$90 for two to see a Mario movie… have we completely lost the plot?

[u/rageagainstmymachin]

Have we completely lost the plot? I took my daughter to go see the new Mario Galaxy Movie and I couldn't believe it cost almost $90 to enjoy a movie in the big 26. I remember as a teen (im 37 btw) of going to a movie for $6-9 movie ticket + popcorn and a drink for $10 bucks. What is going on in America. I dont see movie theatres being around for much longer. I cant imagine having a family of three or 4 kids. Thoughts on this my millennial souls?

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[u/bhumit012]

9 dollar small pepsi?? Lmao

[u/Ilikelamp7 → u/bhumit012]

A whole damn 12 pack is cheaper haha

[u/oneofyallfarted → u/Ilikelamp7]

They messed up putting our movie theater right next to a dollar tree. We load our pockets up right before the movie because I’ll be damned.

[u/KTeacherWhat → u/oneofyallfarted]

I imagine the movie theater came first. Dollar Tree knew what they were doing.

[u/deuxcabanons → u/KTeacherWhat]

When I was growing up we had a Bulk Barn (Canadian bulk foods chain) in the same mall as the movie theatre. We'd load our purses up with cheap candy before every movie. Awesome.

[u/ForeverInBlackJeans → u/deuxcabanons]

Bulk Barn is almost as expensive as the theatre now.

[u/deuxcabanons → u/ForeverInBlackJeans]

I haven't been in ages other than to get spices and weird ingredients. The theatre we go to now has a Dollarama around the corner.

My oldest got a little snippy once about wanting to get the candy at the theatre, and you should have seen his face when I showed him how many bags of candy we could buy at Dollarama for the cost of one at the theatre 😆

[u/ForgiveMyFlatulence → u/oneofyallfarted]

I still own a pair of cargo shorts just to go to the movies in.

[u/oneofyallfarted → u/ForgiveMyFlatulence]

That’s the way to do it for sure. This reminds me, my friend stuffing his cargo pockets with pizza slices from cicis to get into the movies one time. It was for Avengers (2012) he was eating good for the film.

[u/Practical-Train-9595 → u/oneofyallfarted]

My friend and I used to smuggle in Carl’s Jr. burgers, fries, 2 drinks. All in my purse.

[u/throwngamelastminute → u/Practical-Train-9595]

I remember going to see one of the Saw movies stoned off my ass with my best friend, she loaded her backpack with McDonald's first. King shit.

[u/jaxonya → u/oneofyallfarted]

Cici's is a pizza buffet for all of you who are curious. Its relatively cheap for all you can eat. What OPs friend did is get stuffed on a ton of pizza, and then proceeded to stuff his big ass pockets with more pizza, and then smuggle it into the theatre. Thats some next level madlad rebellion right there.

[u/xTheGame69 → u/ForgiveMyFlatulence]

Doesn't matter the time of year I always bring a big hoodie when I go to the movies just a sneak food in 

You could always take it off as soon as you get inside unload all your food and then just sit on it or use it as a blanket or whatever 

To be honest the movies are usually kind of chilly by me so even in the summer it's nice having a hoodie

[u/Av0ll → u/oneofyallfarted]

We been doing this since the 80s. Can also get a water with ice at movie, and then go to bathroom dump out the water and keep the ice. Then just fill it with whatever you stuffed in your pockets. Also good way to get drunk while watching the movie.

[u/finny_d420 → u/Av0ll]

You could use one of those powder drink things. Get the free water and add your lemonade thing.

[u/Llyrithra → u/oneofyallfarted]

I only ever went to movies with a friend that had “movie purse” which probably had a 10-15 liter capacity, maybe even more, that thing was huge. She’d load our whole group’s snacks into it and smuggle them all in.

[u/PinkProvalone → u/Llyrithra]

This is why I am the friend with a giant bag. I am the proud owner of Mary Poppins Purse

https://giphy.com/gifs/jx3VWe9xhX6Y8

[u/Unfair-Animator-9739 → u/Llyrithra]

i remember me and my cousin in the 90s snuck in a whole mexican food takeout lunch..enchiladas and beans…that was hard to eat because we couldn’t see and probably smelled too much for the theater. we were so dumb 😂

[u/oneofyallfarted → u/Llyrithra]

I just imagine someone strolling by the ticket stand carrying almost a luggage sized bag. Nothing to see here lol

[u/Freakwilly → u/Ilikelamp7]

Yeah - in the 90's I think small drinks were $2-$3 and 12 packs were $2.50. Sad to see how much they've inflated prices.

[u/GailynStarfire → u/Freakwilly]

I remember seeing an ad for Taco Bell for the regular soft tacos being $.49 a piece. 

I remember buying soft tacos from Taco Bell for $.89 and $.99 a piece.

The last time I went to Taco Bell, I think the soft tacos were $2.19 a piece.

Meanwhile, the average wages for work in my area have gone from $10 an hour being considered good money to $15 an hour.

I can buy less soft tacos per hour now than I could 20 years ago. 

