We took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks yesterday. It cost $80!
The tickets were $11 each. The popcorn was something like $6.50 and the drinks were about $5 each.
The popcorn came in sizes of massive or extra massive. The drinks were super large or super super large, and they didn’t have any juice.
Every business needs to make money and I imagine cinemas struggle somewhat in the face of competition from video stores and pay television, but the food and drink prices are virtual extortion.
We saw one parent smuggle sweets in for his kids, ruefully explaining it was just too expensive. I think we’ll do the same next time.
Juliet and I went out for lunch while the kids watched their movie. It cost us $71 for a three-course meal with a bottle of wine.
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I think cinemas fail to realize that the reason most people don’t go to ‘see a movie’ these days isn’t the convenience of rental stores, it’s the outrageous prices we face at the door compared to the more cost-efficient tags for a rental DVD.
The other day at the movies, I lined up for tickets while my girlfriend lined up for drinks and snacks. I asked her to get me a small popcorn, but she came back with a huge one.
"I asked for small!" I said.
"This IS small", she replied.
The thing was about 15 cm x 20 cm and 30 cm deep. Madness!