Despite 3D influx, summer movie attendance falls to 13-year low

Despite the massive influx of 3D films, summer movie attendance has fallen to its lowest level since 1997.

On the other hand, however, 3D, IMAX and standard ticket price hikes have all led to record revenue for the studios and theater chains.

Tickets sold from May through Labor Day are expected to drop 2.6 percent to 552 million, almost as low as 1997's 540.3 million tickets sold.

"The movies just didn�t excite people the way they needed to," says Paul Dergarabedian, president of Hollywood.com Box-Office. "When you raise prices and perceive that quality goes down, you have a major problem."

Revenue will set a record at $4.35 billion, a 2.4 percent jump from last year. The average ticket price will increase 5.1 percent from $7.50 to $7.88, thanks mainly to 3D and IMAX showings which cost $3 more, on average.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2010 13:07

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18 comments

JoeyMT

It's funny. I am not sure whether or not this is attributed to the rise in Internet Piracy, or whether or not this is attributed to the spike in movie prices. I love the theater experience, but it seems that whenever I go to the movies, I spend a small fortune. It could be $10-$12 just to get in, then an additional $10-$15 for snacks/drinks. It almost makes a movie night not worth it anymore. Disappointing really, because I used to love going to the movies.

31.8.2010 13:23 #1

elbald90

our local cinema has started showing films on a monday night for �3 its not the biggest or best place around but i go just to support someone who isnt trying to rip of their customers at every given opportunity

31.8.2010 13:37 #2

DVDBack23

Yeah tbh, I don't know where people are that have an average $7.50 ticket price..here in NYC it has been $11-12 for years now..

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31.8.2010 13:47 #3

biglo30

Its because most the those 3d movies didn't really utilize the 3D like we expected it too. For example Avatar(very overrated movie)in 3D only had a few boring scenes in 3D, most people who told me they watched it said they didn't even notice the 3D. The only good movie that was made in 3D so far was Final Destination 3D which I enjoy very much because every part of the movie had some 3D action.

31.8.2010 14:15 #4

dEwMe

Eh I attribute it 100% to the fact that if you put out crappy movies people are not going to pay to see them. Your movie sucks I'm not going to see it even if it's FREE...

Just my $0.02,

dEwMe

31.8.2010 14:27 #5

hendrix04

A) I know that I didn't go see several movies BECAUSE they were in 3D.
B) It is sad when attendance is low but revenue is the best ever. What does that say? Ticket prices are too expensive.

31.8.2010 14:59 #6

pirkster

Typically, entertainment dollars run opposite of economic conditions. When times are tough, Hollywood has historically done better as people choose inexpensive ways to entertain themselves. A movie is cheaper than a day at a theme park, etc. So in the past - history has shown that ticket sales *should* be up right now.

However, the industry needs to understand that overpricing their product has finally caught up with them. That's why sales are down. People are more selective about what they are willing to pay for. Movies are much faster to DVD now than they have ever been, so people choose to wait if they are on the fence.

31.8.2010 15:27 #7

baxter00

I agree with pretty much all of you. I used to go the the movies every
Friday for the matinee showing, whether the movie was first run or had been out a few weeks. Now, I wait for Netflix, as I have a family, and what used to cost me no more than $12, now costs about $35. We're on a fixed budget, so that money is better spent on things the kids NEED.

I also feel that movies pretty much suck nowadays anyway, so I don't have any love loss when a movie is pirated. I don't see the need to pay someone $20 million for 12-30 days of their time, then charge me $12 to waste 90 to 120 minutes of mine. Maybe that's why I like a lot of the Independent films that are finally getting their shot.

Anyway, just my two cents.

Oh, and as for 3D, they need to keep that an IMAX thing. Those movies are awesome.

31.8.2010 15:31 #8

alexeemo

Originally posted by elbald90: our local cinema has started showing films on a monday night for �3 its not the biggest or best place around but i go just to support someone who isnt trying to rip of their customers at every given opportunity We have a discount Cinemark theater that charges 1 or 2 bucks on Monday family nights. If you can wait for the movie to be out a while(sometimes it doesn't arrive until it's already on DVD) then it's not too expensive taking the whole family.