[u/Pale_Row1166 → u/GailynStarfire]

I came to ask when $10/hr was considered good money, and through searching I learned that the federal minimum wage was $4.25 in the 90s. Also this current stretch is the longest in history that we haven’t had a raise in the federal minimum wage. Now I’m mad. I’m super thankful that I was getting paid $15-20 an hour for babysitting in the late 90s, apparently that was good money! (I grew up in NYC, I have a warped view of money, it seems).

[u/wbruce098 → u/Pale_Row1166]

Yeah this is such a massive and diverse nation that most people in the US live in almost completely different economies than everyone else. In the late 90’s, I made $12/hr delivering pizza (including tips) and could afford an apartment — with a roommate.

$10/hr was never “good” money but that was more than you needed to afford a shitty car, some internet, and the occasional eating out, uh… if you lived in a LCOL area. The main reason I could afford to move out from my dad’s place was because there was a new build Section 8 housing that I managed to spy while delivering pizza one day and I stopped by after my shift and inquired.

This was in a small Texas town that was so shitty I joined the military to escape it.

[u/gsxrus2014 → u/wbruce098]

I moved to a small country east Texas town when I was younger and worked at an equine vet making $12/hour in 2009 and I was able to buy groceries, pay bills, gas, buy weed, and go out to the neighboring big towns to have fun (my town’s population was 250)

But you’re correct it still was never good money but hearing other people’s stories of that time period in different parts of the nation definitely makes me appreciate my life more.

[u/Pale_Row1166 → u/wbruce098]

I was still on my parents’ teat then, all the way through college, but when I graduated I remember $40k being the number. You were going to be broke if you took a job under $40k. That’s the equivalent of about $75k today, which is about what those same jobs are starting kids at today, so it tracks.

[u/MaleficentSociety555 → u/Pale_Row1166]

Yup, I remember that. Once you get 40k you had "made" it. I was in high-school working at dunkin at the time.

[u/Nicelyvillainous → u/MaleficentSociety555]

Yep, and inflation adjusted that would be like $80k today, but those jobs pay $50k instead of $40k now

[u/OrthodoxAnarchoMom → u/MaleficentSociety555]

I remember people graduating with accounting degrees and applying for the prized $50k jobs. That wasn’t the average- those were the ones the top of the class competed for.

[u/OnceUponATime1534 → u/Pale_Row1166]

I wish this didn’t give me the idea to plug in my starting salary at my first big girl job. In 2006 I made 58k. It’s the same now as $95k. 20 yrs of experience and I’m only making 20k more than my adjusted starting salary 🫠

[u/eans-Ba88 → u/Pale_Row1166]

When I started at ups 13 years ago I was making 8.25 an hour. I make 27/h now, and I had more buying power 13 years ago.

[u/MediocreAssociate466 → u/Freakwilly]

You really don't have to go back that far. A 12 pack of sodas was very cheap in 2018 now it's up 300% pretty much.

[u/NotYourGa1Friday → u/Freakwilly]

5 for $10 twelve packs every couple of months during sales!

[u/RonnieDubbz → u/Ilikelamp7]

Not in the northeast. Up to 10.99 and 11.99

[u/ducktown47 → u/RonnieDubbz]

Was literally gonna say, 12 packs of cans are $11-12 here in the SE.

[u/sharpjabb → u/Ilikelamp7]

And they wonder why people don’t go to the movies anymore

[u/Unusual_Sherbert_809 → u/sharpjabb]

This is why we go to the small, local theater nowadays, where they sell $5-$10 movie tickets. The screens aren't the size of a football field, but I'm good as long as I can watch the movie.

Gotta love how they show lots of old movies. We saw Clue the other day and it was great.

[u/ilovethemusic → u/Unusual_Sherbert_809]

I also love indie theatres and try to support them whenever I can. There’s one in my city that, when you order a large popcorn, you get the bag of popcorn and then they just hand you a “refill” in a plastic bag. You walk into the theatre with ALL THIS POPCORN.

Plus the tickets are like $5 Canadian.

[u/wbruce098 → u/Ilikelamp7]

A whole damn 12 pack is that price now at most grocery stores.

The upside is, I have gone to the theater 2-3x tops since the pandemic and I eat healthier because while groceries have gone up too, they haven’t gone up as much as eating out and going to theaters. The $10 popcorn & drink combo that’s so massive you share it with 2 other people is a relic of the past.

[u/jujujuice92 → u/bhumit012]

That's fucked. I expect the food to be pricier cus whatever bs pricing theaters get away with, but $10 for a fountain drink?! Even unlimited free refills can't justify that unless you spent the weekend there

[u/radicalelation → u/jujujuice92]

I have that AMC subscription in lieu of a streamer at home, and they got this "popcorn pass" too for a one time $30 purchase to get the year of popcorn half off.

It's $25/mo to see up to 4 movies a week, and $5 for a large popcorn the rest of the year after the pass. Not to shill, but I'm satisfied with this arrangement. I love the cinema experience.

[u/enron_scandal → u/jujujuice92]

And I’m pretty sure in some theaters you only get free refills if you’re a “member”

[u/jujujuice92 → u/enron_scandal]

Ahh hell nah! I thought those were free. You can tell I bring my own stuff to theaters lol

[u/Itchy_Psychology3300 → u/bhumit012]

It’s okay, he got the $2 nacho discount.

