Movie Theater Concession Prices.

[cstroman]

Quite simply, I think it's extortion for them to charge what they do and NOT allow you to bring in outside food or drink, but then again, it happens in sporting arenas all the time.

Right or wrong to sneak food in?

(*puts on his bulky jacket with lots of pockets*)

[Sugar Magnolia]

All I ever get at the movies is popcorn and a drink, and maybe a hot dog if I hadn't had anything to eat yet. But yeah, that stuff's expensive. I wouldn't recommend sneaking food in. Movies are more of a time for snacking than a time for a meal. I usually have chips or something if I'm at home when a movie is on. If dinner is ready at the same time the movie is on, yeah I'll eat it, but I usually treat myself to some "movie food" at that time...

[cstroman]

Well I don't sneak in whole meals, but I definately buy my snacks and put them in my pocket before going in. $2.50 for a box of Milk Duds that has like 20 in them?

Sorry, I can buy 2 cartons of them for that price.

[Sugar Magnolia]

$2.50 for milk duds? Damn. Hell yeah, sneak your own in at that price. Milk Duds should be free and mandatory, because they're awesome...

[cstroman]

What's funny is that they now package them in these oversized boxes so it looks like you are getting something big, then when you open it you find FILLERS at one end of it and the bag that holds the goods is pumped full of air and only half full in the other. I think one time we figured it out and it came down to being about 15cents for each milk dud.

It was laughable.

[jaw2929]

Yea, one time me and an ex girlfriend of mine snuck in Taco Bell... heh it was pretty fuckin kool ;)

[cstroman]

Hehe, I don't consider Taco Bell actual "food". It's a new species of food.

[Tweek]

thats why i love being a woman...
I can have a purse and no one will look at me weird.

I take in stuff... i make sure to bring soda because $3.50 for a soda is wrong.
it's wrong and they know it.

[TheDeadWalk]

I get into the mood for popcorn and sodas often, and those are the hardest to sneak in, so I'll buy them if I'm in the mood, which is usually.

The candy, you can actually sneak in much easier, which is what I do. Thrift stores like Odd lots and the Dollar General actually sell labeled Movie candy, which has that special logo design the same as you find in the theater concession stand, so once you're in the theater with them, they can't tell the difference where it was bought. (IE: Butter finger bites, Milk duds, and the Nestle Crunch bites for instance)

[Jon Lyrik]

The rule to not sneak food in from the outside is ridiculous, but does anyone actually pay attention to it? I sneak in fast food and candy all the time when I go to the theaters.

[quoth_the_raven]

I'm always taking food in with me...sometimes I've even done it openly and the staff haven't said a word. Deep down, they know they are ripping us off, and will turn a blind eye. either that or the average IQ of a cinema worker is getting lower and lower...

;)

[Mahab]

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer
Yea, one time me and an ex girlfriend of mine snuck in Taco Bell... heh it was pretty fuckin kool ;)

Man, these dudes behind us at a screenning of The Last Samurai at school had Taco Bell. Smelling that shit for three hours is not an experience I care to repeat.

I like that they let you bring in food, but the free popcorn they hand out is in little flimsy paper bags. Damn if 150 people krinkling bags for the first half hour of a movie isn't annoying as shit.

*sigh* That's a lot of rage for a seemingly unimportant issue. Sorry.

[SkyNet]

i didnt see it mentioned here yet.. BUT

This is just something i remember reading.. could be totally wrong.. but it makes sense:

Theaters make NO money on ticket sales. Every cent from the price of a ticket to a movie is rewarded to the studio, not the theater. That is why the theater head guy makes the decision as to what movies go in what theaters, and how long a certain movie stays in the theaters. When Spiderman 2 opens... expect it to be in the biggest theaters of your multiplex and also expect it in several dif theaters at the same multiplex... this isnt so more people can see the movie... this is the decision made by the store head guy/ girl this way they can have more people see the movie and those people will pump out more $ at the concession stand.

A theater isnt going to keep New York Minute in the theaters after it tanks.. because it isnt bringing in enough people for sales at the concession stand. But Spiderman 2 or any big name movie will have more theaters in the larger theaters so that instead of 150 people buying a small soda and popcorn.. there are 250 people buying that small soda and popcorn!

