The Price of Movie Popcorn - Monopolistic Behavior?
January 16, 2008 6:59 am Movies, TV and Music, Random Gripings
Ok, I’m not gonna get all ‘economist’ on you, so don’t worry. Heck, I had to take basic economics twice in college, so I’m no expert by any means. But after thinking more about the different strikes going on and my guess that the price of movie tickets going up, it made me think about my favorite movie going treat: popcorn!
I am a popcorn lover. In fact, when I was in high school I believed that these were the 4 basic food groups: nachos, skittles, cold cereal, and popcorn. And I did my best to have at least one serving of each every single day. In fact, I remember back in those days that I couldn’t imagine myself going to a movie without having popcorn with it. It just seemed improper not to have popcorn. Then, after a few years of being married I started to actually realize the price that I was paying for my favorite treat at the movie theaters.
Does anyone else agree that the price of popcorn at the movie theater is outrageous?! I mean seriously, the price of popcorn at the theater is almost as much as the ticket (if you get a large anyway). Now, compare this with the price of bag popcorn you can get at the store. You can get a box of 3 bags for a little over a buck! Remember, I’m not an economist, but isn’t this what we call monopolistic behavior?
Yeah yeah, I understand that the theaters probably make most of their money on the treats. Whatever. Does this mean that they are going to go on strike, too? That would be hilarious, the theaters go on strike because they want a bigger cut of the ticket price. Then we’d really see the price of movie tickets skyrocketing and Hollywood would really be messed up.
It was a sad day when I had decided to stop eating popcorn at the theater, but it’s a decision I stand by. I just can’t see the point in buying stale popcorn for $5. So sorry movie theaters… not gonna do it.
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tags: Food, gripings, movies
Man, if I combine this with your previous post, the one about the actors going on strike, I think I can see the books industry going up and away!!!
You know, they wonder why people download the movies from the internet and watch them home instead of going to the cinema. Maybe it’s because the popcorn it’s cheaper at home! Lol!
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I always feel ripped off when I pay as much for a drink and popcorn as I do for the ticket. Which, by the way, is about $11 for an adult where I live. This is why we buy a lot of DVD’s.
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I’m sure its a huge part of their profit strategy. I’ve heard that alot of gas stations make more money from their treats and drinks than their gas too. Of course, that was probably before the recent gas price hikes.
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I couldn’t agree more. I love popcorn, but the price at theaters has become outrageous.
I would rather wait fore the DVD and stay home.
Your Friend,
Steve
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“I just can’t see the point in buying stale popcorn for $5.”
Hey, you’ve got it easy! The price over here in UK is around £4.75. That’s around $10!!!! It’s a complete rip off. I normally just buy snacks in shops rather than at the theatre.
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hi i m also agree with writter …..
this may effect on our pocket…..and we have to pay as same as for movie ticket, for popcorn .
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here in singapore, i guess the same thing happens. the popcorn n drink cost almost the same as the movie. i wonder why cinemas need money so desperately
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I couldn’t agree. It is one of the reasons I’ve cut back on going out to the movies all together.
Grab a torrent, grab some snacks out of the vending machine (in college dorm), and stay in with the girlfriend.
I hate the business model as a customer. The problem is, we didn’t think of it first. If I was the theater, I’d think it was a GREAT idea.
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Yes here in Canada it costs us about $20 to watch one movie. I mean, that’s crazy…. I usually wait until it’s available to rent and just get it on DVD. No wonder home theatres are so popular.
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I aways thought popcorn cost too much, perhaps we should all revolt.
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It’s so funny that I stumbled upon this post, cuz just about three hours ago, I went to see a movie and I noticed that they increased the price of popcorn by 75cents. I know it’s not much, but it still pisses me off, cuz I know that, they know that I’m gonna buy it either way…. (bitches)
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I agree with that the price of popcorn is outrages.
I guess living in the “one-state recession” has it’s benefits because at our theater they offer refills for .25
Ya gotta love that.
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I agree with this a lot. I love your 4 basic food groups hahaha. But if you thought it was bad where you live. I pay $22 for a large popcorn and a large drink of coke from hoyts in melbourne, Australia. Its beyond a joke. That is way to much to pay, just like you have been experiencing.
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My boyfriend and I went to the movies not too long ago and we went to the first showing, which is the cheapest and both of us got in for $10 which was great. However, we are popcorn LOVERS. We need it, we live for it, our entire decision to go see a movie was based on the fact that we wanted popcorn. However, popcorn was $5.75! It’s really cheaper to just go out and buy a good movie than to take the chances to go and see a movie that may suck–In fact, the movie we saw did suck, so there’s my point exactly.
Great post!
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And after they gouge your pockets clean they want to cram you into a seat designed by some masochist.
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In germany the same! 5 euro 50 cent for a the movie (for students) and about 4 to 5 euro for the popcorn!
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I aways thought popcorn cost too much, perhaps we should all revolt.
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Thats true. Theaters make some good money on treats. They are overpriced and the quality ought to be better. Theres no point spending almost as much as movie tickets on popcorns. But then every one has a strategy to maximize profits even if its not agreeable to everyone.
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Better prepare them at home ..and go to Cinema, not better for a first appointment
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The reason why the movie theaters charge an arm and a leg for their snacks is that they make close to nothing on the ticket sales, especially during the first few weeks of a film’s release. As the film gets older, the theater starts to make more of a percentage on the box office take.
But yes, I agree its crazy to charge so much for such crappy food. Yet people still buy it and complain about it.
Judge
Editor in Chief
Media Morgue
“Dissecting Hollywood daily.”
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Yes, it is too expensive.
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But it tastes soooo good!
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We are talking 5 dollars for a small popcorn!! I don’t even go to the movies anymore.
For two kids and two adults we forked out over $100 while we were on holidays…and we could’t stop thinking of the other things we could have done with that money…
Going to the movies often is only for the rich people or the ones that like wasting money!
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It’s always difficult to say ‘no’ to popcorn. But in the end, there’s nothing better than some home cooking. I usually keep some food in the fridge (except it’s broken now, and I have to buy some frigider parts…) and I forget about junk food. So, say ‘no’ to popcorn monopoly! The worst of it is that the price rise and rise. I think you actually pay more for your drink and popcorn than for the ticket, at least in some cinemas.
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Hey.. don’t say no to popcorn! To sweets I understand.. but popcorn doesn’t get you any bigger. And 5 bucks for that bucket of popcorn isn’t that much, especially because they taste so great!
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Yeah, the price is so crazy… we had to stop eating popcorn at the movies as well
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$5 is actually not that much compared to what we have to pay here in Europe… But still outrageous, I agree
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Dan Reply:
November 4th, 2008 at 7:00 am
So what do you pay there?
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