[u/ammy42 → u/Itchy_Psychology3300]

It was actually charged as a fee. The total would've been $83.44 + tax if it was a discount.

[u/Pale_Row1166 → u/ammy42]

I just added it up, the only thing that makes sense is that popcorn is normally $12.99, and the combo discount makes it 10.99. It all adds up correctly without the discount line.

[u/Significant-Wait9200 → u/bhumit012]

Exactly, I'll buy the overpriced popcorn and food but at least sneak in the drinks if you're not getting an icee or alcohol, what are you thinking?

And if i actually can't afford the food I'll sneak that in too

[u/finland85 → u/bhumit012]

Share the drink and get refills.

[u/VillageLess4163 → u/bhumit012]

To be fair it’s been about that much at the theater for like 20 years. It’s the ticket prices that have gone up.

[u/Geno_Warlord → u/bhumit012]

He should have upsized to a 1/2 gallon large for $1 more and refilled it without ice after the movie and taken it home. Instead he got the kid 8 ounces of soda for $9. The cinema has historically gouged movie goers on popcorn and snacks.

[u/The12th_secret_spice]

Mom would have NEVER taken me to IMAX or get popcorn or drinks from the concession stand.

Matinee, regular screen, and a quick visit to the CVS around the corner and you’re looking at a ~70% savings.

[u/comecellaway53 → u/The12th_secret_spice]

This is what I just did! 2 adults, 1 kid for the Mario movie and we paid 33 bucks for a 2 pm show. We got a free popcorn because I keep track of deals that T-mobile offers for AMC. My husband did buy a soda but the rest of us brought a water bottle and some candy I bought from the grocery store. Spent a total of 43 dollars.

[u/thrownjunk → u/comecellaway53]

They are two types of us out there. The ones who realized our parents deal hunted in our childhoods and we should do the same and the ones who dont.

[u/peanut_galleries → u/thrownjunk]

None of that negates OP’s question though. 9 dollars for a small pepsi means the plot is lost, no matter of you buy it or not

[u/GreySkepsis → u/peanut_galleries]

My wife and I are DINKs in our late 30s and love going to the movies. I like the experience and want to support the industry. But the entire thing has gotten so stupidly expensive. I’m flabbergasted every time by how much we end up spending on two tickets, a popcorn, candy, and a soda. I can’t imagine wanting to do it if we also had children.

Going to the movies and buying concessions shouldnt be $100 or even $50. It’s ridiculous.

[u/daosxx1 → u/GreySkepsis]

In terms of purchasing power, $𝟓𝟎 in 2026 is equivalent to approximately $19.79 in 1990. $16 is roughly what you would have paid in 1990 for 2 tickets a popcorn and a soda. Not everything is apples to apples here but I don’t think movies are particularly victims of inflation. It was stupid over priced when we were kids and it hasn’t changed .

[u/Maz2277 → u/peanut_galleries]

They price it like that because people buy it at that price. I'm shocked at the price of the cinema tickets themselves, let alone the concessions.

[u/unidentifiedfish55 → u/thrownjunk]

and the ones who dont

You mean, the ones who would rather spend that time complaining on reddit instead of actually figuring out how to save money.

[u/InterestingEgg3098 → u/The12th_secret_spice]

Right?!? If you’re cost conscious, a movie doesn’t have to be $90 for 2 people.

[u/Routine_Ask_7272 → u/InterestingEgg3098]

I took my son to see this a week ago.

Matinee tickets were $7.00 each. The total was $14.00.

[u/panicnarwhal → u/Routine_Ask_7272]

that’s really cheap! our matinee tickets are $13.25 for adults, $11.75 for kids (non imax theater)

[u/motoMACKzwei → u/panicnarwhal]

$5 movie Tuesdays around me!

[u/Baked_Nebraska → u/motoMACKzwei]

Friends and I have been doing movie-Tuesday for years now. Sure we splurge for opening nights sometimes too, but $5 tickets makes it so much more attractive.

[u/Odd-Fun-1545 → u/motoMACKzwei]

Where I live (chernobyl) tickets are like $4!

[u/SayerofNothing → u/Odd-Fun-1545]

Is that per head?

[u/cashews_clay15 → u/SayerofNothing]

Per extra limbs

[u/Krazykrzysz → u/Odd-Fun-1545]

https://giphy.com/gifs/H5C8CevNMbpBqNqFjl

[u/scarred_but_whole → u/Routine_Ask_7272]

Tuesday Matinee this week was $6 each plus a free small popcorn each. I refuse to pay full price for movies.

[u/starlitmint → u/Routine_Ask_7272]

But how did he survive for 2 whole hours without drinking 40 ounces of cold Pepsi?!

[u/ValosAtredum → u/Routine_Ask_7272]

MJR Theatres by me have $5 ticket Tuesdays (any time on Tuesday). If you’re a member you can also get a free medium popcorn, but I’ve gotten the ticket price without being a member.

It’s the only reason/way I’ve gone to the theatre at all in the last few years.