That is how theaters make their $... the concession, not the tickets!

Made sense to me when i first read it.. makes sense to me now as i spit it out in my own words!

[KTJ2004]

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer
Yea, one time me and an ex girlfriend of mine snuck in Taco Bell... heh it was pretty fuckin kool ;)

Me too! There's a Taco Bell across the street from the theater, and my friend and I would always buy a few burritos and stuff them in our pockets and purses and eat them during the movie. It was awesome.

Plus, soda and candy prices at my theater are ridiculous. Its something like 4.50 for a medium drink, and candy prices start at like 3.50. I hate it.

[Raymond Babbit]

Well, to be fair, as anyone who works at a theater could tell you, concessions is where they make all their money. Whatever amount the movies make, they have to give a certain amount to the movie company (usually it's like, 90% of the profits when it first comes out), so they can't really profit off that, hence the high prices. And I have never seen oversized boxes with fillers in them used for candy where I work, just for the record.

[El Bracamonti]

Yeah....a large popcorn, a large drink, and a small candy is 10 bucks....umm.....that's not acceptable.

[duece5]

my local century theatres allows people to bring in food, just last week i brought in a mcdonals meal and a soda lol!

I've also brought in a medium sub from subway w/ a drink.

So, i guess it just sucks for the rest of you.

[Grim H.]

I'm an usher at a theater, and I let people bring food in all the time, cause there are still plenty of others willing to shell out the money at our concession stand. But I work in a trendy art theater in an upscale neighborhood, so we strive to be more friendly to the customers than at other places...

[Tweek]

I know the reason behind the high prices...
But still I sneak in food because I can't afford the concession prices.

[ParileseMonster]

You know what makes me MAD?
Considering the cost of a ticket and the food you think my theatre would
FUCKING HAVE SOAP, TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWELS AND POTTY PROTECTORS WELL STOCKED BUT ARE THEY EVER???
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Now I am no pig but, how am I supposed to eat my popcorn if I can not wash the hand that just wiped my ass?:mad:

[Tweek]

I had to buy food from the concession today.
couldn't get to the store before the movies...
A bag of M&Ms and a frozen coke was 7 bucks.

[Raoul Duke]

Originally posted by El Bracamonti
Yeah....a large popcorn, a large drink, and a small candy is 10 bucks....umm.....that's not acceptable.

That's exactly the cost of that stuff at my theatre!

All the concession cost is highway robbery if you ask me!

Oh, and I let my feelings be made about all these OUTRAGEOUS prices!....I'm no longer allowed within a hundred yards of the counter girl, Becky...

[cstroman]

Now I am no pig but, how am I supposed to eat my popcorn if I can not wash the hand that just wiped my ass?

You mean that wasn't choclate covered popcorn? Please tell me those were Raisinettes!!!

[ParileseMonster]

Ha ha, that is hella icky dude! I am no Howard Hughes or Tiny Tim but I like to be clean and sanitary!

[BorderEevilIII]

Originally posted by cstroman


Right or wrong to sneak food in?


Is it wrong doing this? Well w/ the highway robbery prices the chains/theaters charges nowdays DAMN!
I myself often SNEAK food in. The Century Chain looked the other way but recently posted signs asking if food was not purchased from their premises to PLEASE not bring them in. But do they actually crack down?
Back home long time ago I recall my mom actually trying to go in with a MCD's Bag. Obviously she could not bring the bag in. I just wonder if they smelled the obvious outside that they did not allow you to enter. They obviously can't search you but if they can see food like the Taco Bells & Burger Kings then thats a different story. When I sneak food in I make an effort to take them with me and NOT drop them on the floors/ leave them on the chairs for the clean up crew to deal with.
I remember waiting for Missing in Action I or II (I forget) and I saw people in front of me consuming their plate lunches we call back home in Hawaii and just eating while waiting.

Another movie I saw this couple 2 seats away and it looked like they were having a picnic!
Items that I saw did NOT obviously come from the sanck bar.

Now the only thing we get is the large size popcorn w/ 1 extra free refill and 1 large soda w/ courtesy cups to split if theres 3 or more people going.

