Mugging in the cinema...

Einhard · 27-07-2010 5:00am #1

So I decided to pop down to the local (only) cineplex here in lovely Kilkenny yesterday to see whether Toy Story lived up to all the hype. Now, generally I'm the type of person who shoves his change into his pocket without even checking it, or even the price at times, and I definitely wouldn't be one to yammer on the price of things. However, the bottom of my chin is still bruised from hitting the foyer floor when my jaw dropped as the clerk informed me that a single ticket was going to cost me €11. For a two hour movie. I couldn't believe it. I know it's in 3d and has all kinds of newfandangled effects, but that's a ludicrous price to charge for access to a cinema screen. And worse, this is a family film. I saw parents there with 3 or 4 kids, which must have set them back at least €50. Is this kind of pricing the norm in cinemas or is Kilkenny cineplex the Eddie Rockets of cinemas?

mikemac · 27-07-2010 5:34am

Pretty typical, much the same around the country.

I would think they sell child tickets too, they don't pay 11 euro

27-07-2010 8:19am

Einhard wrote: »

my jaw dropped as the clerk informed me that a single ticket was going to cost me €11.

Cinema pricing is controlled by the film distributors - not by the cinema.

The cinema receives a commission on each sale. - That's why the added extras are so expensive.

Same applies in most countries.

jor el · 27-07-2010 11:07am

And where did this mugging take place? Did someone steal the money from your pocket?

Nody · 27-07-2010 12:00pm

jor el wrote: »

And where did this mugging take place? Did someone steal the money from your pocket?

The clerk held him at gun point clearly with a big muscle guy at the door...

biko · 27-07-2010 12:07pm

Go earlier in the day if you can, usually cheaper then.
I went to Omniplex Sunday, was 6.50

Einhard · 27-07-2010 3:08pm

feelingstressed wrote: »

Pretty typical, much the same around the country.

I would think they sell child tickets too, they don't pay 11 euro

Child tickets were €8.50. Which amounts to €40 for two adults and three kids for a two hour film. Which is very steep for a trip to the cinema.

91011 wrote: »

Cinema pricing is controlled by the film distributors - not by the cinema.

The cinema receives a commission on each sale. - That's why the added extras are so expensive.

Same applies in most countries.

I didn't know that. Still, I've lived in France, America and Oz for times over the past few years, and never had to pay anything like what they charge here. Surely the commission would be the same or similar in the three markets?

jor el wrote: »

And where did this mugging take place? Did someone steal the money from your pocket?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hyperbole

biko wrote: »

Go earlier in the day if you can, usually cheaper then.
I went to Omniplex Sunday, was 6.50

No such luck in Kilkenny I'm afraid.

keithclancy · 27-07-2010 4:57pm

Einhard wrote: »

I didn't know that. Still, I've lived in France, America and Oz for times over the past few years, and never had to pay anything like what they charge here. Surely the commission would be the same or similar in the three markets?
.

Its 10.50 for Adults and 8.40 for Kids in Pathe here in the Netherlands anyway.

Must have been a while ago .. the 3d movies are a bit more expensive as they require a special projector I think.

azzie · 27-07-2010 5:55pm

Adult ticket for Toy Story at local cinema (France) €6,80 for adults, €4 children.

27-07-2010 6:02pm

azzie wrote: »

Adult ticket for Toy Story at local cinema (France) €6,80 for adults, €4 children.

At peak times? In 3D?

previous user · 27-07-2010 6:09pm

9 euro in UCI in Dublin, so not too bad I guess.

onlyrocknroll · 27-07-2010 6:18pm

I totally agree with the OP, some cinemas are totally overpriced.

The two nearest cinemas near me on the south side of Cork are Douglas and Mahon Point. I'm afraid that I can't remember the exact prices but Douglas is nearly half the cost of the more modern Mahon, and has far better deals such as student discounts that apply all the time. Mahon does not accept these on weekends.

And yet Douglas is nearly always empty, running off very little staff, and is closing soon. Mahon is thriving and always packed. Problem is Irish people don't make decisions with their wallets.

zuroph · 27-07-2010 6:21pm

Storm limerick, toy story 3 3d, €12.

I've taken to buying the student tickets online and paying the booking fee to get them for €9.40 no1 checks for student ID at the ticket check spot.

alex73 · 27-07-2010 6:29pm

11 euro is about right, (for Ireland) 3D price in Poland is €6.25 about 25 zlotys. (in a county where the average montly wage is €750 if you are lucky)

Toy story 3 not worth seeing in 3D, Avatar was great, well worth paying 11 euros.

The Lovely Muffin · 27-07-2010 7:25pm

I was at the cinema a few weeks ago to see 'Hot Tub Time Machine' and it cost himself €25 or €26 for two adult tickets iirc. That was in IMC Mullingar.

jahalpin · 27-07-2010 7:46pm

Luckily, in Dublin, we have Cineworld Unlimited which is only 19.99 a month and gives unlimited films (small additional charge per film for 3D films).

