AfterDawn: Tech news

Average movie tickets in U.S. grow to $7.89

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Jan 2011 9:09 User comments (25)

Average movie tickets in U.S. grow to $7.89 According to the National Association of Theater Owners, the average movie ticket price in the U.S. jumped to $7.89 in 2010, with the cost crossing $8 for the first time ever in October.
For the Q4, the average cost stood at $8.01.

The first quarter saw the average at $7.95, which then dropped to $7.88 in the second and $7.71 in the third.

In 2009, the average ticket price was $7.50, so the growth represented a 5.2 percent increase, overall.

For the last five years, ticket prices have increased at an average 4.5 percent.

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25 user comments

128.1.2011 21:30

Inflation, how does it work?

228.1.2011 21:48

is that all.....we pay more in the UK then that of the US.....its like £8.20 = 13.0019 USD
and on the cheap days its only £6.60 = 10.4650 USD and on special Tuesdays its as low as £5.10 = $8

so screw you lot for moaning about prices going up.....lower your damn prices and we will go.....its too expensive as it is and when you include popcorn and drinks....thats an expensive night out.

and these stupid companies wonder why we pirate movies.....when we can watch at home with own better priced drinks and snacks.

i want those prices :D

328.1.2011 21:49

i wouldn't pay to watch for that price, gotta deal with noisy kids, crowds, and people talking or on the phone. Id rather wait for ppv or the new movie premium that the have every week. Besides most movie make it there with in 3-4 months.

428.1.2011 22:08

ever since the 3d movie came out, the price of non3dmovies cost a lot.

528.1.2011 22:22

Originally posted by xaznboitx:
ever since the 3d movie came out, the price of non3dmovies cost a lot.
yea and its pointless too....they have baically priced out people that would normally would go and see a film.....but 3d is just nonsense.....give people headaches after going to the 1st one.....now people cannot be bothered with it....the novelty is long gone.

628.1.2011 22:25

They are not going to get much of my money...the only movie I have wanted to see all year is the kings speech...and now it appears that the USA version will have dialog edited by Disney, in order to guarantee that there are a dozen noisy kids in the theater.

Hopefully the director's cut will be on bluray soon.

728.1.2011 23:07

$8 for a ticket and another $15 or so for food and drink. $20-23 roughly for 1 person:| It's cheaper buying the DVD.

828.1.2011 23:44

Originally posted by Amak:
$8 for a ticket and another $15 or so for food and drink. $20-23 roughly for 1 person:| It's cheaper buying the DVD.
Or just skip the waste that is carbonated sugar-water (a.k.a "Soda") and artificial butter-drenched popcorn and the price is OK but still a bit high at almost $40 per family of 4 when you add in tax.

928.1.2011 23:53

I've been paying 10~15 dollars to see a movie for the past few years. Albiet I live in nyc.

1029.1.2011 00:51

Originally posted by 21Q:
I've been paying 10~15 dollars to see a movie for the past few years. Albiet I live in nyc.
Yep, average around $11 in Manhattan for standard and $14 for 3D, and $18-19 for IMAX 3D.

1129.1.2011 01:06

First you pay all that money for your tickets and then the food is priced like 5X the MRP!

1229.1.2011 02:30

In the end, I blame the experience. I can afford to go to the movies, and I can afford to buy a box of candy, a large drink, and some popcorn...but I don't go because it is not a positive experience. The quality of the picture i There are always noisy children in anything that isn't rated R...that eliminates most movies right there. Then you have a handful of Hollywood tripe that is rated R, yet is still censored by a catholic priest (I wish that was an overstatement; any movie with a letter rating has to be approved by a catholic priest).

In the end, even if something makes it through all the BS, and there are no annoying kids to ruin it, you are still left sitting two hours in an uncomfortable chair, looking at a PROJECTED IMAGE that looks like crap, listening to "Dolby Digital" that does not even sound as good as what I have at home. Plus, most theaters won't let you drink, no theaters let you smoke, and they refuse to pause the movie if you need to go to the bathroom.

Excluding the drive-in, I have not been to a theater in at least 5 years...and I don't exactly go to the drive-in to watch the movie, if you know what I mean.