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31.8.2010 15:57 #9

Mysttic

I don't mind taking the kids there every once in a while for good movies like Toy Story 3, but for adults, I'd rather just wait for a 2D bluray version for good movies. I agree how most people saying the movie quality sucks of late, and that people shouldn't be forced to blow full price on a crap movie.

31.8.2010 16:00 #10

mike.m

Quote:The movies just didn�t excite people the way they needed to While I agree in the past few years there has been A LOT of crap movies, there have been the odd few that are well worth the watch (LOTR, District 9, Star Trek, Dark Knight, and many others). However 3D only works when the movie is made well and for 3D, and not just shot in 3D. Like the crap were seeing today (step up 3d (what the hell?), piranha 3d, RE: 3D, etc.)

Plus why would someone leave the comfort of their home to pay $12+ for a ticket, $5 for a water bottle, $10 for a snack, and to sit in a greasy smelling theatre where there is always someone who won't shut up, and not being able to pause or rewind the movie.

Theatre owners have to realize no one is going to pay for this crap anymore. They have to be more innovated and have the consumer in mind. Maybe start an online (digital) movie theatre. We're not living in the 80/90�s anymore where going to a theatre was the best way to view a movie. A lot of people have somewhat of a decent home theatre now. It�s time to move on with technology.

31.8.2010 18:40 #11

Tristan_2

Their probably going to blame "Piracy" On this one when like all the other posters said its Hollywood's fault! They made practically half the movies this year if not 90% movies in 3D, shoving it down. Plus the economy is so bad and hell other countries rather help others and spends millions of dollars to a country durin a Hurricane or a flood or a damn Earthquake their own citizens we get nothing! Hell if a small chance Acta does get passed which IT BETTER NOT it'll feel like everything we do is Copyright Infringement. Worse then the UK's law on this issue in my opinion

31.8.2010 19:18 #12

ThePastor

I think it's a combination of all of the above.

Now days most people have a home theater at home. They can watch Bluray, Netflix, Hulu, DVDs, Xbox or any of many many other choices. Their TV is almost as big as a movie screen and the sound is in Surround. Why go to the theater when you have a movie theater at home and your choices are MUCH greater?

Back in the day there were only three TV channels... (and then 4) They always sucked but that's all we had. Now there's hundreds of channels and they all still suck but because of the great many choices the numbers for each individual channel is down.
Same with theaters. There are just far too many entertainment choices. Theaters are bound to suffer.

3D is their lame attempt at saying... (You have to come to the theater to watch this because it is in 3D) much like Surround sound was for a long time.

Unfortunately for them, all Blu-ray protections have been broken and BD rips can be found around the Internet, usually before the retail even hits shelves.

31.8.2010 20:29 #13

KillerBug

Originally posted by biglo30: The only good movie that was made in 3D so far was Final Destination 3D which I enjoy very much because every part of the movie had some 3D action. Yes, there was a lot of 3D in that movie, but please don't call it a good movie; it was one of the worst scripts with some of the worst actors, and on top of that, everything was skewed in order to make something fly at the screen. I actually had to pause it and walk away after the VACUUM PUMP at the city pool developed 250PSI of PRESSURE, and then used the PRESSURE to VACUUM someone through a thin plastic pipe. If this is the best 3D movie yet, then I think I know the problem with 3D.

31.8.2010 23:39 #14

Ben79

If there was a decent movie in the theaters I'd go, unfortunately it's all crap at the moment.

1.9.2010 10:00 #15

Tecbot

not sure where the hell those prices are from but a movie cost $12 and a 3d movie was $15.75 last time I looked probably more now that was last year...if you want a drink that's $5 and $5+ for popcorn that's the real reason no one goes to the movies. looking at $70+ for 2 people never mind if you got kids going....

I ended up just buying a projector and ginormous speakers don't ever have to go to the movies again as for not seeing it right away that's ok ill wait the 2 months till it releases to save a few thousand dollars a year, yes i used to go to the movies at least once a week when it was about $10 a person with ticket a drink and a snack with the price over tripling no thanks.

1.9.2010 17:06 #16

Pride1

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Yeah tbh, I don't know where people are that have an average $7.50 ticket price..here in NYC it has been $11-12 for years now.. Puerto Rico = $6.25 Average, $8.25 3D