Would you pay $19.49 to see The Batman?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Batman
CrystalRaindrops — 4 years ago(March 03, 2022 07:14 AM)
AMC Theatres has started to charge higher prices for Hollywood's most popular films — including this weekend's release of Warner Bros.' "The Batman" — as the world's largest cinema chain looks to get more bang from the biggest blockbusters.
Chief Executive Adam Aron on Tuesday told investors that the Leawood, Kan.-based company is bringing variable pricing to its theaters, an idea that U.S. movie houses have long resisted other than with matinees and other exceptions.
Aron said during a conference call that prices for "The Batman" this weekend are "slightly higher" than the prices the company is charging for other movies playing in the same theaters at the same time. This comes after the company previously raised prices at some of its theaters for weekend showtimes above weekday screenings, which tend to get lower traffic.
Demand-based pricing may be a novel idea for American movie theaters, though the practice is more common in Europe, where AMC acquired Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group in 2016.
Aron noted that AMC has had flexible ticket pricing at its European theaters for years. Variable pricing has long been the norm for other ticketed industries, including airlines and sporting events, as well as hospitality businesses such as hotels.
"AMC has been a bold thinker in the area of pricing," said Aron, whose pre-AMC business background is in hospitality. "One who is willing to take risk and one who is willing to lead and one who sees considerable upside opportunity for us ahead if we continue to be imaginative."
AMC did not immediately respond to a request for more details. The company did not say how much it intended to upcharge for more popular films, or what movies other than "The Batman" will be affected. Representatives for Warner Bros. also did not immediately comment.
According to AMC's ticketing website, an adult advance ticket for a Friday night showing of "The Batman" at the AMC Burbank 16 is priced at $19.49. A comparable screening for Sony Pictures' "Uncharted," which was released over President's Day weekend, is selling for $17.99 a ticket at the same location.
"The Batman," starring Robert Pattinson, is expected to gross more than $100 million Thursday through Sunday in ticket sales from the U.S. and Canada, according to people who reviewed pre-release audience surveys.
That would make it only the second Hollywood film to open with more than $100 million domestically since the start of the pandemic. The other was "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which opened with $260 million. People close to Warner Bros. are more cautious, predicting a debut of about $90 million.
Demand-based ticket pricing is controversial in the movie exhibition business. Some distributors have argued that theaters should offer lower prices for screenings of smaller movies to combat attendance declines for non-franchise releases. Movies geared toward adult filmgoers have struggled mightily since the pandemic, while studio action tentpoles have dominated the market.
Movie theater companies including AMC — which has a hefty debt load — struggled to grow attendance during the pandemic as patrons were reluctant to return to indoor auditoriums and Hollywood's film output remained lackluster.
https://news.yahoo.com/why-itll-cost-extra-see-002030788.html -
CrystalRaindrops — 4 years ago(March 03, 2022 07:29 AM)
I assume ticket prices will be cheaper than that at other theaters, but I don't like the idea of variable prices; other than maybe reducing the cost of tickets for the older movies (e.g., if a movie was released weeks earlier, then the price of a ticket could go down a couple dollars).
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MissMargoChanning — 4 years ago(March 04, 2022 12:19 AM)
I assume ticket prices will be cheaper than that at other theaters…
And I assume that you will be back to discuss this further???
You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
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️ Christina 1986-05-20 
— 4 years ago(March 03, 2022 08:28 AM)Cool, but some of that sounds kinda like mistletoe, not for more appreciation but not really what we want now though should be thankful for at all.
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MissMargoChanning — 4 years ago(March 03, 2022 04:13 PM)
I have never been inside of an AMC Theater, but at that price, I had better not miss a single second of the film!
They had better have waiters to serve us concessions at our seats…
As for the seats??? Those had better be gold plated toilets with a cushy place to park my rump! An ass squirter with warm running water would make the whole experience perfection!
You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night! -
WarrenPeace — 4 years ago(March 03, 2022 06:09 PM)
On the one hand, good idea to have toidies so that one does not have to leave to miss anything.
On the other, men being men will still stand up to pee blocking the view and will miss the bowl unless it is lit up somehow.
And the place would stink real bad from all those who crap.
And the noise from the flushing would be too much.
Bad idea.
Just have one put in your home theatre if you want that.
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall -
MissMargoChanning — 4 years ago(March 03, 2022 06:30 PM)
You are over thinking this, Warren.
Shut up, shake off, zip up, sit down, and just watch the damned movie.
Bad idea.
Just have one put in your home theatre if you want that.
I already have a bathroom…
Since I have a theater at home, I also have a pause button.
You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!
Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 