closed down) - I used to purchase their "pre-viewed" movies at a fraction of the regular price. Thats how I got the movie collection I now have. But since we no longer have that store..I find myself just streaming the movies online and watching there. I only buy movies that I know for sure I want in my collection now a days..and will only buy them if I find them at a reasonable price.
@wowjen15 (183)
• Philippines
5 Apr 13
I'm actually going to see a movie tomorrow. :) I really don't think of the cost, but I think of the fun time I'll be having.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
Well I sure wish I had your mindset ..because I ALWAYS think of the cost when it comes to anything...I live on a budget
• India
4 Apr 13
The last time when i saw a movie in theatre is one year before.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
yeah for me it has been awhile. I don't even go anymore unless I want to take the little ones to see an animated movie.
• United States
5 Apr 13
Personally, I feel that movie theaters are a huge waste of money and I probably wouldn't go to them if my girlfriend didn't enjoy them so much. Anywho I'm not an avid movie goer but I do go everyonce in awhile. The last movie I went to go see was The Call. It was $19.50 just for my girlfriend just to get our tickets and then after food and everything I was looking at around $30-$35 as the total. I wish movies were cheaper it would make them more enjoyable. The only way I think that they might lower their prices is if nationwide no one went to the movies every other Friday. That would be the quickest way for them to lower their prices. Financially the movie business would decrease at an alarming rate but there's no way to enforce something like that so it is what it is.
1 person likes this
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
5 Apr 13
You made a great point..movies are usually for "date nights" when you an adult. Teens go on weekends with their friends. And with the rise of movies being uploaded online via black market...Im sure the decline in movie sales has been felt.