Entertainment | February 24, 2008 | 6 comments

Why does popcorn cost so much at the movies?

source: http://www.physorg.com/news122917253.html

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New research from Stanford and the University of California, Santa Cruz suggests that there is a method to theaters' madness--and one that in fact benefits the viewing public. By charging high prices on concessions, exhibition houses are able to keep ticket prices lower, which allows more people to enjoy the silver-screen experience.
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6 comments // Why does popcorn cost so much at the movies?

  • Randiesel22
    • 0
      Randiesel22  

    • I just came to Boston last semester to start college. I went to the Theater on Park Street. That place is rediculous. Not only are the tickets 10 dollars (I think its something like that), but the food is even more money. The most amazing thing is that they serve the best food I've ever seen in a theater. Funnel Cakes? Buffalo Wings? Fried Chicken? This place has the most amazing food options. However, all those things are around 15 dollars. Back in my suburban Philly town, that stuff would cost a few bucks at most if it was sold at a theater. I don't buy food at the theater anymore. I usually go out to eat before.

    • 4 years ago
  • ocanada
    • 0
      ocanada  

    • It's true though. I work at a theatre and we take a hit on tickets and charge high prices for the popcorn. We regularly charge less than five dollars for matinee and that brings in a lot of people who normaly wouldn't shell out for eight or twelve dollar tickets. We also have an IMAX and we charge less than usual for that because we have a more comercial model than most IMAX theatres in museums.

    • 4 years ago
  • abbym0308
    • 0
      abbym0308  
    • Image

    • i worked at a cinema for a couple years in high school. my manager explained it to me once. he said, "a cinema is basically a fast food restaurant in disguise." they make no money on selling tickets. at the time, we sold an adult ticket for $6.75 (oh, those were the days) we made about 20 cents on each ticket. the rest had to be paid to the distributor of the film. in order to keep the doors open, we had to seemingly rob people blind at the concession stand. it definitely made my job more interesting, as i had to not only serve food to people who pictured me to burning to death in the popcorn kettle every time i charged them $10 for $3 worth of popcorn and soda, i also had to stand there with a big fake smile on my face and defend a practise that still makes me angry today.
      solution? i find that most of the independent cinemas charge more reasonable prices and play better movies. and i feel better about shelling over extra cash on popcorn if it goes to keeping their doors open, not some greedy corporation.

    • 4 years ago
  • Julie_Soller
  • marcus_aaron
    • 0
      marcus_aaron  

    • i think the city or town you live in and their general attitude plays a major role in cinema's letting outside food /beverage come in and out. i've snuck starbucks coffee in quite a few times *naughty wink*

    • 4 years ago
  • mischabarrett
    • 0
      mischabarrett  

    • That's the biggest load of baloney I've read all year! 'Able to keep ticket prices lower' inDEED. I think they charge more for popcorn because they can. In the UK last month a man was prevented from entering a cinema with his own bag of popcorn that he'd brought along from home, as staff felt it was a 'safety hazard'.

    • 4 years ago
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