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by ParileseMonster
Ha ha, that is hella icky dude! I am no Howard Hughes or Tiny Tim but I like to be clean and sanitary!


Yo Parilese -- clean out your "sent" box.

[Shockwave]

Id say its right to sneak food in.


Theatre food is WAY overpriced! 3.50 for a bottle of water? No fucking way!

Besides its to greasy for me anyway, to loaded down with salt and butter. Nasty shit...

If they just lowerd the proce to something more managable alot less people would sneak food in.

[SkyNet]

Originally posted by Raoul Duke

Oh, and I let my feelings be made about all these OUTRAGEOUS prices!....I'm no longer allowed within a hundred yards of the counter girl, Becky...

not sure if thats true or just sarcasm.. BUT.. if it is true, thats fucked up.... this counter girl becky didnt make the prices she is simply employed by the theater.

Ive had that shit happen before at a theater.. someone complained to a Box Office person that a movie was sold out... because that person got there too late... so he bitched at this girl who was simply workin there, doin her job.... so after he was done.. ( i was next in line) i looked him in his face and was like "Its not her fucking fault your fat ass cant get to the fucking theater in fucking time".. he couldnt say shit, and just walked off with his head hung in shame. (PLUS the chick i was with was impressed, always a plus)

I never yell at people who work at places, because shit that goes down ISNT there fault.. now if its an owner who is the person making my problem occur.. THAN they will catch a piece of my mind.

There was ONE time i did get extremely pissed (it was at my bank.. they screwed me out of 300$) and i was so angry i DID get really pissed with the woman working there... later that day (even before i got my moneys back) i went back n apologized... not cuz my mommy told me to... but because that shit made me feel like sick to my stomach... like i MADE this woman have a bad day because of some shit that wasnt even her fault!

Anway.. theater prices are too much! Last night i saw Dodgeball (fuckin hilarious flick) i wanted some food cuz i worked all day and went straiht to the movies.. same with the girl i was with... but we both didnt feel like payin that price for sum theater food! so i wound up buyin a frozen coke and a medium sprite... that shit was over 7 bucks!

[Jerk Shapiro]

I remember the time I snuck in my picnic basket and a newly smoked rump roast. That was fun.

[cstroman]

One time I snuck a Salami in. The ticket taker said, "You smell like Salami. I think you're sneaking food in."

I reached for my pants zipper and said, "You really want to find out how happy I am to see you?" Winked, and the guy couldn't let me in fast enough.

[Unicron]

And i thought Aussies where the only ones getting ripped off when we go to the movies!

Adult ticket = $14.50
Large coke = $5.50
Large Popcorn = $6.50
Or a Drink/Pop Combo Medium = $10.50

Average night out to the movies = $24!!!

As for sneaking things in, my local MegaPlex are Nazi's. They check all bags! I had a packet of M&M's (sold at the candy-Bar for $4) and they wanted to see my reciept!

The Prices where MENT to go down with the new tax system we got, but they all went up!

Curse them all!

[Mog]

On the whole outside food and drink issue, the best excuse is "I'm a diabetic" or some other kind of disorder/virus/cancer/etc.

How do I know this? Have any of you visited the AMC Pleasure Island in Orlando? They abolished the outside food and drink rule simply because of that reason. Soon others will follow...soon...

[AppleHuntr]

I only buy concession food if I dont have time to stop at the store beforehand. Usually I try to hide it but sometime I really dont care. Once we went in with grocery bags filled with Nutter Butters, Cheeze-Its and juice boxes. Yum. Twas a good night.

Me and some friends all met at a theater downtown once and we all jusr came from school so we had our backpacks, which were naturally stuffed with snacks. But this time the guy actually searched our bags (he was beyond creepy, giving us these super odd smiles as he searched). He saw some of my friends food and she tried to cover it up but he didnt care. Turns out they were lookin for video cameras.

I work at a theater and let people bring food in all the time (the ones who dont bother to hide it). But sometimes those people gimme a look like "what are YOU gonna do about it?". Um asshole I wasnt gonna bother you, but they know we have a policy against it so they just have to feel like theyre sending us a Fuck You message. I dont make the prices bud, so I dont care what you think about them. "Wow you really fuck people over for drinks"- an actual customer comment. Yes, all these prices were my decisions, therefore I deserve your asshole comments.

