What do you pay for things in your part of the world? We live in the north of the UK, last week myself and my wife took our two children (11 and 8 yrs) to see Finding Nemo (it's just been released over here!). It cost us £22.40 ($37.41 US) to gain entrance to the cinema, a small popcorn cost £2.80 ($4.68 US) and a small Coke was £2.00 ($3.34 US). Is this comparable with your country? are we cheaper or more expensive? According to our government the average wage in the UK is around £24,000 ($40,080 US) per year. The reality is around £16,000 ($26,720 US) per year. Just an interesting ball to kick around and get some comparisons. Hope to hear from you all soon, Michael.

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From scottamy404/Scott (3,412) on November 6, 2003 4:55:53 PM CST Hmm...I don't go to the movies very often but I think I paid $ 7.00 US dollars to get in. Drinks and popcorn range from 2.50 to maybe 5.00 depending on if you get small, medium, large, or Super size. All in all it sounds a bit cheaper here in Atlanta, GA. Just a little. Reply

From irc/Ian (5,554) on November 6, 2003 5:08:36 PM CST At the theater near my house tickets are $9.50 per person so $38 for four people to get in. I don't really have a good idea of what popcorn and coke cost as I never buy popcorn (I think it stinks) but I seem to recall a coke was $3.50. More importantly to me, are the moviegoers in your country the complete and total assholes they are here? I used to see movies in the theater quite frequently but I'm down to once or twice a year because of the total lack of consideration the audience shows for each other. I'm so sick of people: Walking in late (and we're not talking about a minute or two late we're talking 20 minutes late) Kicking the back of my chair or putting their feet up on it. Who leave their cell phones on and let it ring Talking on cell phones Talking loudly period Yelling out jokes to get a laugh out of the audience Talking to the screen (Hey lady, she can't hear you saying don't open the door.) Getting up a dozen times during the movie (If your bladder is that small or you have the metabolism of a hummingbird where you need to eat your body weight in food take a god damn aisle seat) Bringing babies or small ill behaved children (Learn some parenting skills) Bringing stinky foods from home Rummaging in purses/backpacks/coats Coughing incessantly (Take it the hell outside) Leaving their crap all over the floor (Just love stepping on gum and nachos) Having to discuss the movie during the movie Jumping theaters Violating personal space (Would you put your arm or coat over a stranger? Do you rub your legs against the person next to you? I actually had a huge fat woman jump into my lap during a movie when she got scared!) When I was a child I don't remember any of these things happening to the extent that I see them now. I just don't understand how they became accepted public behaviors. People are just savages around here. Reply

From michaelhowley/Michael (3,585) on November 6, 2003 5:32:36 PM CST Hi Ian, looks like pricing policies are similar to the UK, unfortunately it looks like you also get the same breed of Troll in your movie theatres as we do in the UK. Like yourself, I rarely go to the cinema; I find most films to be formulaic, derivative and/or a sequel of some other recently produced crap. All of the films have to get a certificate that will allow 15 yr olds to gain entrance, this is to maximise box office takings. With this in mind few risks are taken because a: the mental age is so low and b: the movie makers will not risk offence at any cost. I find it difficult to comprehend the fact that we are (supposedly) so prudish about sex scenes but will happily acccept, and expect, dozens of people being subjected to extreme and graphic violence. Rant over, time to lay down with a glass of milk and watch Arnie in, Cohen The Librarian. A nice, healthy, art-house film about a large boned library worker from Austria and his steady climb to the top of the ladder of local government politics. Michael. Reply

From irc/Ian (5,554) on November 6, 2003 6:07:58 PM CST The sad thing is that I would gladly plunk down my money to go see the latest and greatest formulaic regurgitation of a second rate novel/comic book with the rest of the sheeple but those same sheeple in the theater are so odious to me that I practically have to be dragged kicking and screaming. I'm at a loss though as to why the situation exists. Is it ill breeding? Poor parenting? Or is it a slippery slope where bad behavior has existed for so long that more and more heinous behavior isn't seen as being "that bad"? I've long flirted with the idea of opening my own theater. Something with large comfortable seats and shows movies without explosions drowning out dialog and don't have to have a back love story. Of course no children (of any age) would be allowed. The type of behavior I mentioned before would result in the patron being carried outside, tarred, rolled in crack, and tied to a stake at Civic Center to be torn apart by the addicts. lol, well at least I can dream. Until then, I have purchased a big screen TV, a surround sound system, a multi-disc DVD player, and a La-Z-Boy dual recliner couch. Screw the theater! Reply

