I'm cheap...I think I'm (mostly) giving up going to a movie theater

[Copanut]

Yo, Teach, loosen up a little.

[Mr. Ryu]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I usually go to the Sunday 9 AM showing. Very few people. And if I time it right, I can catch a 2nd one. Cuts the price in half.��

I also do the same. Go in the AM and the price is usually cheaper with less people.

[oeccscclhjhn]

Most of the movies I go to are limited release, so most times only a couple other people interspersed throughout the seats.

[calnbs]

Home Theater equipments are very affordable now, it's not worth going to the theater anymore. Plus, movies come out pretty quickly now, not like in the past were it takes forever to be release in DVD, Bluray, 4K, stream, etc. Ever since I purchased my own theater system, I barely go to the theater now.

[William Taylor]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

Not at all. It has nothing to do with what I can afford. Median income in the U.S. is about $60,000; even in retirement I am earning $89,000 a year. I have 3 times the median savings of Americans. I have a mortgage free house and have no debts, including none on my car.

Just because one is doing well does not mean that one does not look at something and ask is the cost worth the value. I got there a little early yesterday, so first I sat through 21 commercials, and that's not counting the 8 previews...just plain old television-style commercials (except longer). And if I'm going to sit through 25 minutes of commercials, 20 minutes of previews, and then a 2 hour + movie, then yes, it seems reasonable to have a snack. Then I was stuck sitting next to a family that talked during the movie and the husband, who sat right next to me had B.O. And I couldn't move because 1) this theater had assigned seating and 2) the the theater was completely full.

So, unless it is one of those films that you just have to see on the big screen ("Star Wars", for example), or seasonal (I'd like to see the Dickens film in December), is the cost of tickets and basic snacks worth it? I'm not so sure it is since most of us have widescreen stereo televisions at home, along with premium cable channels and Netflix and/or Amazon prime.

And by the way, the senior savings is a whopping 51 cents per ticket. Big whup.

May I offer a suggestion? ....Why not go the movie house a little bit earlier and purchase your ticket and then go somewhere to eat, and then come back to the movie house(where you won't have to wait in line again to purchase a ticket) either right on time, or around 10 minutes after the show time, and that way you can not only skip the commericals, but you can also skip most of the previews?

And as far as senior savings is concerned, like bargain day, most theaters have Senior bargain day where there's significant savings all day long.

[jetgraphics]

HTPC v. MOVIE THEATER
-Why I Don’t Go to the Movies-
[Seating] - their seats and my seat do not a match make.
[Sound] - rarely is the sound “right.” Either too loud, overly dynamic, bass boosted to annoying levels, or unintelligible dialogue.
[Visual] - rarely do you get the “perfect” seat location.

-Why I like My Home Theater Personal Computer -
[Seating] La-Z-Boy recliner / rocker - always the “best seat”
[Sound] - 5.1 audio (and optional headphones)
[Visual] - 7' wide screen and 1080p video projector
[Customizable] - Software adjustable parameters, and the ability to pause, while attending to other needs

[tijlover]

Cheapskate here says: What's the rush????????

I haven't been to a movie theatre in over 30 years.

While traveling in Latin America, I'd bring back stacks of pirated DVD's for as little as 75 cents, including a perfect copy of Gone With The Wind. The big library here sells used DVD's for $2, and I just picked up 40 of them from a recent trip, or I'll pick them up cheaply at used thrift stores or Swap Meets!

Who cares if you see a movie recently released or 10-20 years later? I'm in no rush, as I have other priorities with my limited income!

I have to when I tell a friend, co-worker I just watched a certain movie, and?

"That movie was made in the late 80's and you're finally seeing it????"