As a rule though, try and hide your food, pockets and purses work best. Some backpacks might be searched. Big coats work well too. But in a regular backpack this week I snuck in some fries, a shake and a salad into Saved! for me and a friend. The art-houses are so lenient, god love 'em.

[BorderEevilIII]

Originally posted by AppleHuntr

The art-houses are so lenient, god love 'em.


Yes they want YOUR BUSINESS. As long it aint something illegal (camcorders,alcohol,joints,etc)
go on in! :D

[rtatick]

AMC Theaters don't have it posted, but they DO allow outside food and drink.

And the whole thing is simple economics. I know it doesn't make it any easier for those of you who are pissed off to accept, but that is how they make their money. There are enough people that ARE buying the concessions that those of you who don't don't really bother them. It's their private business and they can, will and do do it. I just always make it a point to eat before the movies.

Plus, I can't fucking stand the fucking sound of crunching fucking popcorn during a movie. People who can't close their fucking mouths when eating at the movies should go to the same hell that the parents who refuse to take out crying babies are burning in.

[Badbird]

I work at a theater, and I'm an avid movie goer. On both sides I can't fucking stand outside food. Yeah, I don't care if you sneak in a bag of twizzlers, but McDonalds? Taco Bell? KFC? I don't wanna smell that shit, and I don't wanna hear you bitching about how hard/messy it is to eat it in a dark theater.

As for the whole profit thing, theaters do make some money off ticket sales. The longer they play a movie, the more they make, which is why theaters love movies like Finding Nemo and Big Fat Greek Wedding, cause they end up getting the better end of the deal. But concessions is more of a straight profit.

And as for why prices are so high? Because people pay it. If no one paid five bucks for popcorn, no one would sell it. People buy it and the prices reflect what they're willing to pay. It's not highway robbery if you're GIVING YOUR MONEY TO THEM. Don't bitch about how expensive something you don't need is - then buy it!

It ain't fast food. You're going to and event in an enclosed area. Prices will always be high. Stop acting like this is news. When I see a movie, I always get a coke. That's it. If I'm hungry and haven't had anything to eat, I might get a nachos or hot dog, knowing full well how much it will cost. And I pay up.

[sharkstank]

i NEVER buy theatre food or drinks. i eat b4 or after, i just hate eating there. i havent since i was 8
all of the theatres around here let outside food in, so if we get there early i may get a burger or something and eat it b4 the previews. its funny to see a big family walk in with a bunch of mcdonads and pass out the food. to me its funny, anyway

WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[m ali]

Usually I sneak drinks into the movie theater But one time i brought a water into a theater and the guy asked me what was inside my pocket and he saw my water and he did not do a thing and just let me go inside the movie without taking my water.

[horrorfreak13]

I don;t usually get popcorn or pop it's just too damn expensive in fact I don't even pay anything at the theatre not even the tickets it's fun when your cousin has a pass at famous players where you can see a movie for free or even better thery fuck it up and instead of getting 3 months you get 13 months.

[moviemuffin]

I will buy popcorn once in a blue moon. Not often. Usually I bring a water or drink and a few munchies in my purse.

But I love watching what others smuggle in. I've seen some amazing shit.

A large meatball sub.
Value meal from Micky D's.
Mom with a massive group of kids yanks a CVS bag out of her jacket lining with about 10 bags of candy, drinks, and smaller bags to put their trash in.
At a showing of Shrek 2 a kid had a pizza -- swear to god-- folded in half and hidden under the back of his jacket (in the box, still).

My admiration only grows.
:D

[sharkstank]

Originally posted by cstroman
One time I snuck a Salami in. The ticket taker said, "You smell like Salami. I think you're sneaking food in."

I reached for my pants zipper and said, "You really want to find out how happy I am to see you?" Winked, and the guy couldn't let me in fast enough.

LOL!
"you smell like salami" thats gold. GOLD I SAY

WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[LoomisFan]

Originally posted by ParileseMonster
You know what makes me MAD?
Considering the cost of a ticket and the food you think my theatre would
FUCKING HAVE SOAP, TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWELS AND POTTY PROTECTORS WELL STOCKED BUT ARE THEY EVER???
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Now I am no pig but, how am I supposed to eat my popcorn if I can not wash the hand that just wiped my ass?:mad:
A-fucking-men.

