In an Andy Rooneyesque rant about how his latest movie-going experience "left much to be desired," CBS White House correspondent Mark Knoller hinted he wouldn't mind seeing liberal consumers groups tackle hefty snack prices at the nation's movie theaters. He even suggested the short titles for two bills Congress could draft on that front.
From Knoller's November 12 Couric & Co. blog post (emphasis mine):
The fact is, most movie theaters are glorified snack bars. On average, they keep only 50% or less of the ticket price, far less for blockbusters in their opening weeks. Much of a theater’s profit comes from the concession stand.
Regal, one of the nation’s largest multiplex chains, reported the 3rd quarter profit margin at its snack bars exceeded 86%.
And the markup – especially on popcorn – is eye-popping. The Los Angeles Times last year calculated that just $30 of raw popcorn can translate into as much as $3,000 in sales at the snack bar.
That sounds like a markup that would make the oil industry blush.
[...]
But it wouldn’t surprise me if some consumer-oriented member of Congress tried to address these concerns in legislation.
Imagine “The Truth in Movie Start Times Act of 2007.” It would require theater operators to begin their feature films within five minutes of their listed times – or members of the audience would be entitled to a refund.
Or how about “The Snack Bar Fair Pricing and Equity Act of 2007,” restricting markups on popcorn, hot dogs and soda sold at theaters and ball parks.
It sounds silly, but so does the idea of fat taxes that left-wing groups flirt with as ways to punish consumers for picking Big Macs over babaganoush.
Of course, even if Knoller's resentment at paying $9.50 for theater snacks doesn't prod Couric or her company to do an expose on Big Cinema, our friends at the Business & Media Institute can attest to the media's fear and loathing of oil companies, which the media frequently accuse of price gouging, unfair practices, and "windfall" profits.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Not to worry
November 14, 2007 - 16:09 ET by FastEdthe hillary will "want those profits".
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Look at it from the
November 14, 2007 - 16:23 ET by fitzfongLook at it from the perspective of the theater owners. If you're stuck playing shows like "Lions for Lambs" to empty theaters, you've got to find some way of recouping your investment or paying the bills. If Hollywood keeps churning out unwatchable crap, we'll see $100 per box Raisinettes before we ever see $100 per barrel oil.
Hollywood prices
November 14, 2007 - 16:34 ET by candanceIf Hollywood didn't charge us 10 dollars to see a movie, or better yet if they shared a bigger percentage with theaters, we wouldn't see the theaters scraping by on concession sales.
Reese Witherspoon gets paid 20 million dollars a movie. The guy handing you a bucket of popcorn probably makes a few bucks more than minimum wage. I guess "redistribution of wealth" stops at Hollywood's door.
card holding member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
Reese Witherspoon gets paid
November 14, 2007 - 16:39 ET by PeskyDaneReese Witherspoon gets paid 20 million dollars a movie.
OK, now just how the hell did that happen?
see for yourself
November 14, 2007 - 16:43 ET by candancehttp://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2582742.ece
card holding member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
Or how about “The Snack
November 14, 2007 - 16:36 ET by MidAmericaOr how about “The Snack Bar Fair Pricing and Equity Act of 2007,” restricting markups on popcorn, hot dogs and soda sold at theaters and ball parks.
So why isn't our little socialist friend demanding wholesome snacks like apples and assorted organic twigs and berries?
Actually, I'm kind of with
November 14, 2007 - 16:37 ET by PeskyDaneActually, I'm kind of with them on this one. I've brought my own popcorn and soda plenty of times. Never had my napsack searched, never been told I can't bring food into the theater.
It's hard to tell how
November 14, 2007 - 16:46 ET by balboaIt's hard to tell how serious the writer is, or if he's just complaining.
Wasn't there a congressman that actually tried to introduce a bill requiring theaters to say EXACTLY what time the movie started? That was stupid.
Found it. It was Andrew
November 14, 2007 - 16:49 ET by balboaFound it. It was Andrew Fleischmann (D) from CT.
