• R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      “Hey, we saved money by computerization, so we’re gonna pass that cost onto you!”

      “Don’t you mean ‘pass the savings onto us?’”

      :D “Nope!”

      • kevin2107@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Honestly they probably spend so much on devs to maintain their website that they don’t break even lmao

        • R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          The amount you’d save not hiring physical ticket sales workers would absolutely dwarf any amount of possible dev salaries for one website.

          • kautau@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Lol in my local cinema I have to use a computer next to the ticket taker to print my ticket I bought online and then they physically look at it to tell me which theatre I should walk to, it’s like Idiocracy’s costco

  • kamen@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    … and on top of that you have to watch like ten minutes’ worth of ads at the beginning. Ugh.

    • Sendbeer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I quit going to movies when they started blaring loud obnoxious commercials under the guise of “entertainment” prior to the movies supposed start time. Going to a movie used to be a social thing you did with friends, but now with them blasting that shit at you at a volume that makes talking impossible what the fuck is even the point? The fact that ticket prices are climbing to this level with this kind of jack assery is ludicrous. And don’t get me started on the 20-30 minutes of previews they show after a movies supposed start time. Just fuck this shit.

    • Dempf@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Nothing, it’s just an extra charge so that the company can make more money.

    • ZapBeebz_@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Nothing for the customer. It’s just convenient for the theater to charge more for the ticket.

    • ReaderTunesOctopus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Answer from another: nothing. We also have them in various places, like parking, or highway vignettes - you are not using their facilities, you save them money, so they charge you some extra

  • donut4ever@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Serious question, wtf is a convenience fee? There needs to be a law for companies to explain wtf these things are.

    • LetMeEatCake@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Convenience fee is the best name they can apply to soften a fee, which is really just a way for them to charge more than the list price.

      Fees should be universally folded into the list price by default.

      • donut4ever@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It’s fucking disgusting. TMobile does this shit, too with their “other fees”. My gym does this with a $27 a year “maintenance fee”. Like wtf is this?

        • SixTrickyBiscuits@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          You might be seeing fees I’m not, but some cell service are actually mandatory in the US. Usually a few dollars a month, they go to various state and federal agencies.

          • donut4ever@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I don’t know. I don’t mind the fee if it’s small, but at least give a name that shows it’s justified. “other fees” doesn’t mean shit

  • Infinitenonblondes@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I saw Indiana Jones today it had 25 minutes of trailers, an admonishment to not ruin the movie, Nicole Kidman telling me how great going to the movies is, and a commercial for the projector. So a movie listed to start at 11 started at 11:28. it’s fucking ridiculous.

    • scoops@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I find that pretty consistent for AMC. What ever the listed time is the film will play after 30min of trailers/promos. Its annoying but easy to plan around.

    • Bear@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      I got a $600 projector and have about 90 inch display ( can hit 120 if my apartment was bigger). No need to go to a cinema, overpay for drinks and snacks, and I can pause and pee whenever I want.

    • Obi@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      I have a very good setup at home but we still like going to the cinema once in a while, it’s more of an event and we don’t spend the movie with our nose in our phones.

      We do select movies where it’s worth it, big action, etc. Last one was the new avatar in “4D” where they splash you with sprays, the seats move and you feel the wind, pretty cool.

      • christophski@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        Maybe you should have a no phones rule when you watch a movie at home? Seems like a good idea otherwise what’s the point of watching

  • SojournerWeaver@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I go to the movies at least once a week. This is one of the few cases where the subscription is where it’s at. 25 dollars a month gets me three movies a week. I usually only see one but that nearly pays for itself the first week. It’s great!

  • ampedwolfman@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Have to hit the matinees. I take my son to a nearby movie theatre that has a full bar/menu and the tickets for he and I to go are around or under $20 for both of us. It’s like $9.25 per person.

