Standing in line at the
Oxford Valley Movie Theater
on a recent Friday night,
Danny Romero, 20, stood with
friends looking up at the electronic
selection board, trying to
decide what movie they wanted
to see. Finally settling on
“She’s Out of My League,” he
stepped towards the counter
and grimaced as the taker
announced the cost for one student
ticket: $11.
“It’s killer, man,” Romero
said, shaking his head his head
and laughing as he handed
over the money and grabbed
his ticket. “Seems like every
time I come to the movies, the
prices are jacked up a little bit
more. It’s real beat.”
It isn’t just in Romero’s mind
– movie tickets have been rising
at a rapid rate, with prices
increasing $0.50 for all normal
tickets (and $1.50 for 3-D)
tickets at United Artists 14 at
Oxford Valley effective March
26. Another local theater,
Neshaminy AMC 24, has kept
their prices at $10.50.
According to a ticket-taker at
United Artists14, the rising
ticket costs are not benefitting
the movie theater as a whole.
“We don’t increase the ticket
prices because we want to- we
[the theater] are not making
any money off of the increase
in the prices,” said the tickettaker,
who asked not to be
identified.
“Our profits come from our
concession stands, which is
why the prices are what they
are.”
Movie Theaters nationwide
cite higher operating costs and
equipment needs as reasons for
the increase in ticket prices in
the past decade especially with
the introduction of more 3D
movies. With more than 24
movies coming out in 3D
between now and the end of
2010, many theaters are raising
their prices to attempt to collect
revenue to install new 3D
systems or update the ones that
are currently in place.
According to the National
Association of Theater
Owners, the average move
ticket cost $5.39 in 2000 – less
than half in some cases of what
tickets cost now. This cost has
risen every year since 1994,
with prices jumping 30 cents
or more every year since 2006.
The high cost of movie tickets
has impacted both adults
and students. Pat Reda, 20, a
friend of Romero’s who was
with him at the movies said,
“$11 is way, way too much to
spend on a movie ticket every
week. I don’t mind doing it
once in a while, but I work too
hard to blow two hours salary
on a movie every week. I think
next week we’re going to go
bowling instead- it’s fun, gets
me more active, and is cheaper.
All around win.”
Students in particular have
been working to find different
things to do to maximize their
money for entertainment.
Many have taken advantages
of popular attractions in the
area, including laser tag, bowling,
hanging out at houses
instead of going out an miniature
golf.