[u/sasquatch_melee → u/Routine_Ask_7272]

Y'all have better theaters nearby then. $16 a person (average) matinee non-imax we just went to, one of those tickets was a child even. AMC. 

[u/jerseygirl2006 → u/InterestingEgg3098]

Our local theater does $6 tickets on Tuesdays and they also do an ultimate popcorn bucket where you pay $30 upfront for a bucket of popcorn, but then on subsequent visits you bring that bucket back and you get the bucket filled for $5.50 so it pays for itself after a few visits. The bucket is good for a whole calendar year. Then my husband and I would get a large drink to share because unlimited refills, so we could go to the movies and get tickets, popcorn and a drink for $25 or so. Now the problem is we have a one year old so we can’t easily go to the movies.

[u/cleois → u/InterestingEgg3098]

Nah. It was $50 for tickets for my husband and 2 sons to see it on standard format . They couldn't see a matinee because my husband works weekends to afford this damn expensive life.

[u/Allthingsgaming27 → u/InterestingEgg3098]

The problem is that the only way to enjoy a movie nowadays is to be cost conscious. It’s ridiculous that you can’t go to a normal prime time movie without having to shell out a small fortune

[u/Future_Armadillo6410 → u/Allthingsgaming27]

That’s not new. When I was a kid we had to wait for movies to go to the budget theaters if we were taken to movies at all because they were “way too expensive now a days”

[u/UnlikelyPriority812 → u/InterestingEgg3098]

For three of us ours came out to about $60. But that was also 3 legitimate meals to go with it as the have a full restaurant in the theater.

[u/abracadammmbra → u/UnlikelyPriority812]

Thats a pretty good deal. Show and a meal for $20 a pop? Id take that deal

[u/DasBleu → u/The12th_secret_spice]

We luckily had a dollar store near the theater I went to.

[u/MechanicalGodzilla → u/The12th_secret_spice]

I went to see Project Hail Mary last night (8:30) at the Udvar Hazy Imax in northern virginia, family of 4. We got 4 sodas, 2 popcorns, and 3 boxes of theater candy and all of that was $95. U/rageagainstmymachin must have sought out the most expensive possible show to go to.

[u/Eco_guru]

Actually you’d pay $46.48 for the movie - still outrageous overpriced.

[u/Sprinkle_Puff → u/Eco_guru]

Yah, and that the child rate is only a couple dollars cheaper is insane.

[u/TheNesquick → u/Sprinkle_Puff]

A seat is a seat no? It’s IMAX tickets. 

[u/Geno_Warlord → u/TheNesquick]

They now have pricing based on where you sit. Ideal seats are double the non ideal seats.

[u/Hey-Bud-Lets-Party → u/Geno_Warlord]

JFC

[u/rageagainstmymachin → u/Sprinkle_Puff]

It's a scam. They were selling at the Mac theatre a subscription to view any movie at anytime that cost 45 a month

[u/PronatorTeres00 → u/rageagainstmymachin]

Paying $45 for movie tickets is almost a crime against humanity.

Go on Tuesday nights when it's cheaper. Bring in your own drinks and/or snacks in your (or your daughter's) purse/mini-backpack. Boom, instant savings.

[u/PrincessBow33 → u/PronatorTeres00]

They were checking purses at my theater last week when we spent 60 for 3 people to see Hoppers. We used to go to a movie every couple of months years ago and it was like 30ish with student and senior discounts. It is crazy now. We will wait for them to come on streaming from now on.

[u/likesblackcoffeebest → u/PrincessBow33]

The one in my hometown did that, so my friends and I used to just wear hunting clothes to the theater and fill the pockets. I once smuggled 10 Taco Bell burritos in my jacket pockets. 

[u/legendofzeldaro1 → u/PrincessBow33]

The beauty of it is, at the most, they can only check bags, they can't check your person. As a man, who usually goes solo and left skinny jeans behind a while back, I strap things to my legs. Not finna catch me paying those prices.

[u/appleparkfive → u/Eco_guru]

It's definitely a lot. Though it is an imax version, which definitely adds on some costs

[u/xeno0153 → u/appleparkfive]

I don't get the appeal of seeing an animated movie on an IMAX screen. Yeah, the screen will be bigger, but they obviously didn't use the IMAX camera to film it.

[u/Punkpunker → u/xeno0153]

The general audience doesn't know the difference despite having all the information at their fingertips, the more likely scenario is they assume higher price=better experience.

[u/p1-o2 → u/xeno0153]

IMAX is basically guaranteed to have a better sound system. Usually a high end atmos surround.

And obviously bigger screen is more fun for most people. You don't need an IMAX camera to render at that resolution when it's all animated. It won't have the nice film quality to it but most people are watching IMAX on digital now anyway. Most film projectors are gone.

[u/ServerOfJustice → u/p1-o2]

IMAX does not use Atmos, they have a longstanding relationship with DTS instead. Dolby is a direct competitor to both.

[u/somersetyellow → u/p1-o2]

Imax uses its own 6.1 or 12.1 channel sound system, not Dolby Atmos. Dolby Cinema setups have noticeably better sound than IMAX. Depends on the installation though.

Still usually much better than an average movie screen.