  • generalpotato@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    For a family of 4 which includes 2 adults and 2 children, we’re looking at $100 for tickets and snacks easily. It’s crazy how expensive going to the movies have become. That said, I really like recliner seats + Dolby Atmos without having to worry about “getting the best seats”, so some of the hike is a little more digestible. Movie theater snacks though, now that’s highway robbery.

  • iByteABit@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is why you should support any surviving local theaters that aren’t chains. Monopolies aren’t created solely by the companies but with the help of the consumers too

  • BestBouclettes@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    We have some cinemas around here that offer an unlimited option. For a set monthly fee, you can go to the cinema as much as you want. Obviously you have to pay for all the extras (3D, popcorn and stuff). I have one and I go to the movies like 3 times a month on average.

  • JBonLemmy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    As a producer who aims to make 2-10 million dollar genre flicks, I don’t see why ticket prices shouldn’t be scaled to budgets. Don’t want to pay 25 bucks to see Avengers 16? Pay 10 to see a low to mid budget crime or horror flick instead.

    To keep profits up, theaters should bring back double features, intermissions, and sell popcorn with THC butter. Snack sales will explode.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      and sell popcorn with THC butter.

      Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

    • Powerpoint@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Theatres were dying before covid. People can get a better experience from home for less money. This is one of those things covid helped speed the death of up. Just like distributed working for those who have jobs that can be done remote offers better productivity with lower costs to employers and workers. Those businesses that fail to adapt will be brought into the future kicking and screaming or just fail to adapt and die off.

    • BnjmnBanks@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      We didn’t ask for a billion dollars in CGI. That’s their fault. That’s why people rather wait for their favorite site to have the movies and watch it from home. Even then… most movies are still disappointing.

      • JBonLemmy@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I agree with you that this summer of 300 million dollar studio flops is well deserved and that the unholy fusion of Big Tech and Hollywood has destroyed our industry. Unfortunately for TV buffs, the era of big budget streaming is now also coming to a close due to a mixture of labor actions, rising interest rates, and the simple fact that there are too many apps and none of them make money.

        The reason I prefer watching movies in theaters is because I enjoy communal experiences and feel good movies are enhanced by leaving home and joining a crowd. It’s the same reason I go to concerts, sporting events, and plays and comedy shows. Plus I am required to turn off my phone.

    • xT1TANx@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Why don’t you all get togther and make a kickstarter for films, to go around the big corporate structure. Some sort of non-profit film studio that’s devoted to creating creating great scripts and funding their production.

      • JBonLemmy@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Crowdfunding has been great for small indie video games and products and historically awful for film. Remember the Veronica Mars movie on Kickstarter? They raised a shitload of money from fans and then sold it to WB. We haven’t seen a high profile film crowdfunded since. WeFundr exists, but isn’t particularly killing it.

        To make a real movie with wide theatrical potential, you need people willing to put six and seven figures in. Investors in movies want equity and access. They want a piece of the potential profit, they want to visit sets, meet movie stars and directors, and come to premieres and festivals. They want to have a cameo in the movie or give their kid a job on set. They want to see their names on a screen. They want to give notes. They want to tell their friends they made a movie. They want to be a part of the show. It’s my job to facilitate these investments while protecting my filmmakers from interference.

          • Chailles@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Stop watching the high budget movies then. Higher budgets creates higher risks, thus prioritizing methods to getting a return on their investment rather than just what would make the movie better.

            Or better yet, just watch the movies that you think look cool and stop worrying about the underlying political mind games of the film industry.

              • Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Feels like reddit in here.

                I think its a fair assumption. Statements like “movies suck now” are big indicators of the types of movies the person making the statement are watching. There are tonnes of excelent films out there, they just dont get the backing and advertisement that big budget films get. You have to go out and find them. There are resources all over the internet for finding good movies (big or small budget) but you have to make the effort to look and find something good. Thats just what happens when big industries get their fingers in the pie.

                • xT1TANx@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  No I don’t need to go find them. The fact is we are talking about movie theaters. The types of movies people don’t have to fuckin Google.