# Is this cheating, stealing, or both? movie theater Q? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716 "2002-03-29T06:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/1 "2002-03-29T06:23:46Z")
Here in my town we have a second-run movie theater. 6 days of the week it costs one dollar to get in. Wednesday is only fifty cents. I am dead-ass broke, so I go there alot on 50 cent Wednesdays, and quite often, I don’t pay to get in. How do I do it? Simple. I just walk in the front door. The people at the concession are usually just two or three high school kids. I don’t know them. They don’t know me. They don’t seem to care about their job, and they certainly do not pay any attention to anyone, or what they are doing. I often think a dozen people could walk inside, hand in hand, and they wouldn’t notice or give a crap. I usually see two movies in one night. Even if I have paid my 50 cents, that’s just for one movie admission, yet I see two. I NEVER buy any snacks, candy, or pop. I go to see the movie and that’s all. If I wanted to eat, I’d go to a restaurant So, even if i did pay 50 cents to get in, they are doutbfully making any profit from 50 cents. Running a theater is expensive. Their major profits come from concessions, not ticket sales. As I see it, they aren’t losing anything from me, whether I pay fifty cents, a dollar, or not. Since buying snacks is optional, I feel no guilt about not buying any. I know what I am doing probably isn’t justified by any the above, or is it? Even if I did pay my ticket, since I dont buy snacks, aren’t they operating at a big loss? Is NOT buying snacks at a theater, equivalent to NOT tipping a server at a restaurant? If everyone only went to see the film, and NOT eat or drink anything, the theater would go belly-up real fast. ---
**Author:** ![Anodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Anodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/2 "2002-03-29T07:36:24Z")
Rationalizing. (It’s alright, we all do it once in a while.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/3 "2002-03-29T14:47:48Z")
Typically at a sub-run movie theatre (I used to own and operate one) the theatre keeps 65% of the box office. So you are depriving the theatre of about 35 cents. It is true that you don’t have to buy snacks there. Just don’t do the heinous thing of sneaking in your own snacks. Especially don’t bring in your own and make a big mess. I hope your economic situation improves to the point where you can pay the 50 cents. If you really can pay the 50 cents then what your doing is pretty low. (IMHO) ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/4 "2002-03-29T15:20:39Z")
It is stealing. You are basically using a service that everyone else pays for. Justify it anyway you like but you are stealing. This isn’t a situation like “I’m broke and my family is starving. Is it justified for me to steal a loaf of bread?” Geez, your broke and your asking if your justified to sneak into the movies? Perhaps your should focus your energy elsewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/5 "2002-03-29T15:34:36Z")
Stealing. You take for free a service they want to sell you. If everyone went to see the film without paying, they would certainly go belly up. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/6 "2002-03-29T15:41:54Z")
Well, I don’t think you or anyone else is obligated to buy snacks at the movies – the prices are outrageous. But walking in without paying is stealing. You can rationalize it all you want, but it’s still stealing. Are you unsure because it’s only 50 cents? Would you take a 50 cent candy bar from 7-11 without paying too? What about if the movie cost $2.50? $7.50? Would that make it more obvious that you were stealing? What if everyone did the same thing you are doing and walked in without paying? What if someone, instead of taking 50 cents per week from your wallet, instead lifted $26.00 once a year? Would you consider that stealing? It seems like you must know deep down that it _is_ stealing because otherwise you wouldn’t have any qualms about it. ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/7 "2002-03-29T15:49:33Z")
:rolleyes: sigh Ok, ok, so it’s stealing! sheesh! ☹ And yes, it is true that I rarely have a dollar or fifty cents. :o FWIW: If I DO have it to spare, then I DO pay. [sub]Smacks self on forehead. This is what I get for sharing personal information. I asked for it. Note to self: Stop posting TMI, dammit![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/8 "2002-03-29T16:32:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MagicalSilverKey \* > **And yes, it is true that I rarely have a dollar or fifty cents. :o > FWIW: If I DO have it to spare, then I DO pay.** To be honest, I don’t understand how you could possibly see it as _not_ stealing. If you do have 50c spare, you should pay. If you don’t have 50c, then you should wait until it comes out on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/9 "2002-03-29T17:12:00Z")
my two cents: If you are so broke that even 50 cents is not an option maybe you shouldn’t be watching movies. 2 movies plus drive time = approximately 3 hours. Can’t that time be better spent elsewhere? Besides, did you honestly think one of us would say: “no, its totally cool what you are doing”? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/10 "2002-03-29T19:05:28Z")
jesus q. christ on a crutch! instead of wasting hours _stealing_ the dreck that oozes from festering boils in hollywood, why not get a fucking job!?! then you might have .50 or $1 in your lint-lined pockets! ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/11 "2002-03-29T19:39:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*my two cents: > … > \*\* Another 24 posts like this one, and you’ll be able to afford the movie legitimately!! ::D&R:: ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/12 "2002-03-29T23:18:53Z")
If you’re so darn broke that you can’t afford 4 bits, why not apply for a job at that theater? Then you can see the movies for free, **AND** make some money. Plus you get to eat the day old popcorn Wow! Whatta deal!😃 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/13 "2002-03-30T00:00:42Z")
Well, if some day you get caught, that fifty cents would look like nothing compared to the fine they can impose. Then maybe the judge can give you community service working at the theatre for nuthin. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-cheating-stealing-or-both-movie-theater-q/100716/14 "2002-03-30T02:28:12Z")
It seems that the consensus is so one-sided we could have posted this one in General Questions. 🙂 I’m going to lock this off, and hope someone learned his lesson.