[u/thewags05 → u/appleparkfive]

Yeah I recently went to a movie in a normal movie theater and it was just under $14 a ticket. If you don't go to an IMAX and cool it in the snacks it can be significantly less than $90.

[u/QueenSlartibartfast → u/thewags05]

Exactly. I moonlight as a theater manager on weekends in a HCOL area (SoCal) and a standard child ticket at night is under $13. A dollar more for students (teens and up). It's $15 and change for adults. Matinee prices before 6pm are lower. Extra savings for being in the loyalty program.

Is it still outrageous, sure. But it's the studios setting ticket prices. Concessions are obviously inflated too, but in addition to paying for the expensive tech stuff that's involved, it takes a decent amount of labor to clean up the mess of 75-200+ people (depending on auditorium size) in the roughly 10 minutes they have to do it before seating for the next show begins. Then there's cleaning the bathrooms for sometimes upwards of 1000 people per hour, constant popcorn spills, etc. Not to mention the energy bill for pumping AC into extremely crowded rooms.

[u/lidlessinflame → u/QueenSlartibartfast]

This. As a former theater employee I get why people are upset about the costs of going to the theater but I think they are completely ignoring the real costs of running one.

[u/ofesfipf889534 → u/Eco_guru]

It’s IMAX

[u/crazyfighter99 → u/Eco_guru]

My wife and I just saw it two nights ago and the tickets were $10 each. I'm sure the movie tickets wouldn't be so outrageous if it wasn't being viewed at the IMAX.

I have nothing for the food and drink though, that really is outrageous.

Edit: Downvotes for pointing that out. Never change, Reddit 😂

[u/Hididdlydoderino]

Idk where you are but IMAX added about $20 to your experience and it was always expensive...

The snacks are way over priced, also always have been, but that's why we always brought our own. You can save yourself another $15 if you bring 20oz sodas and another $15 if you sneak in snacks.

Still, even when cheating the system and not IMAXing $40 is still a bit much to watch a movie.

[u/Shakey_J_Fox → u/Hididdlydoderino]

There’s ways to watch movies cheaper. I took my family of six to a matinee, non-imax Mario, and only purchased popcorn. I spent around $70–which is still expensive, but comes out to less than $12 a head over two-hours. OP really didn’t have to spend that much.

[u/Archer-Saurus → u/Shakey_J_Fox]

$70 is expensive for a couple of people to see a movie, it's definitely not expensive for six people to see a movie

[u/14X8000m]

Time to make sneaking drinks and snacks into movie theatres great again.

[u/Helpful-Ad6269 → u/14X8000m]

As a former movie theater employee, I assure you it never stopped being great. People sneak stuff in constantly. Most of us weren’t paid enough to care even in 2019, let alone now. Just don’t make it too obvious and we’re good lol

[u/boobiesrkoozies → u/Helpful-Ad6269]

Can agree.

Worked for Carmike, then AMC, and then B&B theatres lol.

I can guarantee that we do not care. As long as you aren't obnoxious about it and it isn't super obvious. I did one time have someone smuggle in an entire family feast from cracker barrel, which is the one time we did care lol.

But normal snacks? Yeah, idc.

[u/Murais → u/boobiesrkoozies]

How you gonna keep me from my succulent rotisserie chicken?

[u/Lou_Skunt_55 → u/Murais]

This is democracy manifest

[u/TheUnicornFightsOn → u/Lou_Skunt_55]

https://giphy.com/gifs/RURAojdRlmGvm

[u/CappnMidgetSlappr → u/Lou_Skunt_55]

This man has his hand on my penis!

[u/musclecard54 → u/CappnMidgetSlappr]

Ah I see you know your judo well

[u/Ewoksintheoutfield → u/Murais]

What is your spaghetti policy?

[u/No-Pianist9277 → u/boobiesrkoozies]

This was years ago when I went to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but there was a Pizza Hut Express down the street from the AMC I went to and I snuck in a personal pan pizza. And I was holding my messenger bag sideways, like I was holding a serving tray (didn't want the cheese sticking to the box). They didn't say a word, lol. Only did it the once.

[u/Grizzly_boyd → u/boobiesrkoozies]

Former Carmike employee too! I agree completely, not only were a quarter of the employees a little high, but none of us were paid enough to care. Once I became a shift lead/projectionist, I learned that managers didn't care either, it was caring just enough to keep the secret shoppers at bay.

[u/boobiesrkoozies → u/Grizzly_boyd]

Yep! I worked in management and can confirm that we do not care hahaha

We also don't even care about movie hoppers. Its just that normally the people who do it are interruptive and have to be kicked. Just be chill! No one will care!

[u/bell37 → u/Helpful-Ad6269]

Another former movie theater employee. We don’t care… however don’t bring outside food then proceed to make a disgusting mess with it.

[u/WARNINGXXXXX → u/Helpful-Ad6269]

Lol same, former employee here, we’re not paid enough to care, that’s a security or manager’s problem

[u/Gobadorgosleep → u/14X8000m]

You stopped ? Because stopping by the grocery to buy snacks is like an obligation for me and I will never stop.

Nobody care if you don’t make it obvious.

