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I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

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Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#251

Post by rhplus »

yellowbkpk wrote: post #135
rhplus wrote: post #116

2. Ticket prices are too high. People have always made that complaint, but historically the movies have been cheap compared to concerts, major league sports and restaurants. I had to check this claim, because inflation and purchasing power can fog people's memories. Using average U.S. ticket prices[1] adjusted to 2010 dollars[2], I get the following: Year | Price | 2010 price adj. w/CPI ------------------------------…

Taking your "average ticket prices" data from the National Association of Theatre Owners is a bit disingenuous. I imagine they're averaging over time (rather than per-theatre-attendee or something), which would tend to favor the cheaper, daytime prices. When people go to the movies it's usually after work and on the weekends when ticket prices are $10+. I've seen prices well above $10 everywhere from small town Iowa…

The "average" is the mean of gross revenue ($10.6 billion for 2010) over audience numbers for the year (1.4 billion). This would include both 2D and 3D movies, plus matinee and child ticket prices. It's not clear if they include 3D glasses "rental", but my main assumption is that NATO has always calculated the average this way and they are always truthful with their totals (could be a big assumption).

I agree that a mean loses a lot of information about how ticket prices are distributed. It would be very interesting to see how these numbers trend over time for various percentiles - 5th for cheapo tickets, 50th for median, 95th for high end...

Sources:

http://www.natoonline.org/statisticsadmissions.htm

http://www.natoonline.org/statisticsboxoffice.htm

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#252

Post by wisty »

bradly wrote: post #51

The problem is movies have become too expensive to make. When a movie cost 100-200 million dollars to make, studios believe that to be successful they must make, or more typical take, a brand and develop a movie around that brand. Studios need a brand that ideally people already know that they can franchise into a cartoon, plush dolls, a theme park ride, and 3 sequels in hopes to try and get the 150 million back. Thi…

One thing you are missing is how much they try to distort theatre takings. Because audience numbers (or take, compared to the other movies) will determine how much they get for TV rights, DVD rental profits, and how much the DVD shops will push their product, they just want to sell seats.

They pour more and more money into in-cinema ads (where else to you get movie-goers?), which kills the incentive to go to the cinema. But the cinemas don't really care if overall number go down a bit, as long as they get the advertising dollars. And the distributors don't really care, as long as they can push their movie to the #1 spot, even if overall numbers are down.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#253

Post by wisty »

ubercore wrote: post #32

One thing that's become an issue for me, at least at my local theater (and I admit I may be in the minority here), is volume. Now, before you pull out "too old" or "don't be a wuss", I'll say that I'm only 29, and I play in a _loud_ rock band, and go to many loud concerts. I am no stranger to loud things, and have permanent tinnitus to prove it. I still enjoy concerts as much as I ever did, but I've found myself brin…

Go to a cinema in China, where they seem to not have any noise control laws. It's shocking.

I saw Transformers II, and Sucker Punch. I couldn't understand the translation, but it's not like the plot really suffered.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#254

Post by projectionist »

megaman821 wrote: post #185
tptacek wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I went to an Alamo in Houston and while I liked the concept, the theater was a bit dank (which I worry is an inevitable result of serving beer and food) and not a place I'd prefer taking my kids --- which is relevant because "family of four" seems to be the core market for blockbuster films. I like Alamo, don't get me wrong, but there are downsides to the model.

I don't think you could take your kids to Alamo unless it is a special event. It is 18+ only.

One of their household rules is that "Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian". http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/10/alamo.draft...

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#255

Post by vl »

archangel_one wrote: post #35
tsunamifury wrote: post #8

I like that some independent films are beginning to branch out in their strategy. For example, one of the best films of the year -- Margin Call -- was released on a variety of streaming services the same day it was available in theaters. Sometimes I like watching a movie at home, other times I'm looking for a chance to go out. Dates will probably always involve movie theaters for my girlfriend and myself -- even if I…

Totally agree on the TV. The Christmas episode of Downton a few days ago was encroaching on the length of a movie and much more interesting than nearly all of them. Let alone the fact that it's free to watch and we could record it etc.

Come on, Christmas episode of Downton Abbey is a disappointment: annoying dude popping up all the time when Mary was talking to other dude, predictable Bates story, ghost of the dead bride wishing Mary and annoying dude happiness, and most of all, mixed servant-master ball (after two self-served events, because servant had time off)?? Seriously? What's up with that?

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#256

Post by antihero »

msluyter wrote: post #34

I think Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is doing it right: 1. Food & beer/wine served with movie -- convenient and much preferable to overpriced popcorn. 2. Cellphones must be turned off. 3. They take talking seriously, and preface each film with a strongly (and amusingly) worded statement to that effect. 4. No babies allowed except on specified baby nights. 5. Creative and fun special events, such as quote-alongs, sing-a…

Exactly, a good night like that is awesome. We recently had a Horror Night in the back room of a pub, so we had pies and ale delivered to us (I literally ate two pies as they were fairly priced and goddamn awesome), and it was a lovely atmosphere, everyone sitting around on chairs, the odd technical hitch providing a smoking break. Absolutely awesome.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#257

Post by wwkeyboard »

msluyter wrote: post #34

I think Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is doing it right: 1. Food & beer/wine served with movie -- convenient and much preferable to overpriced popcorn. 2. Cellphones must be turned off. 3. They take talking seriously, and preface each film with a strongly (and amusingly) worded statement to that effect. 4. No babies allowed except on specified baby nights. 5. Creative and fun special events, such as quote-alongs, sing-a…

TXJS was at the Drafthouse last year. Best conference venue ever.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#260

Post by foxit »

qdog wrote: post #72
msluyter wrote: post #34

I think Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is doing it right: 1. Food & beer/wine served with movie -- convenient and much preferable to overpriced popcorn. 2. Cellphones must be turned off. 3. They take talking seriously, and preface each film with a strongly (and amusingly) worded statement to that effect. 4. No babies allowed except on specified baby nights. 5. Creative and fun special events, such as quote-alongs, sing-a…

Alamo Drafthouse was great last time I was there (crap...6 years ago?). For those of you not fortunate enough to get to Austin, the seating was not regular theater seating, you had some space and a table area for your food and/or bucket of beers. They often showed silly movies like Halloween I, where people will yell out things like "Don't open the door!" There is also wait staff, so you placed an order and they brou…

A surprising number of the old Portland theaters serve beer and food. The one I've been to (haven't visited them all) that serves you at your seat is McMenamin's Mission Theater at 16th and Glisan. I haven't been to Living Room Theaters on 10th, but they serve you at your seat, just not while the show is in progress.
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