What’s wrong with this Picture

[Mike Newell]

I know I’m very much in the minority but I feel that no eating and drinking at all should be permitted in the cinema. That’s how it used to be in the NFT in London. People came to watch a movie. They ate and drank either before or afterward.

I would prefer a no food rule too Michael but we are in a minority.

[Mike Newell]

You have to remember folks, that this is where cinemas make there money, not with ticket sales, most of that goes to the film company, without at least selling some, like popcorn and drinks they would go out of business, so the next time you go to the cinema, do buy an ice cream or something if you want your local to survive.

The problem with cinema sweets is the prices are extortionate so we always smuggle our own into the cinema.

[Ed Gordon]

The problem with cinema sweets is the prices are extortionate so we always smuggle our own into the cinema.

How Movie Theaters Make Most Of Their Money

Popcorn sales at movie theaters are a large source of profit for theaters. Popcorn is typically sold at a 1275% markup. The theaters earn this profit by keeping 100% of the revenue generated by concession sales.

Source: https://popcorncarnival.com/the-cost...at-the-movies/

I don't eat at the movies, so it does not affect me. Regardless, a 1275% markup on popcorn can not be justified. If they need it to keep the cinema open, that business model is a complete failure. All this reminds me of the restaurant business model we have in the US. The restaurant owners pay such lousy wages, that food service workers are completely dependent on customer tips to make a living.

There is a theater owner in New York who came up with a business model that works well (at least in a large city market). He does not rent movies to show. He rents his theater to the film distributor. The owner gets a steady stream of revenue and the film distributor takes 100% of the ticket sales.

In the long run I would expect vertical integration to return (at least in the US now that it is legal again). There may be a few independent cinemas in smaller markets, but large vertically integrated corporations will dominate the market.

[Graham Ritchie]

I cant say how much mark up on popcorn we had, except to say if it wasn't for the support shown by the people during the school holidays and that is where most cinemas concentrate on, then we would have been struggling in between the holidays. It surprising to think that many people think that the money a cinema charges for a ticket goes into there pocket, far from it. The % charged for examples like blockbusters is huge. Its always been like that, although we never stopped people bringing in there own, we did appreciate there business downstairs and for the most part they did. Remember the days of intermission the kids with the ice cream trays, its all about making money. I remember one scene in the film "The Smallest Show On Earth" where the old timer turned up the cinema heating right up just before the intermission, to sell more ice creams during the break

You find, its the families and kids were our business, not so much with the older generation. One thing with wages out here, is that we have a minimum wage that legal wise an employer has to pay the new one $29.66 dollars an hour from 27th February 2023, plus there is no tipping. In the 10 years I was there, the locals always supported the cinema during the school holidays, making good money during those short periods gave us the opportunity to experiment with different films outside the holidays. If some did well and some not, if some were a flop money wise, it was not a problem. Plus it gave us income to buy one new Kinoton and screen. With some of the profits invested back in, so those popcorn makers, the kids rolling ice creams were very much an important part of any as Billy says of going to the talkies.

[Graham Ritchie]

not far from the truth

[Brian Fretwell]

BUt with current energy prices they can't put the heating on full blast to seel the ice cream and cold drinks anymore.

[Mike Newell]

Sure the wee darlings wouldn’t be able to cope without their central heating so they can sit in their T-shirt and shorts.

I remember having my coat on in cinemas in early 1980s. Mind you glad they discovered air conditioning for the summer.

There was a story about certain cinemas turning up the heating when Lawrence of Arabia was playing 😂😂😂

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Here in Germany, they are now having security guys in the theaters when „Creed III“ gets shown:
https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/beitra...assnahmen.html

English translation (with Google translate, so far from perfect):
https://www-rbb24-de.translate.goog/..._x_tr_pto=wapp

[Mike Newell]

Here in Germany, they are now having security guys in the theaters when „Creed III“ gets shown:
https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/beitra...assnahmen.html

English translation (with Google translate, so far from perfect):
https://www-rbb24-de.translate.goog/..._x_tr_pto=wapp

Is it just a movie that creates violence or a sign of the times?

[Ed Gordon]

[QUOTE=Joerg Polzfusz;n76260]Here in Germany, they are now having security guys in the theaters when „Creed III“ gets shown.../QUOTE]

Unruly audiences seems to be limited Germany and France:

Creed III‘s immersive fight scenes have been spilling out into the audience in France and Germany, with reports of brawls at a number of screenings of Michael B Jordan’s Rocky spin-off over its opening week, beginning March 1.

French media reported around a dozen separate disturbances in cinemas in France over the weekend and a handful of independent venues have decided to take the film off their schedules.

Police were called to an afternoon screening in a Mégarama cinema in the central French city of Saint Etienne on Saturday (March 4) after fighting broke out and a security guard suffered a head injury when cans and bottles started to fly.

Source: https://deadline.com/2023/03/creed-3...ce-1235282205/

Joerg, you might want to start a new topic on this. This topic is about food in the cinema, not, fights in the cinema.

[Mike Newell]

[QUOTE=Ed Gordon;n76270]

Here in Germany, they are now having security guys in the theaters when „Creed III“ gets shown.../QUOTE]

Unruly audiences seems to be limited Germany and France:



Source: https://deadline.com/2023/03/creed-3...ce-1235282205/

Joerg, you might want to start a new topic on this. This topic is about food in the cinema, not, fights in the cinema.

Well they have enjoyed their popcorn from the looks of it. How big are the containers!