Until recently, going to the movie theaters was an affordable affair for most people, which they could afford even several times a month. But that’s slowly changing. Apart from the tickets themselves – even popcorn and drinks cost increased significantly.
Going to the cinema is a favorite leisure activity for many people. After a period when movie theaters were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, fewer people than before are going to see the movies. Despite this, these cultural institutions have die-hard fans who can’t wait to see films on the big screen. Now, however, movie theater operators may well lose even these loyal visitors.
Increased prices have also been reflected in consumer behavior. This can be seen, for example, in the frequency of searches for discount coupons. While discount coupons for common consumer goods such as food or medicine like iHerb coupons on YoursHerbs have been on the radar of consumers for several years, more recently internet users are increasingly looking for discount coupons for cultural events, including visits to movie theaters. iHerb Ireland and their discount coupons are available here https://yoursherbs.com/iherb-in-ireland/.
The reason for this is the massive increase in price
Many multiplexes have updated their price lists again this year. The reason is said to be the need to respond to market trends. However, many people will not be willing to accept this. At the end of last year, the website Forbes wrote about the fact that the prices for cinema tickets can be astronomical.
The reason for this is, among other things, low attendance. According to The Forbes website, 61% of Americans didn’t visit a movie theater last year. Many people switched to various online platforms such as Voyo, Netflix or HBO. As cinemas closed during the pandemic, people sought alternative ways of consuming audiovisual works and learned to consume them in other environments. All digital platforms have seen big growth.
People only dream of popcorn anymore
It is not just ticket prices that have been affected by the price hikes. Many movie theaters rely on the sale of refreshments with tickets as their main source of income. When criticizing the high prices, they refer to market changes and, above all, the fact that operators often depend on supplies from abroad for refreshments. However, many people do not like this. When they find out how much popcorn and drinks cost, many of them lose their appetite. Some smaller cinemas have even had to close due to rising costs and lower attendance.
Why does a meal at the cinema cost the same as the ticket itself? The answer is simple. The cinema operator earns much more on the food than on the ticket. On average, the cinema has to give 70% of the money sold for movie tickets to the distributor of the film (this can vary over time and from country to country). On the other hand, everything from the refreshments sold stays with the operator. To make tickets more expensive is to increase profit, especially for someone else; to sell more expensive refreshments brings profit to the operator.