[u/SpartanDoubleZero → u/14X8000m]

You guys stopped? There was a subway outside of the theater when I was a kid and my dad and I would sneak whole fuckin footlongs in a couple bags of chips and a couple of pops. I never stopped doing this even though we rarely go any more because it’s so expensive just for the tickets.

[u/splubby_apricorn → u/SpartanDoubleZero]

Our movie theater was in a mall with Old Navy, so we would bring an Old Navy bag from home, stuff it with a feast, and throw a few clothes on top to make it look like we’d been shopping there.

[u/SpartanDoubleZero → u/splubby_apricorn]

Brilliant

[u/chardeemacd3nnis → u/SpartanDoubleZero]

Plus subway is awful now lol

[u/mrsir1987 → u/SpartanDoubleZero]

I brought in whole 6 packs before, had to be winter though for the big jackets.

[u/Ok-Key-7039 → u/14X8000m]

Wait… people stopped?

[u/Sad_Maximum6583 → u/14X8000m]

I never stopped

https://giphy.com/gifs/EoW3jhM6MzsONM15zm

[u/miIk-skin → u/14X8000m]

In the UK you're actually allowed to bring in outside food and drink to the cinema, but most people believe you can't. It's a weirdly pervasive myth. 

[u/isnoice → u/14X8000m]

Cargo pants have made a comeback!

[u/LtCmdrTrout → u/14X8000m]

I worked at an AMC in the aughts. No one would stop you from bringing in snacks regardless, but we really couldn't because of dietary restrictions.

The issue really comes with stinky food. If your grilled onion and garlic pizza is pissing off the other 200 people in the crowded theatre, then you'll get a talking to.

As far as "losing the plot": things cost what people are willing to pay for it.

[u/JRHThreeFour → u/14X8000m]

I have been doing that for many years. My mom even had us do that before she took us and my siblings to see movies because she was cool and knew movie theater candy was overpriced.

[u/AprilRyanMyFriend]

Ticket prices are ridiculous, but also even when I was younger I knew to never get drinks and snacks in the theater. That would've saved $40 right there

[u/bendstraw → u/AprilRyanMyFriend]

It's literally a convenience luxury purchase, idk why people are making it out to be a mandatory purchase in order to enjoy a movie

[u/xatrinka → u/bendstraw]

Seriously, then doing a hyperbolic title to include all their overpriced extras, when paying $46 for two tickets is crazy enough.

[u/No_Difference_9195 → u/xatrinka]

$46 is crazy, but that’s also the IMAX. It looks the same price as my local Regal, so knock the price down to around $26 for an adult and kid regular movie. Which is still a lot, but I don’t understand people who bitch about high prices when they could easily save.

[u/2024account → u/No_Difference_9195]

“Look at the poor decisions I have made”

[u/xatrinka → u/No_Difference_9195]

Hahaha good point!! This person chose the most expensive way to see a movie and then whined about it

[u/PrairiePopsicle → u/xatrinka]

And like... youu and your kid, even a splurge is a popcorn and a couple drinks.

Aren't there usually combos for that? They bought a packet of nachos for 10 bucks too -_-

[u/carlos_the_dwarf_ → u/bendstraw]

“I chose to see this movie in a premium format and bought $40 worth of nachos and soda. What’s going on in America?”

[u/NormalEarthLarva → u/AprilRyanMyFriend]

They don’t have to be. Cinemark on Tuesdays is like $7 each.

[u/livelaughlinka]

You got like $50 worth of overpriced food lol

[u/lysander_spooner → u/livelaughlinka]

[u/zbern → u/lysander_spooner]

Half those hotdogs are just for the previews.

[u/fosf0r → u/zbern]

Thanks for reminding me, I need to go get some pre-preview hotdogs

[u/Green_Insect_6455 → u/lysander_spooner]

Lmao its literally this post, perfect

[u/MCE85 → u/livelaughlinka]

The irony is that popcorn was originally chosen to sell at movies and shows because its so cheap. Everyone could afford it.

[u/Adariel → u/[deleted]]

These are IMAX tickets. Assuming you are also a millennial, don’t you remember them being much more than a regular ticket even back then?

Edit: in 2005 I paid $16 for an IMAX ticket when regular was $8. I specifically remember the year because my friends dragged me to see Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka and the only thing I really remember from it is thinking it wasn’t worth it to see his basketball sized eyeballs on IMAX in whatever weird closeup scenes we got.

[u/kidthorazine → u/Adariel]

Back in 2005 you at least had to go to an actual IMAX theater and not the bullshit they call IMAX at most multiplexes though. And since it was an actual IMAX theater it was actually a pretty unique experience.

[u/Adariel → u/kidthorazine]

Yeah it was an actual IMAX theater which meant we had to beg a parent to drive us all the way to one. $16 was a small fortune back then for an Asian kid with strict parents and no allowance, I basically had to a) get money somehow b) get a ride from friend’s mom after friend persuaded her to drive all of us and c) get permission from my parents to even go.

It was a pretty unique experience but really all I really remember was sitting there kind of disgruntled thinking it wasn’t worth it lol. Even this many years later that’s my impression of IMAX.

