# Would you pay $20 for a movie ticket? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 21, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199 "2010-05-21T01:40:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/41 "2010-05-21T22:35:19Z")
Yes, I probably would. But for various reasons I still consider the theatrical viewing experience (even with its annoyances) as superior to the home experience (regardless of how technologically advanced it is). For me, when it comes to movies, the ability to pause, have conversations, fold laundry, play with the cat, switch to an episode of something off the DVR for a while, continue four days later when you remember it, etc., are not plusses. But then I’m fortunate in that for I have few vices and an income where seeing a movie every week at $20 each (not that this is how often or how much I currently spend) wouldn’t be a financial burden. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/42 "2010-05-21T23:49:06Z")
Most of the time I try not to even pay $10 for a ticket, either by going M-Th when the tickets are half priced, or buy using free passes I get for redeeming Coke Points. Most I ever actually paid was IIRC $12 for Superman Returns IMAX 3D, totally not worth it (even discounting the quality of Superman Returns itself). No way in hell would I pay $20 for a ticket, unless it came with a voucher for a free DVD copy when released. And not a damned bare bones DVD either. Must have commentary and deleted scenes at least. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/43 "2010-05-22T00:21:05Z")
All I can say is that shit better be IMAX or include the cost of food and drink. Hell, given how cheap popcorn and soda is (for the theater, not for moviegoers), the tax on the ticket would be more than the cost of the food. And since they’ve been screwing people for years with $3 sodas and $4 bags of popcorn, it’ll look like a real bargain. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/44 "2010-05-22T00:21:33Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Yes, I probably would. But for various reasons I still consider the theatrical viewing experience (even with its annoyances) as superior to the home experience (regardless of how technologically advanced it is). > > For me, when it comes to movies, the ability to pause, have conversations, fold laundry, play with the cat, switch to an episode of something off the DVR for a while, continue four days later when you remember it, etc., are not plusses. > > But then I’m fortunate in that for I have few vices and an income where seeing a movie every week at $20 each (not that this is how often or how much I currently spend) wouldn’t be a financial burden. This is pretty much how my hubby and I feel. He works out of town a lot, and really is only home about eight days out of the month. When he _is_ home, he tries hard to spend some time alone with our daughter, but we also try hard to have a ‘date night’. If we’re home watching a movie, our daughter can come interrupt us for something, my sister (for whom I’m the primary caregiver) can come ask for something. Etc. Even if these interruptions are minor and fast, they are _still_ disruptions. Going to the movies is part of going out. Often, we also have dinner (or lunch if we catch a matinee), do a little shopping, etc. It’s a nice change of pace for both of us. ---
**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:** [May 22, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/45 "2010-05-22T12:28:49Z")
I can BUY the frigging movie for $20. Admittedly, I don’t have 3D capability at home, but until the theaters fix the sound quality (it’s either way too loud or inaudible, or the background noise is too loud and the foreground noise is inaudible, thus giving the worst of both situations), get in the kind of drinks that I like and can actually drink, sell popcorn with real butter on it, and have other snacks that aren’t left over from last year, and control the hooligans who are spoiling the movie for the rest of us…I’ll take a slightly inferior technical experience over an overpromoted movie. Right now, going to a movie in a theater is more aggravation than enjoyment, and I pay more to see a movie in a theater. Theaters have to find a way to make the movie experience more enjoyable. Playing advertisements before the trailers does not enhance my experience. My main aggravation while watching movies at home is that sometimes the cats want to play chase during the movie. This can be solved by applying tuna juice to bowls, and giving the bowls to the cats. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/46 "2010-05-22T12:38:01Z")
It costs me AU$20 to see a 3D movie already, and as the exchange rate at the time of _Avatar_ and _Up_ was US95c = AU$1.00 it is an outrageous price. Though the movies were worth seeing theatrically. But this is one of the primary reasons I rarely see any movie in the cinema anymore. The cost of tickets is just ridiculous, and the “big screen” payoff is rapidly declining in quality and uniqueness. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/47 "2010-05-22T13:04:32Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > No, not for a regular theater - but if it was one of those with the really upgraded extra large comfy seats, and smaller audience, and food/beverage service I probably would. There’s a theater like that out in the suburbs of Chicago that I’ve been to a few times - comfy seats, dinner service, age-restricted showings for many films, awesome film festival weekends and other fun stuff. The problem is the audio system sounds worse than my home system does. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/48 "2010-05-22T13:58:42Z")
For 3D IMAX I’d pay $20 but there are very few films that are going to be released in that format that I’m especially interested in seeing. For regular screen viewing, $6 is my limit, which is the before 3 p.m. price at the local Loew’s multiplex, which is huge, has so-so sized screens, clean ladies’ rooms when you come to early screenings (especially on weekdays) and comfortable seats even for my fat and gimpy self. I do not buy popcorn, nor the drinks (they have Coke machines in the corridors where the 20 oz. bottles that are $1.19 max at overpriced convenience stores at sold for $3.25) and I’m fine with that. Of course, the only movies I go to see are movies I already know I’m going to love (even if I can nitpick them to death) and will buy on DVD to watch repeatedly at home afterwards. In the last couple of years that’s been a grand total of 5 movies. (Quantum of Solace, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Avatar, The Losers.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/49 "2010-05-22T14:31:46Z")
