Movie ticket pricing???

[Epidemic]

Who knows how theaters set their ticket pricing?

Theater "A" 3 Screen 300 seater per screen.
Prime time ticket 4 dollars
Matinee ticket 2 dollars
Popcorn 2.50 dollars for big bucket is reasonably priced.

Theater B 12 Screen 350 per screen
Primetime ticket 9 dollars
matinee ticket 6 dollars.
Popcorn 5 dollars for big bucket.

Both running newly released spiderman.

How can theater B charge so much as compared with theater A.

Now I understand how there may be different taxes and such but ultimately I would think that the property tax would be one of the smaller line items.

I often hear that tickets bring no real profit to the theater and that the popcorn is the only real source of revenue for the theater. but that price difference seems too large to cover tax differences.

[jman01pa]

Most theaters are part of a franchise thus a huge over head cost being franchise fees. Also, every movie dont sell every seat out.

Most businesses are going to charge what they think they will get. Few will offer lower prices just to be nice and fair.

[omalleytrading]

They can charge so much more at theater B because people will pay it.

If everyone stopped going to theater B and went to theater A, theater B would close, or it would lower it's prices.

As long as customers keep packing theater B, they will always have high prices.

[Warthog]

Theater B is probably 10x better than Theater A...stadium seating, high back chairs, etc....that's how it is around here. And the price isn't that huge of a difference.

[pickel]

We go the matinee. Saw the Bourne Supremacy yesterday...$ 5.00 ea. . popcorn $5.00 for the LARGE Bucket.

[Epidemic]

Theater B is 1.5 times better with stadium seating. I would pay 1 dollar more for that.

I feel no compulsion to buy their popcorn because they are making a killing already on the tickets at theater B

As for there not being a price difference. Dang must be that new math

My family trip to the theater
theater A
5 tickets $20
5 drinks $10
1 L Popcorn $2.50
$32.50 to see shrek 2

theater B
5 tickets $45
5 drinks $20
1 L Popcorn $5

$70 to see shrek 2

[Warthog]

Then obviously you would go to Theater A....around here, it's either a theater that is high class, with stadium seating, excellent staff, great sound, high back chairs, etc. etc. like I said. The alternative is cramped seating, seating that allows any tall person to block the view in front of you, uncomfortable chairs, etc.

Warthog