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Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

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Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#41

Post by vasco »

jb1991 wrote: post #31
sbrother wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

wait... I don't think I've ever experienced assigned seats in a movie theatre. Is that a thing?

It’s the only way I’ve ever seen movie tickets sold outside of North America anywhere.

You can find both kinds, in europe especially the cut is very clear, commercial cinemas ALWAYS have assigned sitting. The kind you see at malls and have the Hollywood rotation of marvel shit movies.

Then you have smaller cinemas with indie movies, european movie festival rotation, etc, and many of those in at least 4 or 5 countries in Europe I can confirm do NOT have assigned sitting.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#42

Post by tdeck »

sbrother wrote: post #14
m463 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm finding that more and more, when I impulsively go to the theater and try to buy tickets at the door... I always find the only tickets available are horrible, like in the front row to the side. You want like F-6 and F-7 and get A-2 and B-2. And if I even accept this, the people in the choice seats invariably show up right when all the trailers are wrapping up. so - people buy tickets ahead of time, and it might be…

wait... I don't think I've ever experienced assigned seats in a movie theatre. Is that a thing?

I feel like the newer (e.g. post 2010s) theaters with more "premium" comfortable seats tend to assign seats these days. Probably differs by chain.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#43

Post by disillusioned »

voidfunc wrote: post #26
Lindby wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never been to a theater without assigned seats. Maybe it's a regional difference?

Regional where...? Never seen this in the Northeast.

It's shifted a lot in the past few years: AMC has assigned seating in most (all?) theaters, for instance. Our regional theater, Harkins, same.

Personally, I like being able to select the exact seats and pre-order popcorn and soda and just have it show up to me right as the trailers end.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#44

Post by kuboble »

delusional wrote: post #36
pjmlp wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In most European countries you only get reserved seats at big multiplex cinemas, stuff like Cinestar, NOS and so on. On the European Cinema network [0], reserved seats is a long gone concept. So not always a given that seats can be reserved online for cinema, depends on ones location. [0] - https://www.europa-cinemas.org

I don't recall having been to any cinema in denmark ever that did not do assigned seats. They won't check if nobody complains, but is is printed on the ticket.

In Switzerland it's a mix. The theater we use most frequently doesn't have assigned seats.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#45

Post by nebula8804 »

locallost wrote: post #27
nebula8804 wrote: post #24

I have been quite a heavy patron of AMC theaters these past few years since COVID ended. I have seen A LOT of movies play to empty theaters. I used to actually peek at many of the rooms when I left my movie and so many were downright empty. Its the norm and its probably why their stock is trading at $1.45 as of this writing. Its a dead (not dying, dead) entertainment option. When you are competing for the same 24 hrs…

It's not the ads, but they're not helping. I still like to go to theaters, but am thinking if not going anymore because I can't really take it. I don't go to AMC since not in the US, but where I go you can't even skip them because you never know how long it will be. I sat once for literally 40 minutes. It's also crazy expensive. So they need to do these things to stay afloat, but they're driving away the last people…

I don't disagree with you at all. Ads suck. But that ship sailed a long time ago. Just to provide some more context to AMC.

They are a US national chain and they don't run "commercials" just lots of trailers. They have recently announced that they have extended the trailer runtime from 20-25 mins to 35-40 mins. While this is frustrating they always indicate in the app which movies have the trailers (most do) and the approx length. As a result, patron who want to skip the trailers use the app for guidance and just arrive +35 mins after the showtime. Example: https://i.imgur.com/bsVf6AE.png

Given this system, I dont think AMC has really lost patrons because of the ads since everyone who hates them know exactly how long to delay their entrance to the movie room. It really is the other factor I mentioned (they are not compelling enough most of the time vs other entertainment).