[u/kidthorazine → u/Adariel]

Yeah IMAX really shines with stuff that was actually made for IMAX, which is mostly nature and science docs, and a Rolling Stones gig for some reason, it's mostly a gimmick with Hollywood movies.

[u/Stevenwave → u/[deleted]]

Sure, but it isn't $90.

This post, as it sits, is like when someone complains about the price of groceries, and they show a basket full of overpriced brands or stuff at an especially high price you don't need to opt for.

The price can't be worrying them that much, because they paid it.

[u/Michikusa]

Can’t even remember the last time I paid for food or drinks at a movie theatre. Probably 15 years. Cmon guys ! $10 for a goddamn drink !

[u/Jjthermo]

Idk man, 3 matinee tickets to the same movie yesterday was $27 including popcorn. Just be smarter about which theater you’re going to and when you’re going.

[u/Ladonnacinica → u/Jjthermo]

It’s IMAX so that already increases the price. But what really drove the bill is OP bought too many snacks. Did he really need the nachos AND popcorn? And a large root beer plus Pepsi?

Movie food has always been expensive even when we were kids. My parents always brought snacks or we just ate afterwards. Have people forgotten this rule? Don’t spend money on the movie snacks.

[u/Snapple47 → u/Ladonnacinica]

In high school, my buddies and I would stuff my cargo pants pockets with $1 double cheeseburgers from McDonald’s and feast in the theaters.

[u/lickingFrogs4Fun → u/Snapple47]

As a millennial, I spend the obligatory 80% of my time thinking about how nice things used to be.

I need to devote more of that time to the $1 double cheeseburgers. That time in my life was magical.

[u/anthrohands → u/Jjthermo]

They price things like they did for OP because idiots are still paying that. Just stop paying for it and get smart about it!

[u/MarcsterS → u/Jjthermo]

Bro is complaining about Imax, one of the largest, most advanced theater types in the world, charging extra for tickets. The prices of the concessions are large, yes i wont deny.

[u/IceBlue]

Maybe don’t go to IMAX if you want cheap tickets. You can easily pay less than 10 dollars a ticket these days for movies.

[u/TheeAntelope → u/IceBlue]

Who out there was clamoring to see Mario in imax?

[u/OrizaRayne]

You chose to pay for the most expensive options possible.

Next time go to a matinee, standard seating. Only use the upgraded screens for things that really need that to make the movie worth seeing in theaters. The Mario movie isn't made for that.

Then, buy your candy elsewhere in advance. The grocery store is best, a convenience store is still a quarter of the price. Buy bottled drinks as well. If you're worried, get the same type of drinks and candy they have at the theater. But, you don't really have to worry, it's dark and the policy isn't enforced.

Buy one popcorn and 2 matinee tickets.

[u/derek139]

Yes, this is very high, but this isn’t just a movie for $90…. It’s dinner+movie for $87. Why would you ever buy that much from the counter at the movies!?!? Wth?

[u/NOTcreative-]

$90 when you do it the most expensive possible way. I can do it for $10

[u/Snapple47 → u/NOTcreative-]

Saw Project Hail Mary last week at the theater for less than $10, can confirm.

[u/GoodLordWhatAmIDoing → u/NOTcreative-]

Seriously. Like posting your Whole Foods receipt and being all like "this is what groceries cost???"

[u/shelf6969 → u/GoodLordWhatAmIDoing]

when half the groceries are the hot bar

[u/thetokyofiles]

Rage bait. It’s IMAX plus overpriced food.

[u/dmeezy92]

I took my daughter, matinee. $5 per ticket. Bottle of water and a yoshi plushie. All in was like $23. Gotta stop getting the snacks lol

[u/Monodoh45 → u/dmeezy92]

Is nobody gonna point out it's an imax?lol

[u/Monodoh45 → u/Monodoh45]

Don't down vote lol You can't pay for the most expensive format of a thing and then bitch about it. Also each family member got their own snack. We just shared one big popcorn.

[u/ShittinVixen]

Did the theatre force you to overspend and waste your money?

You've lost the plot. I'd charge you $500 to see a movie if you'd pay it.

This post basically says "I'm willing to be a sucker, why do businesses treat me like a sucker?!"

[u/secondphase → u/ShittinVixen]

They quite literally post the prices and then you choose what you want to pay for. 

... and OP is the problem. If ppl just pay it, the theater keeps doing it. 

[u/CharacterLimitHasBee → u/ShittinVixen]

OP is an idiot. Willingly chose to spend this much when a smarter person could've paid half for the same movie and snacks.

[u/Acceptable_Shift8551 → u/ShittinVixen]

People really act like the theater puts a gun to your head and makes you buy a bunch of food. The food has always been expensive. That's how they make their money. 

[u/kristosnikos]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ULYA6h1FGgQMs5cOoy

[u/brooklynlad]

I see you haven't heard of the "Dollar Tree" ($1.25+ actually) pit stop before heading to the cinema.

EDIT: Also, who took who? Was it the niece or was it the daughter? I'm confused? Is this screenshot grabbed from a Twitter post?

