OT: AMC theaters reopening with 15 cent tickets
15 cent ticket prices.
August 17th, 2020 at 10:15 AM ^
Isn't selling tickets for 15 cents basically an admission that they shouldn't be open? Like if you have to sell tickets for essentially free to get people in the threater, there's something wrong there
August 17th, 2020 at 10:17 AM ^
It's a marketing gimmick to get their customers to return. I'm sure they aren't enjoying the lack of revenue right now.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:21 AM ^
A $.15 ticket isn't going to change the mind of anyone who feels sitting in a movie theater isn't safe. If someone was willing to go to a theater, they would pay regular price.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
It would actually make me less likely to go since the theater would be packed. I would may be think about going if I thought the theater was going to be practically empty.
August 17th, 2020 at 1:19 PM ^
Yeah, I'm not sure "hey, it's going to be a madhouse even though we'll try some social distance measures" is as appealing as AMC thinks it will be. Like, I mean this with no disrespect, but the people who look at $.15 tickets during a pandemic and think "oh man, what a deal" aren't necessarily people I'm dying to sit in a room with for a couple of hours to watch a movie with.
August 17th, 2020 at 3:59 PM ^
Myself and millions of others avoid the theater not because it is dangerous or crowded. We don't go because it is closed.
I would go if the tickets were $10 and it was crowded. Mask on of course.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:23 AM ^
Yeah but aren't they just operating at a major loss now? $0.15 isn't going to help that much.
I wonder if they're expecting some movie buffs to buy up every ticket in a smallish theatre and turn it into their own personal screening room. I would be tempted to try that - probably the only way you'd get me to the movies during all this.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
I wonder how much they would charge to buy the entire bathroom.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:51 AM ^
If my math is correct, you can get a 150 seat theatre screening room to yourself for $22.50 (and I guess bring anyone you want). Not bad.
August 17th, 2020 at 12:01 PM ^
they want people to come and buy food and drinks.....
August 17th, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
Not exactly.
I used to work at a movie theater. Theaters bring home 10% of ticket revenue, and the remaining 90% goes to the production/distribution companies. Their revenue comes mostly from concessions sales.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:59 AM ^
Correctamundo. Few know or understand that.
August 17th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
I know a bit about movie theaters, I used to manage one, did the books for one for years, and have read Variety since 92'. A movie company for a domestic release typically expects back about 50% for a release and maybe a little over 55% for a blockbuster. The way it works for blockbuster movies is that there is a 90/10 split for the first week but only after screen makes its nut for the week. The longer the theater holds the movie the better the terms get. So terms might be 70/30 or 60/40 after the nut by week 6 or 7. For smaller films the terms start at 50/50 and then go down to 35/65 (in favor of theater) the longer the film is held over.
So yeah, concessions are a big deal for the movie theaters but the box office not being a major part of their revenue stream is a massive myth.
August 17th, 2020 at 10:24 AM ^
A popcorn and a large soda is still $47.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:04 AM ^
Exactly. 15 cents for a ticket, one mortgage payment for a half-full box of Junior Mints. They’re very refreshing!!
August 17th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
Had to log in to up vote both comments. I was laughing so hard, co-workers had to check in on me to make sure I was okay
August 17th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
Believe me, nothing is more entertaining than watching people whine and complain about the price of concessions, directing their anger towards the 17 year old behind the counter wearing the hat and apron making $9/hr like it's their fault, and then proceed to buy a large popcorn, large drink and box of candy for each of their seven family members.
August 17th, 2020 at 12:33 PM ^
Whats different about that then everyone who complains how much professional athletes make, then go buy tickets, parking, hot dogs, pop, beer, popcorn and some memorabilia for their family for a day, spending 2k?
August 17th, 2020 at 10:29 AM ^
FREE COVID19 EXPOSURE!!!
(Well, almost free)
August 17th, 2020 at 2:01 PM ^
Its ok...not even the mighty COVID can weather the salt on movie theater popcorn.