One more aspect I forgot to mention is concession prices. Small popcorn is ~10$, small drink is ~7$ so ~17$ for basic concessions and that does not include ticket price ranging between 5$ on Tuesday special deals for standard definition all the way to $27.99+ for premium screen. If you are going to the movies you might as well watch it on their best screen. It gets expensive if you are bringing family. The reason for this pricing is the studio. They actually take a majority of the ticket revenue and they refuse to lower their percentage of ticket prices on the marquee titles (and also require 2 week minimum contracts in the premium screens even if the movie is a stinker)

The theaters are essentially just popcorn/soda vendors who just happen to show movies on the side.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#46

Post by BikiniPrince »

locallost wrote: post #27
nebula8804 wrote: post #24

I have been quite a heavy patron of AMC theaters these past few years since COVID ended. I have seen A LOT of movies play to empty theaters. I used to actually peek at many of the rooms when I left my movie and so many were downright empty. Its the norm and its probably why their stock is trading at $1.45 as of this writing. Its a dead (not dying, dead) entertainment option. When you are competing for the same 24 hrs…

It's not the ads, but they're not helping. I still like to go to theaters, but am thinking if not going anymore because I can't really take it. I don't go to AMC since not in the US, but where I go you can't even skip them because you never know how long it will be. I sat once for literally 40 minutes. It's also crazy expensive. So they need to do these things to stay afloat, but they're driving away the last people…

It’s guaranteed to start 20 minutes or more after the listed start time. I get my seat and I don’t even show up early.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#47

Post by yoz-y »

wodenokoto wrote: post #22

I remember I went to a small showing once as a kid. It was just our group and 1 lady in the theater. We got to small talk and the lady mentioned she had once been the only customer for a showing and told the projectionist that she didn’t want to be a bother and could come back and another day. The projectionist had apparently replied that it was no bother - they would roll the movie even if no one showed up!

When I was a kid I wanted to go see The Avengers (the o.g. one, from 1998).

I had to go to the cinema 3 times, because they would not do a projection for less than 5 people.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#48

Post by c0_0p_ »

qq66 wrote: post #38
compounding_it wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im assuming (though rare) it’s the same with flights. They keep the schedule for movies in case someone joins half hour late. Plenty of people visit my the cinema for all kinds of reasons other than the content (like sleeping in the AC among other things that come to your mind). Keeping the movie going rather than waiting for someone to show up and make it awkward would probably be better for customer service too.

Well it's very different for flights, they need the plane at the destination so they have to fly it. With movies it's probably just simpler to start the movie than to try to manage the logistics of not starting it, just to save 2 hours on the projection bulb.

These days that's probably true, but when a projectionist needed to roll the film and babysit the equipment I doubt it would be worthwhile.

Not to mention that film rolls do wear out overtime.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#49

Post by nebula8804 »

danillonunes wrote: post #39
compounding_it wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im assuming (though rare) it’s the same with flights. They keep the schedule for movies in case someone joins half hour late. Plenty of people visit my the cinema for all kinds of reasons other than the content (like sleeping in the AC among other things that come to your mind). Keeping the movie going rather than waiting for someone to show up and make it awkward would probably be better for customer service too.

This makes sense if someone bought a ticket and didn't showed up, but what if none was sold? They could just stop selling after a certain time and be sure nobody will be there late.

Studio contracts: The movies are delivered digitally on encrypted hard disks and when playing there is a ton of telemetry sent back to the studios. They are watching the theaters like its 1984. Studios have contracts indicating the play will play X times no more and probably no less(else studios might hold back the good movies). AMC keeps it simple. Play the movie even if no one shows up. AMC in particular uses laser projectors now so who cares. They ain't burning out any projector bulb.

Re: Empty Screenings – Finds AMC movie screenings with few or no tickets sold

#50

Post by linsomniac »

sbrother wrote: post #14
m463 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm finding that more and more, when I impulsively go to the theater and try to buy tickets at the door... I always find the only tickets available are horrible, like in the front row to the side. You want like F-6 and F-7 and get A-2 and B-2. And if I even accept this, the people in the choice seats invariably show up right when all the trailers are wrapping up. so - people buy tickets ahead of time, and it might be…

wait... I don't think I've ever experienced assigned seats in a movie theatre. Is that a thing?

Yes, it's been a thing for at least a decade, I imagine it helps with pre-sales online, though it may just be offered as a convenience. It really does help keep the movie from unexpectedly being a lousy experience; if you're stuck in a crappy seat, or your family can't sit together, it's because you picked those seats. As someone else mentioned, it also allows them to bring you dinner and provide that upsell as well.

Even our small independent theater in town has reserved seats, some of which are couches.

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