I go to a cinema at least once or twice a week and some months it only costs me around 2.50 each time I go to the cinema.

The card also works in all the Cineworlds in the UK, except for central London so is handy if you are over there for a few days

Terrontress · 27-07-2010 7:47pm

In Belfast, you can see any film, including 3D, on a Tuesday for £3 at the Movie House

http://www.moviehouse.co.uk/offers/

Cue the blah blah, different rate of VAT, different overheads BUT Tom Hanks got paid the same amount for what is being shown in Kilkenny as what is being shown in Belfast.

onlyrocknroll · 27-07-2010 7:50pm

jahalpin wrote: »

Luckily, in Dublin, we have Cineworld Unlimited which is only 19.99 a month and gives unlimited films (small additional charge per film for 3D films).

I go to a cinema at least once or twice a week and some months it only costs me around 2.50 each time I go to the cinema.

The card also works in all the Cineworlds in the UK, except for central London so is handy if you are over there for a few days

That sounds excellent! Wish there was something like that in Cork.

keithclancy · 28-07-2010 3:37pm

azzie wrote: »

Adult ticket for Toy Story at local cinema (France) €6,80 for adults, €4 children.

The evening show as an example in
Toy Story 3 - VF
Projection 3D

Pour les cartes LE PASS, les Chèques Cinéma, les Cinés Accès, les Cartes 3/5/10 places et toutes les cartes donnant droit à un tarif réduit, un supplément vous sera demandé pour ce film projeté en 3D.

Cinéma Gaumont Champs-Elysées Marignan

Vendredi 30 juillet 2010 à 19:25

Adult: 13.50
Under 12: 8.00
Student: 10.90
Under 18: 8.90

Late shows are always expensive.

keithclancy · 28-07-2010 3:41pm

Terrontress wrote: »

In Belfast, you can see any film, including 3D, on a Tuesday for £3 at the Movie House

http://www.moviehouse.co.uk/offers/

Cue the blah blah, different rate of VAT, different overheads BUT Tom Hanks got paid the same amount for what is being shown in Kilkenny as what is being shown in Belfast.

On a Tuesday for 3 Quid ...

Gate Cinema in Cork does offers too:

Early morning 11.00/11.30am @ €4.00

Before 5pm
Adult €5.50
Student/OAP €5.00

3D Movies: Standard/child €7.00
3D Movies: Student/OAP €6.50

Also do a family of 4 ticket for 20 euros.

3 quid on a Tuesday is useless for alot of people.

TonyD79 · 28-07-2010 11:21pm

91011 wrote: »

Cinema pricing is controlled by the film distributors - not by the cinema.

The cinema receives a commission on each sale. - That's why the added extras are so expensive.

Same applies in most countries.

Over in the Uk the local Empire cinema is £5 for where as the local Odean is £9.99. Also Empire sells them at £3.95 on a Tuesday so I dont agree the distributer setting the total price. Cinemas in Ireland thought make allways made there money on the food and not the tickets.

Terrontress · 29-07-2010 7:20am

keithclancy wrote: »

On a Tuesday for 3 Quid ...

Gate Cinema in Cork does offers too:

Early morning 11.00/11.30am @ €4.00

Before 5pm
Adult €5.50
Student/OAP €5.00

3D Movies: Standard/child €7.00
3D Movies: Student/OAP €6.50

Also do a family of 4 ticket for 20 euros.

3 quid on a Tuesday is useless for alot of people.

I'm sure it is but it is more useful to most people to go to the cinema at 9 on a Tuesday evening in Belfast than at 11am in Cork.

flower tattoo · 29-07-2010 7:51am

i went to the 6 pm show last monday week in Kilkenny and it cost €28 for a family ticket - 2 adults & 2 children. Each ticket was €7.

keithclancy · 29-07-2010 11:20am

Terrontress wrote: »

I'm sure it is but it is more useful to most people to go to the cinema at 9 on a Tuesday evening in Belfast than at 11am in Cork.

Not if you live in Cork. :P

Mimikyu · 30-07-2010 7:52pm

This post has been deleted.

The Lovely Muffin · 30-07-2010 9:20pm

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Nope.

His popcorn and drink was extra, don't know what they cost though.

Terrontress · 31-07-2010 10:45am

keithclancy wrote: »

Not if you live in Cork. :P

Well, that's true. Although with the new road you can make it between the cities in four hours apparently. Leave Cork at 5 for the 9pm showing of Hannah Montana's latest. Although I'm not sure the 600km's worth of petrol would be worth it.

double GG · 14-09-2010 10:25am

I know the wages are completely different but I was in Burgas in Bulgaria for the whole summer and tickets were between €1.50 (early mornings) and €3.50-4 for the 3D movies at night. Two tickets, Two large popcorns and drinks for two could easily be got for €10.

I went to the cinema in Ireland when I got back and paid around €36 for the same thing. Yes I know the salaries are extremely different between here and there but I just wanted to point it out.

keithclancy · 14-09-2010 10:36am

double GG wrote: »

I know the wages are completely different but I was in Burgas in Bulgaria for the whole summer and tickets were between €1.50 (early mornings) and €3.50-4 for the 3D movies at night. Two tickets, Two large popcorns and drinks for two could easily be got for €10.