From sheena/SheenaWilkie (13,039) on November 6, 2003 7:17:37 PM CST Wow and I thought I was sensitive. Reply

From irc/Ian (5,554) on November 7, 2003 4:52:11 AM CST It's not that I'm so sensitive, it's that the whole thing has become so overwhelming. I mean if somebody accidental bumps the back of the chair a few times I'm not going to sweat it. However, crossing one leg over the other and bobbing your foot so that on nearly every upstroke the foot hits the back of the chair is going to piss me off. Turning to look at my friend to see if she is enjoying the movie and finding a shoe an inch from my face is also going to piss me off. More often than not, those are the people I'm sitting in front of. I'm sure if things like this happened to you on nearly every visit you would soon grow tired of the experience. Reply

From john2/John (6,345) on November 7, 2003 6:12:42 AM CST I've been to the cinema (I think) twice in the last three years. Since I'm usually among the biggest people in the theatre I don't have a problem with people putting their feet up on my seat. I do have a problem with oiks several rows back throwing popcorn, mobile phones and kids who make a point of giggling inanely (and usually loudly) with even the suggestion that someone might take off more than their overcoat. I entirely share your annoyance at people with microscopic stomachs and even smaller bladders. Are people genuinely incapable of sitting down for two hours without consuming enough food to feed a small nation for several months? Said nation would probably need a year's GDP to pay for it at the hideously inflated prices people still queue to pay. Buying the DVD or video rarely happens since I usually only watch something once. Reply

From sheena/SheenaWilkie (13,039) on November 7, 2003 10:28:33 AM CST I was kidding ;- ) but I really think you and John need to find a better theatre to go to. I have never experienced anything like what you two describe. Reply

From tomas/Tomas (1,433) on November 7, 2003 10:33:38 AM CST While we are on the topic of pet peeves... the movie theatre personnel who think that LOUD is GOOD. I mean, going to the movies isn't like going to a concert or a night club. You are not supposed to feel, for instance the footsteps of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park in your breastbone! Or perhaps it's just me getting old (birthday coming up)? ;-) Reply

From caernavon/Mark (1,326) on November 6, 2003 7:28:03 PM CST Here in Boston a movie ticket is about $9.50 (matinees are about $7 or so...they used to be "cheap"). Popcorn is maybe $3-$5, depending on the size of the tub; a drink maybe about the same. Personally I haven't bought food at the cinema in years; I rather enjoy letting other people subsidize the cost of my ticket, thank you. That and the "butter" is sickening. Ian: everything you said, and more. We saw "Mystic River" a few weeks ago, and there was practically a fistfight a few aisles over because some numbnuts wouldn't stop talking, and *he* was offended. The ushers escorted him out the door. Reply

From kkphotos/K (2,358) on November 6, 2003 7:48:30 PM CST Before we moved from the US to England (the north) some friends told us that in estimating the prices we would pay we could just take the US price and replace the dollar symbol with the pound symbol. We didn't believe that, because at the time 1 USD was .6 GBP. But sure enough, that was the reality: a 10 dollar item in the US was 10 GBP, not 6. Reply

From rb/Rebecca (3,637) on November 6, 2003 8:26:35 PM CST Seeing as how it is a lot cheaper to buy the DVD when it comes out than it would be for my husband and me to go to the movie theater, we just wait. Unless it looks like one I really can't wait to see (the last one was Finding Nemo, and we just bought the DVD Tuesday when it came out...), we just hold off until we can enjoy it in the privacy and comfort of our own home. It is just better that way (and the popcorn is a lot better too ;-) ). Reply

