# Why don't movie theaters offer better food/drink choices? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 16, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673 "2006-10-16T19:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/41 "2006-10-17T17:08:38Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] I’m noticing all kinds of theatre/bar/restaurant combos mentioned as though they were exceptions to the rule. Is this common in the US? In Canada, all of the big megaplex-type theatres (Silver City, Colisseum, etc.) integrate fast food chain joints in their theatres. It’s common to find theatres sporting Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, and other miscellaneous and sundry chain stores in their main foyer along with the usual concession counter. [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s still not common in the United States for movie theaters to make available a wide range of food choices. It’s usually just popcorn, sodas, hot dogs, pretzels, and candy. More and more places are selling capuccino drinks and fancy juices, though. I’ve never seen franchise outlets like Pizza Hut in a movie theater. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/42 "2006-10-17T17:24:39Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] Yes, it’s still not common in the United States for movie theaters to make available a wide range of food choices. It’s usually just popcorn, sodas, hot dogs, pretzels, and candy. More and more places are selling capuccino drinks and fancy juices, though. I’ve never seen franchise outlets like Pizza Hut in a movie theater. [/QUOTE] The ones in our theatres are all very cut-down versions (“Express” models if you prefer) of their standalone stores, and as such their menus are pretty skimpy (you’re limited to personal pan pizzas and other small items at Pizza Hut for example) but it’s good enough for theatre-going. Some of them also incorporate sit-down cafes, which is good if you went in early. As expected however, it’s all “stadium-priced,” so it’s a mixed blessing. ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/43 "2006-10-17T17:52:21Z")
There was some talk of the theatre I worked at serving alcohol, and it was vetoed pretty quickly, because in Nevada you have to be 18 to serve and 21 to pour, so very few of the employees could actually serve alcohol. They’d have to hire a bunch of 18-or-21 year olds to serve it, and a good chance of the time people that age range want more than minimum wage for a thankless job. As for snackfoods, our theatre had hot dogs, nachoes, and churros. The reason, as far as I could tell, that the snack foods were so damn expensive, was because the parent company got a smallish chunk of the ticket sales, but a really good portion of the sales went back to the movie companies. They had to make money somehow. (Keep in mind that I worked for a smallish chain of theaters that only charged $4.50 matinee and $6.50 normal for tickets) ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/44 "2006-10-17T22:14:45Z")
In the DFW area, there’s also [Movie Tavern](http://www.movietavern.com/) . IMHO, it’s the best way to watch a movie other than at home. They have a decent menu and terrific blue margaritas. I like the tables in between the rows of seats. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/45 "2006-10-17T22:47:11Z")
[QUOTE=Citygirl852] De-lurking to mention the Premium Cinema in Lombard, IL. [http://www.moviewatcher.com/theatres/theatre\_information.jsp?unit=832](http://www.moviewatcher.com/theatres/theatre_information.jsp?unit=832) (couldn’t make the pretty linky thing happen) $15 per ticket and no one under 21 admitted. I LOVE this place! They only show one movie at a time though, but if they are showing something you want to see, it’s totally worth it! [/QUOTE] Add to that [Hollywood Blvd](http://www.atriptothemovies.com/) in Woodridge, IL. Ticket price is $8.00 and you have to buy one item off the food menu. But you sit in some nice leather office chairs with a shelf style table in front of you and a lot of leg and arm room. Food prices aren’t any worse than they are at Applebee’s or Friday’s. My fiancee and I saw X-Men 3 there and the tickets, a margarita each (which was large and tasty) and dinner (burger for me, portabello sandwhich for her) cost me maybe $30-$35 which is at least what I’d drop at any chain restaurant. I’m sounding like a commerical but I guess that you can have that sort of food served but you need special accomodations for it. Unless you’re in a niche market, most theatres are happier with the “stuff 'em tight on opening night” row seating and popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Golden\_Ass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@The\_Golden\_Ass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Golden_Ass)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/46 "2006-10-18T03:50:16Z")