Unfortunately, the People's Fascist Republic of Connecticut
November 14, 2007 - 17:03 ET by RJis known for over-regulating all aspects of the business world and the lives of the proles....
Now that the Democrats and the unions completely control the state, that particular bill wasn't all that unusual around here.
A couple of weeks ago, an attempt was made to get a bill passed to have children grade their parents and turn it in to the authorities, er, I mean the teachers.
MOVIES
November 14, 2007 - 16:40 ET by lastconservativeinmaI have to ask this question again. Are liberals ever happy about anything. Does anything make them happy but AGW? Please someone give me an example of a happy liberal. Why do they continue their lives only to be unhappy tomorrow?
Directors and Stars are the real modern day Robber Barens
November 14, 2007 - 16:59 ET by Dee BunkThe theaters make almost no money off the films because the directors and A list actors take most of it. Theaters only make money by selling concessions.
This is a great article about how Greedy the elite in Hollywood are.
A Key statement from the article:
"In fact, neither side should be cheered by figures that describe an
industry that has increasingly doled out its wealth to star performers
and filmmakers, at the expense of almost everyone else."
A little info
November 15, 2007 - 00:40 ET by FowlerK9As a teenager and in my early 20's I was a manager at several theater chains. Not only does hollywood take upwards of 80% of the ticket price, movie theaters are forced to "rent" the movies. They have to pay a fee for each print they are showing. They also have to play it for a certain amount of time regardless of ticket sales. Also the movie bookers blackmail them. If a movie theater wants to show the next superman movie they have to agree to show 3 dog movies hollywood throws at them. If there is more than 1 theater chain in the same area then the theaters have to "bid" against each other. All operating cost come from concession sales. Payroll, film rental, insurance, utilities, supplies, equipment, replacement parts for projectors, ect all come from the popcorn sales.
So keep sneaking in your own snacks and soon you will only watch movies on your TV at home.
Well said. Especially
November 15, 2007 - 00:53 ET by fitzfongWell said. Especially relevant is the booking racket. I remember David Stern pulled the same scam when negotiating the NBA's television contract. In order to get the broadcast rights for the revenue-friendly NBA, the networks had to agree to subsidize that unwatchable revenue drain known as the WNBA. Entertainers can be really heavy handed when they want to shove social policy down everyone's throat.
Musing...
November 15, 2007 - 07:35 ET by UnsaneI have long mused to myself how different movies and Hollywood would be different if the government didn't force them to sell off the theaters 50-60 years ago...
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Do what I do at movie
November 15, 2007 - 07:39 ET by UnsaneDo what I do at movie theaters if you hate the high prices of the goodies. Don't f#!&ing buy anything there other than the ticket. If enough people don't buy, you force the theaters to lower the price.
Of course, there is a more basic problem for the theaters. Hollywood has been cranking out tons of crap recently. In the past 12 months I have only seen Casino Royale and Spiderman 3. I might see Beowulf next week. Other than that, Hollywood hasn't given me many reasons to even visit the theater.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
rolls eyes
November 15, 2007 - 13:05 ET by candanceIf enough people don't buy, you force the theaters to lower the price.
Have you even bothered to read the comments above your own? Theater employees will tell you straight out that boycotting the food would lead the the theater closing - not lower prices.
card holding member of the vast right-wing conspiracy
Economics
November 16, 2007 - 06:01 ET by UnsaneYes I have. Not familiar with economics, are you?
Enroll in ECON 2301 sometime.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
There is a small one-screen
November 15, 2007 - 14:40 ET by KarmaThere is a small one-screen theatre in a small college town here in NW Ohio that has played first-run movies (and others as well) for many years. The family owned operations' ticket prices have always seemed to be lower than the mult-plexes. Saturday & Sunday matinee prices were 1 or 2 dollars if I remember correctly. Their concessions are about 1/4 the price of their compititors who are about 10-15 miles away. If you don't mind standing in a long line outdoors on main street, it's a great value. However, it's been around 10 years since I've been to any movie theatre, since my kids have grown and I've aquired enough patience to wait until the DVD comes out.