[Twisted Sister]

OMFG - you know, if they're gonna rape you on the prices, you would think that the shit would at least be EDIBLE, but nooooooooooooooooo.

Saw Anchorman yesterday, and left the house in such a hurry that I forgot to pack my munchies. Well, since my friend bought the tix, I volunteered to get the movie grub. I went to the concession stand and bought nachos and hawaiian punch for me, popcorn and gummy bears for my friend. $17 later, I was seething because the nachos were so salty and stale that I couldn't eat them. They cost $7.00!!!! My friend offered me popcorn, and it was just as bad.

WTF?

[poopontheshoes7]

For fucks sake it cost me $35 fucking dollars for three people to go. Me, my bro and uncle went to se SP2 I was in charge of the money. If you knew my bro and uncle you would know why I was in charge. I got the tickets three large cokes and a large popcorn. That it!!!! and it cost me $35!!!!! Damn!

[Dixiecup]

I usually only smuggle an ice Cold Beer or two. BUT... That FUCKING, OVERPOWERING, MIND ALTERING SMELL of the fat ladden fucking POPCORN is enough to drive me out of my mind!

I'm all for smuggling in whatever you want, as long as it isn't loud and intrusive.

A few years ago, we had a Movie Grill here. They served food, booze, and you could smoke a cigarette. Only way to sit through a long ass movie (like Casino) without going nuts. Shame they closed it down!

[actormickey]

I worked at a movie theater for 3 years. I did projection and some concession work. I've seen people sneek in food all the time. I never cared when they did it, and I didn't ever say anything(neither did everyone else I worked with), but what bothered me about it is when someone would try to hide something and they made it so obvious they were sneeking.
A tip for a lot of you: Just walk in the theater with your own drink in your hand. The worst they can do is say for you to throw it away. But you'd be surprised how many ushers would let you pass.
Don't tell anyone I said that.

[Labbla]

I always try to bring my own candy to the movie but I don't mind buying drinks. Never get popcorn cuz it taste like shit.

[optimus]

Originally posted by cstroman
One time I snuck a Salami in. The ticket taker said, "You smell like Salami. I think you're sneaking food in."

I reached for my pants zipper and said, "You really want to find out how happy I am to see you?" Winked, and the guy couldn't let me in fast enough.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

I nearly blew pop out of my nose when I read that! That's hysterical!

[Country1969]

I can't believe they charge some much for a soda and a popcorn.

Many years ago, my friend and I stopped at a Burger King down the road. He bought 3 cheeseburgers and he snucked them in his coat. It was winter, so it wasn't to hard to do so. But you could smell them since they were just cooked.

I was laughing all the way to our seats.

[killbillbaby]

Honestly I think it is right to bring in outside food into the movies. And honestly the movie theater managers complain about it saying that it takes money away from the theater but they are the people that put us in this predicament. I mean if they would just jack down the prices then we would not be tempted to bring in outside food.

[ChemicalRomance]

Concession prices at theaters are murder. My friend got a small soda and small popcorn..both really not that big of a serving at all and it cost him almost 7$.

It's murder. My friends always just sneak in food from the comic book store across the street.

[Pink Corduroy]

I worked at a seedy little two-screen theatre when I was 17 or 18. Sweet gig--almost the whole staff were stoners, and we'd get high in the projection room once the movies had started. Anyway, the local manager of the company was this enormously fat guy who sat us all down one day for a pep talk that basically boiled down to this: The movies are only bait. The concessions are where the real money is. Seriously, we wrapped up most nights with a Hefty bag full of unused popcorn that we'd just throw away, but we sold it for like $3.50 a box. And those boxes of soda syrup are bought in bulk, so really the large colas are worth a few cents max. Movie theatre concessions are what make the really obscene amount of capital. And of course, going to the movies, you gotta get popcorn and soda and candy. I know I do, anyway; it's part of the experience. So by not allowing people to bring their own snacks, they're home free to suck you dry. Popcorn and candy at the movies is a part of American culture, but unfortunately, so is ruthless capitalism.