[QUOTE=Level3Navigator] Here in Utah we have a couple of movie theaters where you can get whatever you want (pizza, subs, Mexican, etc.), with a nice tray that fits into the drink holder in the chair. You can swing that tray around once you are seated, and munch away. All of the restaurants are in a central area that looks like a mall’s food court. You can stay there and eat, or take it into the theater itself. The price is a little more than you would expect from a similar place, maybe $8 for a normally $6 sandwich. I found the darkness of the theater, though, made consuming my hot pastrami sub rather difficult, and the fresh home-made chips were delicious but too noisy while crunching them to hear the more subtle dialog; maybe I’ll wait to order those for an action flick where it really doesn’t matter what they are saying, and lots of things blow up. Here is their website: [http://www.megaplextheatres.com/nowshowingdetail.php?th\_code=3](http://www.megaplextheatres.com/nowshowingdetail.php?th_code=3) Next time you come out West, check them out. This being Utah, though, you won’t find any alcohol being sold, just soft drinks. 🙂 [/QUOTE] You [will find alcohol here though](http://www.brewvies.com/). And tickets are only $4. Nobody under 21 allowed. Free pool. A decent menu. I love this place so, so, so much. It truly is the best thing about moving to Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/47 "2006-10-19T04:49:27Z")
Yeah, and while they’re ginning up the quality of the food they should also start selling diet soda that doesn’t have caffeine. You’d think this would be obvious: they sell great big honkin’ sodas late at night. Maybe, just maybe, the people buying these great big honkin’ sodas would like to get to sleep sometime before 4 am. Or is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![overeasy4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9bd4f/32.png) [@overeasy4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overeasy4)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/48 "2006-10-19T06:21:19Z")
What percentage of patrons who stopped buying popcorn and soda would it take for the theaters to lose enough money to up the movie prices? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/49 "2006-10-19T17:29:41Z")
[QUOTE=Tully Mars] In the DFW area, there’s also [Movie Tavern](http://www.movietavern.com/) . IMHO, it’s the best way to watch a movie other than at home. They have a decent menu and terrific blue margaritas. I like the tables in between the rows of seats. [/QUOTE] Huh–can’t believe I’ve never heard of these. There’s one just a few minutes down I-20 from my home! Guess I know where my next date with the spousal unit will be at … ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/50 "2006-10-19T17:37:31Z")
[QUOTE=Malienation] Yeah, and while they’re ginning up the quality of the food they should also start selling diet soda that doesn’t have caffeine. You’d think this would be obvious: they sell great big honkin’ sodas late at night. Maybe, just maybe, the people buying these great big honkin’ sodas would like to get to sleep sometime before 4 am. Or is it just me? [/QUOTE] I don’t like colas, with or without caffeine. And I reallly shouldn’t have much caffeine any time of the day or night. I’d love to buy a diet noncola. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/51 "2006-10-19T22:50:40Z")
As long as we’re listing theaters, the [Parkway](http://www.parkway-speakeasy.com/index.php?view=parkway_menu.h) in Oakland serves a variety of food and has couches and tables in the two theaters. You order at the concession stand, they give you a placard with a number, and then they deliver the food to you during the movie (depending on the prep time involved for the menu item). Great stuff, they’re opening a second theater in El Cerrito. And of course the [Naz 8](http://www.naz8.com/fremontgtw/index.html) chain in California shows Indian movies and sells various Indian food items (samosas, kabobs, naan) at the concession stand, as well as “non-traditional” ice cream flavors (lychee, mango, coconut). ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/52 "2006-10-20T02:15:29Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] I’m noticing all kinds of theatre/bar/restaurant combos mentioned as though they were exceptions to the rule. Is this common in the US? In Canada, all of the big megaplex-type theatres (Silver City, Colisseum, etc.) integrate fast food chain joints in their theatres. It’s common to find theatres sporting Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, and other miscellaneous and sundry chain stores in their main foyer along with the usual concession counter. This is still a fairly recent thing, having come up only in the last decade or so, but it’s quite prevalent. [/QUOTE] Yeah, and you can only find them where? Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax and St. John’s? I’ve never seen anything like that. I just wanted to state it isn’t the norm in Canada - just the urban centers. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673/53 "2006-10-20T02:29:53Z")
[QUOTE=kushiel] I’ve never seen anything like that. I just wanted to state it isn’t the norm in Canada - just the urban centers. [/QUOTE] Well, yeah, but the [urban centers represent 80% of the population of Canada](http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62a.htm). 80% pretty much defines the norm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movie-theaters-offer-better-food-drink-choices/376673.md?page=2)