Theaters raise prices on 2D movies to lower cost of 3D movies

[Dream]

Writing for Screen Trade Magazine Joe Paletta, CEO of Spotlight Theaters, announces that cinemas will begin to eliminate the premium charges on 3D movies and raise the prices of 2D movies to make up the difference. This gives me the rage. 3D movies give me a headache and eye-strain, and I actively avoid them. I hate the idea that I'd be charged a premium on the few 2D movies I can find in order to subsidize 3D screenings.

As Roger Ebert put it, "Oh, no! In a move to recoup their unwise investment in 3D, theaters discuss, and I quote, 'patrons will have a single price for both 2D and 3D films. 2D prices will increase and 3D prices will decrease.' In other words, punishing those who dislike 3D."

http://boingboing.net/2012/03/24/th...-o.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

How the hell does this even make sense?! I really hope this stupid idea doesn't catch on with other theater companies.

I wish this stupid 3D craze would die already. People who only buy 2D tickets shouldn't be punished with higher costs.

 

[Starbreaker]

It makes sense because the ticket prices of the 3D movies would go down because of the 2D ticket prices rising.... I like some 3D movies, so I'm not opposed to paying $10 a ticket instead of $13

 

[Guy Gardener]

if 3d movies were so massively successfully popular, how would the TPTB coax people into watching 2d movies?

They'd increase the price of 2d movies to insure survival with less punters, which will decrease the number of punters, so they have to increase the price again until 2d movies cost three times the price to view than 3d movies.

Once upon a time, cinemas had to justify screening both regular movies and talkies and if they should cost the same price?

Even if there are no 3d effects, all film will be shortly shot in 3d format, so that they could have had 3d effects if they wanted them, and it's more impressive to shoot in 3d and not have any 3d effects isn't it?

2d is the dinosaur that's going to die out.

Though movie theaters are another dinosaur which is going to die out first.

Pierce made a joke in community last week that he converted all his 8 mm into laser disk format over the weekend.

Hilarrrrrrious.

 

[sojourner]

Just pushing more people to wait for blueray/on demand. It has to be a real tent pole movie to get me in a theatre these days.

 

[Mr Light]

If that happens I will be really pissed. I am very, very cheap and I don't give a crap about 3D!

 

[The Wormhole]

Price inflation is inevitable and will likely happen sooner or later regardless of the presence of 3-D.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm sure this will cause an increase in the number of people who see the latest movies through "alternative" means...

 

[Jax]

I saw Avatar and that was fun no need for any more 3-D movies thank you.

 

[shivkala]

Most of the 3D movies out there are ones that my kids are interested in, but they don't care for the 3D part. My youngest daughter ends up watching the movie without the glasses more times than not. After a few movies in 3D, I've come to the conclusion that the gimmick is not worth the cost.

Raising 2D prices is just asinine in my opinion. If 3D movies are not the moneymakers they hoped they'd be, then just give up on them, instead of raising 2D prices to compete. If inflation is going to hit, then let it, but don't disguise it as a means to supplement the cost of 3D movies.

I'm no economist, but I do recall them saying that at the beginning of the financial crisis a few years ago, the movie theaters were one of the last remaining industries that still were generating a profit. One article asked if movies were recession proof. Now, they're struggling, too. Maybe the crisis caught up or maybe, it's more than a coincidence that all of this started when more and more movies went 3D.

As for 3D replacing 2D, the dinosaur, why is it that with just about everything else, the price of the "old" thing goes down and eventually, so does the "new" thing. If the answer to replacing something is to raise the price of the thing being replaced, than why is the DVD of a movie cheaper than the Blu-ray? Why can I buy a DVD player for cheaper than a Blu-ray player?

Maybe 2D is the dinosaur that will die out. But, like Guy Gardener stated, it's a horse race between 2D dying and movie theaters dying out. Even so, there's evidence that in some cases, 2D sales are trumping 3D sales of the same movies. It's going to be an interesting race to the finish line.

 

[Warp Coil]

I only go to a theater on average of three times per year. Ticket prices are already expensive enough ($10-11 for a 2-D film.... even more if you want 3-D or IMAX). I am not thrilled with the idea of paying even more.

 

[propita]

I rarely go to the theaters; Hubby prefers to take the money for two tickets and buy the dvd. Though the $3 theater is a great bargain. So what if you’re seeing the movie after it’s been out a while? Didn’t have time to see it earlier anyway AND saved a nice amount.

 

[Spot's Meow]

This would be unfortunate. I also get eye strain and headaches from 3D movies, so I avoid them.

 

[Gaith]

I'm not too afraid of this idea catching on. They may well raise prices on both tickets, sure, but evening them out seems like a great way to alienate the public.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

And I'm sure they will only raise them just enough to offset the cost of the 3D...

Have you noticed that the Kindle editions are starting to cost just about as much as the paper versions?

 

[Professor Zoom]

It makes sense because the ticket prices of the 3D movies would go down because of the 2D ticket prices rising.... I like some 3D movies, so I'm not opposed to paying $10 a ticket instead of $13

Except they are raising the prices of 2D movies so they CAN lower the price of 3D movies... basically making 2D patrons pay for the 3D patrons--so they don't lose any money.

I'M opposed to paying 13 bucks for a 2D movie so someone else can only pay 13 for a 3D movie.

 

[Danny99]

The only time that my girlfriend and I go anywhere near a movie theatre is on Tuesday (cheap night, $5 a ticket) or if we have a gift certificate. Even when we go on cheap night, we smuggle in our own snacks.

I was forced into "Harold and Kumar's Christmas" and sat there wondering why the hell it was in 3D. 3D doesn't add anything to a picture in my opinion. I've yet to see a movie to prove that theory wrong.

 

[StalwartUK]

Now if 3D fails they can still charge the same price. It's a win-win situation.

 

[23skidoo]

The only time that my girlfriend and I go anywhere near a movie theatre is on Tuesday (cheap night, $5 a ticket) .

I haven't seen a discount Tuesday promotion in years and I used to go to them weekly.

I was expecting to see the prices on 2D rise. They're just cutting their own throats, financially. But what do I know - I'm just the guy with cash willing to spend. And just as movie rentals died when they got high enough that it only cost a few bucks more to buy the damn things and not have to deal with returns, so too if they push the prices up too high (and this goes for 3-D too) people are just going to wait for the $30 Blu-ray which is far cheaper than taking a family of 4, or worse they'll just go and torrent the thing somewhere.

But there is some hope for those of us who'd like to see 3-D die. Unless the theatres in my city have done the opposite of what they usually do and booked only 2-D versions and no 3-D versions of The Hunger Games, I think it's only 2-D, right? As it seems to be well on its way to Avatar-sized business, that will hopefully prove 3-D is not the be all and end all...

Alex

 

[Kelthaz]

Every Tuesday is half price here. I think it's a Canadian thing.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Yeah, it's definitely still in effect in my part of Canada.

As it seems to be well on its way to Avatar-sized business, that will hopefully prove 3-D is not the be all and end all...

Oh, come now. There have been major non-3D blockbusters the whole time since Avatar. The Hunger Games is nothing new on that score.