I went to the cinema in Ireland when I got back and paid around €36 for the same thing. Yes I know the salaries are extremely different between here and there but I just wanted to point it out.

Thats actually a rip off for Bulgaria,

GDP Bulgaria: $12,500 / capita - Rank 89 in the World
GDP Ireland: $41,000 / capita - Rank 18 in the World

Purchasing power is completely different there.

14-09-2010 11:03am

double GG wrote: »

Yes I know the salaries are extremely different between here and there but I just wanted to point it out.

Guess how the salaries are paid? = Via the ticket prices.

Look at the number of staff in a cinema - counter staff, office staff, cleaning, ushers, managers etc. Staffing costs in a service industry are huge.

The cinema is an ideal product to compare in a similar way to the big mac index as most costs are reflective of the local economy.

How long does an average Irish person have to work to earn enough money for 2 cinema tckets, 2 popcorns & 2 drinks. - And then compare the same for bulgaria. Chances are it will be less in Ireland.

Clauric · 15-09-2010 12:08am

3D costs me €1.50 per ticket, in Cineworld with the monthly pass

T-Maxx · 16-09-2010 2:49pm

I can still stomach the price of a ticket - the price of the popcorn/coke/sweets on the other hand...:eek:

Slasher · 21-09-2010 10:12pm

There's an interesting article here that goes into the pricing in cinemas:

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/smart-consumer/smart-consumer-and-cut-how-you-can-reel-in-your-cinema-costs-2339269.html

Wickerman1 · 21-09-2010 10:19pm

I still miss buttered popcorn. The health nazi's did a job on that too!:(

Rockery Woman · 26-09-2010 5:18pm

T-Maxx wrote: »

I can still stomach the price of a ticket - the price of the popcorn/coke/sweets on the other hand...:eek:

True! Brought the husband to see "Clash of the Titans" a while back (it was ****e) between the tickets for the 3D film and small popcorn and coke it cost almost E40!!! It would be cheaper to go to the pub!!!! :pac:

I dont understand why the cinema is so expensive anyway - do they really have such overheads that they can justify what they charge? I know they have public liability insurance, but people are sittting down, not bungee jumping! And as for the popcorn - they dont seem to have 40 staff hovering around that need to be paid....., so why the big rip-off????

UrbanSea · 27-09-2010 8:32pm

Sligo do a fiver on a Tuesday all tickets (I think Tuesday),or so they did before the summer anyway,haven't being in ages. Think 3d were 7 euro or so those nights.

uSmellLikeSoup · 13-10-2010 12:56pm

Purple_Bobbin wrote: »

I was at the cinema a few weeks ago to see 'Hot Tub Time Machine' and it cost himself €25 or €26 for two adult tickets iirc. That was in IMC Mullingar.

Evening adult tickets in Mullingar are €8.50 each
Times two would be €17

Before 6pm the adult tickets are €6.50
Times two, €13

Hot Tub Time Machine was a normal 2D film and not 3D, so thats the max amount you could have paid.

Firblog · 21-10-2010 12:53am

uSmellLikeSoup wrote: »

Evening adult tickets in Mullingar are €8.50 each
Times two would be €17

Same price in Letterkenny for Friday evening.. plus I remember that they were found in a survey to have the cheapest priced popcorn..

d'Oracle · 21-10-2010 12:06pm

I would gladly pay more than €11 for the continued top quality productions from Hollywood.

Derp.

BornIn84 · 21-10-2010 12:09pm

its 5 euro for a bag of M&M's now in Vue and in Parnell in town....now thats a rip off!

Stinicker · 26-10-2010 3:47am

I went to see the avatar and was charged for the glasses, whats the general 3d glasses charges countrywide now?

Jesus Wept · 26-10-2010 3:55am

Wickerman1 wrote: »

I still miss buttered popcorn. The health nazi's did a job on that too!:(

It's not for health reasons. It's to cut costs.
They were spending too much on cleaning chemicals to take the butter off the seats.

Always follow the money.

meglome · 26-10-2010 3:56am

Was in the cinema in Belfast last week and on Tuesday night it was £4.

Went to Avatar 3d in cineworld... 2 x tickets, 2 x glasses, 1 x popcorn, 1 x drink and a bag of sweets. Over €40 euro for it. Have cut my trips to the cinema right back, maybe they'll learn.

Ghandee · 26-10-2010 8:53am

meglome wrote: »

Was in the cinema in Belfast last week and on Tuesday night it was £4.

Went to Avatar 3d in cineworld... 2 x tickets, 2 x glasses, 1 x popcorn, 1 x drink and a bag of sweets. Over €40 euro for it. Have cut my trips to the cinema right back, maybe they'll learn.

Nope, they'll never learn, I'm thinking Naas cinema is one of the dearest about!

Mugging in the cinema...

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