Absolutely not. There is nothing that can’t wait until on-demand shows it. 3-D? Please. It wasn’t worth it in the 50s and it isn’t worth it now. The price of a movie + popcorn has already caused us to stop buying concession food at theaters and once ticket prices hit $10, that will be the end of my theater going. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/50 "2010-05-22T14:55:46Z")
Before my daughter got a job at the local movie cineplex, it’d been years since I’d seen a movie in a theatre. Now that we get in free as part of her perks, we go more often. But if we had to pay again, I wouldn’t pay that kind of money for a movie when we can rent most newer movies right from our cable box for $3-6, plus I can make popcorn with real butter in it. And if someone tall sits in front of me I can send him to his room. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/51 "2010-05-22T16:30:00Z")
I wouldn’t pay ANYTHING to see a movie in a theater. I can wait until it’s available to see at home. I’ve never understood the drive to sit with strangers in a dark room to see a movie, especially when I can’t pause it to get a snack or use the restroom. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/52 "2010-05-22T16:55:32Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I’ve never understood the drive to sit with strangers in a dark room to see a movie, especially when I can’t pause it to get a snack or use the restroom. Do you attend plays, concerts or sporting events? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/53 "2010-05-22T21:21:08Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I wouldn’t pay ANYTHING to see a movie in a theater. I can wait until it’s available to see at home. I’ve never understood the drive to sit with strangers in a dark room to see a movie, especially when I can’t pause it to get a snack or use the restroom. 1. While I have an HDTV, it’s not 40’ wide. 2. My TV simply has speakers, not a big fancy sound system. 3. I don’t have a screening room that gets as dark as a theater. 4. I can go 2 hours without having to eat or pee. 5. If there is something I want to see, I want to be able to talk to people about it, not wait 5 months until it’s old news. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/54 "2010-05-24T05:25:58Z")
Any time seeing a movie in a theater is discussed, there is a chorus of people describing a Hellish vision that has nothing to do with my movie experience. Even odder, these are always people who rarely go to the theater, where I’m someone who goes to the theater one or more times a week. You would think that the odds would be against me - that by going to the theater so much oftener, I’d have their experience at least once a month. Instead, I see films in nice theaters with excellent projection, great sound, comfortable seats and respectful audience. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/55 "2010-05-24T05:38:25Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Any time seeing a movie in a theater is discussed, there is a chorus of people describing a Hellish vision that has nothing to do with my movie experience. Even odder, these are always people who rarely go to the theater, where I’m someone who goes to the theater one or more times a week. You would think that the odds would be against me - that by going to the theater so much oftener, I’d have their experience at least once a month. > > Instead, I see films in nice theaters with excellent projection, great sound, comfortable seats and respectful audience. It simply depends on when & where you go, and what you see. I see a lot of movies, nowhere near as many as you do, but more than most everyone else who posted in this thread (I saw 2 today in fact), and I’ve certainly had my share of cell phones/talkers, though of course most of the time the audience is fine. Two weeks ago I saw “Nightmare on Elm Street” and there was this woman sitting in the back who had whole conversations on her phone, and who would yell back at people who told her to be quiet. She was the complete ghetto trash stereotype. When I saw “Shutter Island” some bitch kept fighting with her boyfriend until finally the shouts of other audience members caused her to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/56 "2010-05-24T05:53:48Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > No, but then I rarely go to the cinema. Most of my film viewing occurs on aeroplanes. I’d like to send this letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro? Joe ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/57 "2010-05-24T15:03:10Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > I’d like to send this letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro? All my motion picture viewing has been on planes. I once saw one on [the interior of a sphere](http://www2.fi.edu/theater/imax/theater-info.php), but did not consider that satisfactory. ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/58 "2010-05-24T15:30:22Z")
I’ve spent over $20 for regular non-3D movies in London back when the pound was stronger. I saw 3 movies in three nights, so it was quite costly. I rarely go out for movies though, so my yearly movie expense didn’t exceed $100 that year. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/59 "2010-05-25T21:01:51Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Instead, I see films in nice theaters with excellent projection, great sound, comfortable seats and respectful audience. So where do you go? And do you pay $20/ticket? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199/60 "2010-05-26T02:20:54Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > So where do you go? I’ve mentioned it before, but this last year I saw 50 films at the AMC Mainstreet Theater in Kansas City. 4k digital projection, 11 channel sound, leather reclining chairs, huge screen, bass shakers under each seat. > [@](#): > > And do you pay $20/ticket? Half that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-pay-20-for-a-movie-ticket/540199.md?page=2)