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Movie Theater Chain Experiments with Recession Specials

Posted on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 by Peter Sciretta

Popcorn

The Carpetbagger reports that some movie theaters have begun experimenting with “Recession Specials” in an effort to get people into the theaters during the week. Carmike Cinemas, which operates 2,276 screens in 36 states, is offering 16-ounce sodas and 46-ounce popcorns for $1 each on Tuesdays to try to lure the masses.

As you probably know, exhibitors make most of their money off concessions, especially in the first week of release. So taking a hit at the concession stand will probably result in minimal profit. The hope is to build customer loyalty, bring attention to digital and 3-D projection upgrades, as well as encourage other non-discounted concession stand purchases. While ticket sales are 14% ahead of last year’s January-February take and a full 23% stronger than the first two months of 2007, Carmike is seeing a a significant drop in concession sales.

Discuss: Would you go to the movies on Tuesdays if they offered $1 Sodas and Popcorn?

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  • there used to be a really cool promotion at the theater chain here...it's used to be two dollar Tuesdays...were admission to any film as many as you want was 2$ a pop on a Tuesday ...I don't know if AMC or other chains have similar promotions but it really had a lot of people seeing movies on a usually quiet weekday...
  • Carlito
    That's how it here. The closest theater to me is a Carmike Cinema that is about 30 minutes away.... And they only show 4 movies a week.... But hey, the tickets are only 3.50$ So maybe I can get to a show on Tuesdays to get the 1$ prices, since I'm homeschooled :)
  • It would be a nice touch to see this in cinemas in Britain (especially the cinema I frequent which is the largest - screen-wise - and has many patrons), because when I do feel a little peckish and wish to buy something inside, your looking at £5/$10 for a bottle of Coke and a bag of M&M's.
  • Elvis
    Four Star Cinemas in Garden Grove, CA.
    $4 before noon 7 days a week
    $5 from noon to six 7 days a week
    Tuesdays $3 all day for everyone
    All four theaters are digital presentations. First run movies.
  • I actually like going to the theatre on Tuesdays w/ Regal Theatre chains b/c if you have their Regal Member Card, you get a free popcorn! And membership is free!
    They've been doing that for a while now...
  • I did not know that. Hmm...
  • awesome
    what kind of awesome job do you have with that kind of flexibility? I want that job.
  • My movie theater only shows 3 movies at a time and no stadium seating. We use to have a better theater that showed three movies, too, but it got closed down because the roof was falling on people's heads. Now three movies only come a week. Huhhh...
  • Nathan Name
    I prefer the theater on "off" days... these kids don't even act like they are watching the movie anymore
  • Jeff W.
    I only go to the movies on Tuesdays, which is when ticket prices are only $6. The rest of the time ticket prices are $10.50, screw that! When I really want to see a movie on another night I just sneak in, it's quite easy.
  • That's nice to see. The AMC and Regal Cinemas in my area have decided to do the opposite and put the screws to people by cutting back their matinee times and upping their prices.
  • Binaryshock
    even at a buck each they are still bringing in some major cash if they get a decent crowd. to fill one of those cups costs 10 cents if that, and it's probably the same with the popcorn.
  • yeah read the post jackass. the FIRST showing on a thursday afternoon. people DO have work and school to take care of.
  • I would definitely wait a few days longer for some concession specials. I already don't go on the opening night because of the huge crowds so the people like my are already getting a deal just for going to watch a new release on a Tuesday.
  • I actually like going to the theatre on Tuesdays w/ Regal Theatre chains b/c if you have their Regal Member Card, you get a free popcorn! They've been doing that for a while now...
  • Regal Cinemas definitely needs to implement something like this. Anytime I go to a movie with my family, we usually get drinks/popcorn...and our final bill ends up being like 50-60 dollars (if not more) with everything. So, yeah...i would totally go to the Regal near my house on a Tuesday night if they offered specials. Never even heard of Carmike though.
  • blink182pac
    whats this rated, hahahah
  • nbguy
    In New Brunswick, Canada, Empire Theatres offers a free regular soda and a free regular popcorn with every adult ticket from Monday-Thursday. Super cheap.
  • gabor
    I hate popcorn-munching and soda slurping. They're the main reason I avoid movies these days (these years). If they sold these that cheap, people would buy and munch and slurp even more, which would make the movie-going experience even worse for me, so I would avoid even those titles that I do watch at cinemas. I understand that popcorn and soda are part of the western cinema culture... yet thes still get on my nerves. For me, eating and drinking belong to the restaurants and the pubs - movies (especially great movies) deserve an awed silence, immersion. Which is hard to achieve when a guy next to you makes various, loud noises.