From markj913/Mark (8,415) on November 7, 2003 1:32:47 AM CST Ouch! A full-price movie ticket here (probably cheaper than in some places) is something like $8. A large coke is three something; I bought (tonight) two large cokes and a large popcorn for $10.25 including tax. That was a special deal and not much more than a small popcorn and two small cokes would have been. The small cokes I remember were $2.99 each plus tax. Reply

From cypress/Mike (1,249) on November 7, 2003 2:13:46 AM CST $13.50 cdn for the movie, $4.50 cdn for a large pop same for popcorn. These prices are for the "new" BIG screen cinemas and the seating is actually very comfortable with good leg room. We also have a cheaper cinema, for the people who don't want to pay the high prices, $8.50 for the movie but the pop is still $4.50 cdn... As for the people who make alot of noise during the movie, I'm one for letting them know it pisses me off by standing in front of them... :) I like to wait till it comes out on DVD, unless it's something I really want to see. -Mike Reply

From john2/John (6,345) on November 7, 2003 6:14:29 AM CST Places can only get away with charging when people queue up to pay it. If nobody paid it they'd soon drop the prices. Personally on the rare occasions I go to the cinema I either stick to a small popcorn or buy something from the supermarket beforehand. Reply

From zal/Zal (5,557) on November 7, 2003 9:40:11 AM CST I live outside of Philly, and the prices here look like this: Movie tickets are $8.50/person, a small popcorn is around $4 and a small coke is around $3. So, to take 4 people to the movie, with popcorn and drinks, can easily cost $50. Ridiculous, in my opinion--especially when you can buy and own the DVD for less than $20, and watch it as many times as you want in the comfort of your own home. Reply

From michaelhowley/Michael (3,585) on November 7, 2003 3:29:27 PM CST Hi, once again here on Treasure Island (as the retailers call the UK) a DVD costs around £17.00 ($28.39). Must be as marvelous place to be a retailer. Michael. Reply

From perez/Frank (589) on November 11, 2003 7:07:36 PM CST I hate going to the movies...too expensive the movies are always dissapointiong...i have to pay for cable, so i might as well wait till it comes on tv, or buy a pirated DVD on the street for $10. Thats right , i buy pirated shit... up yours corporate america...lol Reply

From petermaystrenko/Peter (308) on November 13, 2003 2:27:41 AM CST Hi Michael, Doing the dutiful uncle thing, that movie cost me, my sister and 2 rugrats aged 4 and 7 the grand sum of $50 AUD. No popcorn, no coke and no icecream. The kids have been raised to not even ask as disappointment is ignored and besides which they've developed a distaste for things which aren't any good for them anyway. Easter is bliss - they can only handle a few small eggs! If you want to cry further. The Nikon D2 digi camera (don't know if its a H, etc) is coming out for $9,000 AUD. The D1 was released for $10,000 AUD. Now that our dollar is better against the greenback and pound it kinda still sucks that here's a camera that's going to cost the better part of $6300 USD and you see it advertised in US mags for so much cheaper. I think our average wage is in the vicinity of $25K pa. (definitely no greater than $30K) and that's before tax! Drinking helps cure the crying! Regards, Peter Reply

From michaelhowley/Michael (3,585) on December 19, 2010 5:08:04 AM CST Hi, This thread goes back a long way but I do have something further to add. My kids are now 19yrs and 15yrs and still into Harry Potter and asked to be taken to the cinema to see the latest installment. Nowadays, I've no idea how much everything costs, I follow the ostrich principle and let my wife pay the bills! However, the trolls still persist. Some total pillock spent the whole movie on his mobile phone! The conversation consisted of trite crap and would not have challenged a 5 year old, the language was foul and the IQ was lower than current UK temperatures (-8*C). To further compound matters somebody then removed their shoes in order to assault all in the vicinity with a foul, disgusting, indescribable stench of rotting, organic material (there, I tried to describe it and failed). Now I know why they call it an unforgettable experience, I am about to return to my own universe which is run by nice fluffy bunny rabbits. Michael Reply

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