1329.1.2011 02:41

In canada it costs about $14 to go to the movies now. YAY us

1429.1.2011 02:51

Originally posted by Mysttic:
In canada it costs about $14 to go to the movies now. YAY us
Yepp. Payed $11.25 tonight to see a regular movie in Hamilton... Too much.

1529.1.2011 09:34

Originally posted by DVDBack23:
Originally posted by 21Q:
I've been paying 10~15 dollars to see a movie for the past few years. Albiet I live in nyc.
Yep, average around $11 in Manhattan for standard and $14 for 3D, and $18-19 for IMAX 3D.
Yep, pay $15 a pop to see IMAX here in South Carolina, and it's not even 3D. Sound and picture is awesome, that's why I go there. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't even bother, just get the movie when it comes to DVD/Blu-Ray.

1629.1.2011 10:32

here in australia its about $15 for a ticket and i think thats the concession rate.cheaper to buy the movie on dvd or blu-ray.havnt been to the movies in years but its over expensive and uncomfy seats.

1729.1.2011 12:00

Originally posted by DVDBack23:
Originally posted by 21Q:
I've been paying 10~15 dollars to see a movie for the past few years. Albiet I live in nyc.
Yep, average around $11 in Manhattan for standard and $14 for 3D, and $18-19 for IMAX 3D.
You've gotta admit though, if the movie is good, 3D IMAX in a new theater is an amazing experience. For example, while the story in Tron Legacy was lacking, the music and picture were definitely worth the price.
That and places like Secaucus, Hoboken, and Jersey City have new theaters popping up left and right.

1829.1.2011 15:40

Wish they'd just release a 2d version of the movies. There were a few that I wanted to see but not in 3d. Thats a waste of 10$ just to see some props coming out of the screen.

1929.1.2011 16:54

DC is a bit less than NYC but you have to go to a matinee to see something for under $10.

2029.1.2011 16:59

Originally posted by DVDBack23:
Originally posted by 21Q:
I've been paying 10~15 dollars to see a movie for the past few years. Albiet I live in nyc.
Yep, average around $11 in Manhattan for standard and $14 for 3D, and $18-19 for IMAX 3D.
Not much less down here in my area of FL, if not actually just about the same. I tend to catch a matinée on a Sunday as it's less expensive and you have less of the undesirables like unruly kids/parents being in church and loud teens/obnoxious people still sleeping or whatever...though I have absolutely no problem telling anyone to STFU if there is an issue ;). But that is what usually ends up ruining the experience and why I just make a complaint at the desk that they aren't doing their job and get free tickets for another show.

I also use whatever discount or promotional card that gives free popcorn, soda & movie ticket after accumulations of points etc. A little trick my cousin put me up on is to try and buy a Senior ticket and pass it through to the handler since they usually don't check so you can still get a discount while not during matinée showings.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 29 Jan 2011 @ 5:00

2129.1.2011 20:51

Movie tickets are $11 in metro Atlanta. Regular 3D is $15. At least IMAX is a little cheaper than NYC at $16.50. I still take my daughter to see the kids movies, because she really enjoys going to the movies. I can't really enjoy an adult night at the movies anymore, because with the ticket prices and concession prices I feel like I've been violated.

2230.1.2011 03:30

There must be a market for it, or theaters wouldn't exist.

2330.1.2011 17:22

They can't blame piracy on the price increase. More like G-R-E-E-D.

2431.1.2011 06:19

Originally posted by cart0181:
There must be a market for it, or theaters wouldn't exist.
There WAS a market...it is quickly drying up, so they have to raise prices on the people who still go, so fewer people go, so they have to raise prices, so fewer people go...and they will just keep repeating the cycle until no one is willing to put up with it.

253.2.2011 11:19

Originally posted by KillerBug:
They are not going to get much of my money...the only movie I have wanted to see all year is the kings speech...and now it appears that the USA version will have dialog edited by Disney, in order to guarantee that there are a dozen noisy kids in the theater.

Hopefully the director's cut will be on bluray soon.
That explains why the screener I saw was such good quality. But I can't imagine what would be balderized or cut... just a few swearies perhaps.

My advice is go ahead and watch it KB, it's an excellent flick. Go Aussies!

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