    Okay, that's enough, I'm sure nobody's interested in my whining. :)
  • If they went to my job, covered my shift and gave me the money, then sure, sounds like plan!
  • Konrad
    MAKE MOVIES FREE.
    The amount of increased candy, popcorn, soda, etc purchases would make the theaters richer than every bank in the world was two years ago.
  • wow, some people just DON'T read the posts do they?

    the THEATER doesn't make much money off of the TICKETS. the studio does.

    how are the studios supposed to make movies if they're free?
  • REAL6
    $5 is still good. Try living here in NYC, its $12.50. Such a fucking rip off...

    IMAX is $16
  • brnz
    i can't believe that guy is complaining about 5 buck tickets. that's such a good deal.
  • yeah, a $5 ticket at noon...on thursdays. how often do you think i'm free then? (not that i'm some super busy workaholic) i'd rather have a buck off and go when i want.
  • count me in...totally worth it in my book....spending $2 is much better than spending $37
  • i don't think there's a Carmike where i live now, but when i'm home on Spring Break in a few weeks, i may have to catch a matinee of "Last House on the Left" with some cheap eats.
  • i understand about the whole school thing. here in Cincinnati, the local AMC used to offer $1.00 off ANY show if you flashed a local university ID. i went to see "Quantum of Solace" there last year and was told that the "student discount" had been moved to the first show on Thursday afternoons, but the new price was $5. i have not returned to that theater.
  • I work at a movie theater that serves food (Studio Movie Grill) so we're largely unaffected by the recession...if anything, it's helping. We've been busier and busier every weekend.

    To answer the question though, no. I don't like popcorn and I usually eat before/after I go to the theater and I rarely ever like to drink while watching a movie so I don't have to pee like when it happened during LOTR 2 and Benjamin Button.
  • That's awesome. There really needs to be more movie theaters in the US that serve food. I found that it was really common overseas, but not in the United States...
  • jobless
    as a bit of a health nut, the cheap popcorn and soda pop would not draw me to a theater.
    how about offering some healthy alternatives to the death hot dogs and nachos that they sell at theaters?
    no that doesnt sound profitable...
  • A. J.
    Theaters are lucky people were buying their snacks and drinks for as long as they have. Their prices are bullshit. Why the hell should I pay that after I just bought my ticket. Do they think the public is really that stupid. Lower concessions would make me think about taking my family to the theater more often.
  • it is a ripoff yes, but that's where they make the bulk of their money.

    the box office isn't really their source of revenue.
  • Damn. Too bad I have classes late on Tuesday. Carmike is the only theater in Marquette. It's kind of depressing. They don't even have stadium seating. I hadn't been in a theater without stadium seating in like 5 years when I moved up there for school.
  • dang. that is weak. i can't remember the last theater i was in that didn't have stadium seating.
  • yes, i would go on Tuesdays if I had a car and time off work, but sadly I don't.
  • yes, i would go on Tuesdays if I had a car, but sadly I don't.
  • MovieFan
    That's a start, but prices are ridiculous! They should lower concession prices and also provide some healthier choices.
  • It would help that's for sure.. I'm such a geek I request off Tuesdays and Fridays as my days off. Tue- $1 theatre and new releases and Fri- openings.
  • I almost ONLY go to the theater on Tuesdays, there's a local theater that sells all tickets for $4.20 on Tuesdays. But sure if a local theater started selling concessions for $1 I'd go for sure.
  • I don't go the the movies that often on Tuesday, with school and all. But 9 times out of 10 I do get something to eat at the concession stand, reduced prices would definitely give me the incentive to go. It's truly ridiculous when they charge ridiculous amounts for servings, maybe they're finally getting the message.
  • Biznass
    If they offered $1 popcorn and sodas on Tuesdays I'd be there in a second. Totally worth it. Now all they have to do is get tickets under $10 and I'll be at the movies every day.
  • you can keep dreaming. ticket prices can't go down, (as the article explains) they don't even make all that much off of them.
  • RUtalking2me
    $1 is a lot better value for what you get, so it'd encourage me not to sneak in my own stuff; yes, they make more off the concessions but there's a limit to how much people will put up with paying 3, 5, 10 times the "street value" for a Coke and some Milks Duds!
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