August 17th, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
I think the whole point of this is to get groups of decent size to buy all the seats for a showing such that their per-ticket price is still reasonable (or even good).
August 17th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
Truthfully that $20 they charge to watch a movie at home isn't bad either. My son wanted to rent Scooby Doo after the school year ended. It worked out fine. I think we rented one other kids movie since then. We only go to matinee movies anyway. We don't pay much more than $20 for tickets.
August 17th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
What movies are even being made right now? A lot of the people I know here in Georgia that are involved in the film industry haven't been working since March.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:03 AM ^
Probably stuff that was already in the pipeline, post filming.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Avengers 5: Captain America vs. Shingles
August 17th, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
There will be no coffers attending that.
August 17th, 2020 at 7:04 PM ^
Guessing the movies that have been on-demand or pay per view the last couple months...something people have already paid to see before and will pay to see it again for something to do...think there have been a few kid movies but don’t remember which ones...
August 17th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
Would you like covid on your popcorn?
August 17th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
Honestly, throughout this whole virus thing, I'm surprised that drive in movie theater aren't trying to come back. Of course there aren't many still around but still for the ones that are still around, I just would've thought that they tried to get some attention.
Like here, you and your family would never have to leave the car (unless bathroom I guess) and the staff there brings you your stuff.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
They actually have made a comeback.
Wal-Mart by itself is opening 160 drive-ins on their parking lots.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/15/us/walmart-drive-in-theaters-august-trnd/index.html
August 17th, 2020 at 11:38 AM ^
That's cool and all, but where are the drive through testing centers Wal-Mart was supposed to have?
August 17th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
I will only go if they install Schlaaang Super Seats at all locations.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
I would be up for a showing of Diamond Jim or Top Gun, from the top.
August 17th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
What are they even planning to show? I’m sure some old classics or Marvel movies will be on the docket, but there can’t be anything new worth watching coming out for the next few months anyway. At the very least, I know the new Bond and Wonder Woman movies won’t be coming out until November at the earliest. And that’s assuming there aren’t new outbreaks that necessitate them closing again.
Definitely wish the best of luck to them, but I’m not spending money to go see movies that I’ve already seen.
August 17th, 2020 at 1:49 PM ^
Tenet, Mulan, and New Mutants are all opening up in the next few weeks. I even saw a commercial for New Mutants.
Edit: How could I forget Bill and Ted face the music?
August 17th, 2020 at 12:08 PM ^
Did AMC hire Dave Brandon?
August 17th, 2020 at 2:04 PM ^
LOL how does that man keep finding employment? Every single organization he has headed has been run thoroughly into the ground.
August 17th, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
For $0.15/ticket, can I just buy out an entire theater? Or buy up like 5 rows to myself? 60 seats is only $9
I imagine the answer is no because they want butts in the door to buy $40 in concessions with their 15 cent ticket
August 17th, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
15 cents seems like a lot to pay for covid when I can probably get it for free from a number of places.
August 17th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Heard that the promotion is for one day and that they're playing "new and older classics"--essentially things you can probably watch on Amazon Prime/Netflix for free anyway...
August 17th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
Netflix: for only $15/mo you can watch free movies!
August 17th, 2020 at 1:54 PM ^
My dad owns a single screen movie theater that caters to and older crowd so he won't be opening up any time soon. But one of the biggest issues with re-opening movie theaters is that concessions are the life blood of theaters and eating and drinking doesn't go well with keeping your face covered. I wonder how they are planning on tackling that conundrum?
August 17th, 2020 at 1:55 PM ^
My wife and I were avid movie-goers before COVID, and as much as we miss it, we’re not going anywhere near a movie theatre until the vaccine is out and the situation is WAAAAYYYYY more under control.
August 17th, 2020 at 4:03 PM ^
We will be Syria by the time the virus is way more under control.
August 17th, 2020 at 4:11 PM ^
You mean we’ll be allies with Russia? Woah.