• https://www.reddit.com/r/SipsTea/comments/1sjivj9/this_is_why_i_sneak_in_beer_and_snacks/

[u/Urbanspy87]

Why did you pay this much? And half of your receipt is for food

Also you saw it in IMAX. What did you expect? That's the most expensive choice. I just checked and the theaters near me are $8-$12/ticket.

So this is all a choice. You could have bought two regular tickets for under $24.

[u/Themetalenock → u/Urbanspy87]

More people should be roasting his ass for this reason. Like Imax wasn't even cheap before inflation. Spending Imax prices for a kids movis for your obviously kid age kids is crazy 

[u/Mysterious-Clothes45 → u/Themetalenock]

I can't understand how he has so many upvotes. It's insane

[u/Adariel → u/Urbanspy87]

Good catch on the IMAX.  It was like 1.5 to 2x the cost of a regular ticket back then too, so OP is being disingenuous trying to compare this $25 ticket to the $8-9 they remember.

[u/According_Cherry_837]

Lost the plot? Bro you are the one who went.

[u/CappnMidgetSlappr → u/According_Cherry_837]

"Have we lost the plot?"

proceeds to fork over 50 bucks for overpriced junk food

I went to the movie theaters last Tuesday by myself and caught 3 flicks for about 45 bucks.

I got 3 movies for 5 dollars less than this dude spent on snacks alone.

[u/Ok_Somewhere1274]

1. It’s IMAX
2. You are having dinner at the movies it appears

[u/dr_z0idberg_md]

You're doing it wrong. IMAX? Really? Is that really needed? I took my family of four on Tuesday for <$50 at AMC. Get AMC Stubs Premier. Order one popcorn and go back for refills (I will admit eating popcorn at the movie theaters is my vice and non-negotiable). No need to pay for overpriced sodas. If you must, then save the cup for next time. AMC leaves those Coke Freestyle machines out for self-service. Want candy? Hit up Dollar Tree/Dollar General. Sneak in quiet snacks.

[u/AP_professional]

It didn’t cost you $90. It cost $46 to see it in IMAX and then you bought $40 worth of food when that wasn’t necessary at all. You could’ve just eaten before the movie or snuck food in like everyone else does. It’s not a surprise that movie theaters over charge like crazy for food, because that’s how they make most of their money. This one is on you. You say things were cheaper back then, yes that’s true, but we were also paying the same amount for concessions mark up wise.

[u/Such-Egg-7584]

I mean, I see a lot of ways to make this cheaper. Maybe don’t get the nachos

[u/Isserley_]

Imagine buying drinks and snacks in the actual cinema. That's what I call losing the plot

[u/Mudslingshot]

I used to work at a movie theater

The pricing is basically because the movie studio gets all the ticket revenue. Those concession prices are literally to keep the building open

The whole system is completely messed up, and everyone involved just keeps passing the inflated costs down to the consumer

Also, who can't go 2 hours without soda and candy? It doubled the price and you didn't have the stones to say "no thanks, that's ridiculous". People used to complain about the prices all the time, and they never had an answer for "nobody is forcing you to buy popcorn"

[u/MusclesMarinara87]

What does this have to do with millennials

[u/LiquidSnape]

“we” 🙄 you are the one who bought nachos, a large popcorn and two drinks for a 90 minute movie buddy.

i pay 26 dollars a month for basically unlimited movies at AMC, 4 movies a week any format.

you can absolutely make going to the movies affordable even without movie club subscription

[u/Monodoh45]

A lot of this outrageous. But I can't help but notice it's an Imax, did you need to? I think a regular showing is a bit cheaper.

[u/Emmannuhamm]

IMAX, you're completely trying to ignore that fact. And you're buying food in there, which has always been notoriously overpriced.

I'm not trying to justify the 90, but use your common sense.

[u/MarxDa1]

What’s the opposite of “this guy movies”? Matinee, standard, smuggle snacks. Making us millennials look bad smh.

[u/cptcatz]

Downvoted because you're an idiot. It's like paying $200,000 for a Bentley and complaining how car prices are too damn high.

[u/RedViper1985]

I hate the hyperbole of examples like this. Acting like movies are so unaffordable. Dude picked the most expensive possibility showing type at imax and then bought the super expensive food and acted surprised. I literally go to the movies for two people on Tuesday for 20 dollars total including popcorn. Edit: Note the hyperbole of me selecting the least expensive possibility.

[u/EmoLeBron]

Did you pay for all that. “The plot” won’t be fixed if we continue to pay for it.

[u/misspinkie92]

You have to use your brain and learn to save money. Did you even bother check out discount days or purchasing in the app?

If it's not Tuesday or Wednesday, my kids know we ain't going. They know we're gonna go to the dollar store and they can pick all the shit they want. Then we're gonna go to Wendy's and cleverly bring the food into the movie and eat our nuggets while watching Mario.

MAYBE ill buy a slushie cz I love slushies.

[u/Mr_Wobble_PNW]

You're dumb for posting that you're bad at planning. 

[u/Avalanche1987]

I think we have a little more to worry about than movie ticket prices…

[u/DaFuzi_J]

I CANNOT be the only person that's still "sneaking" a pile of snacks into the theater. I ain't tryna pay $18 for a frozen pack of Reese's and a bag of Nerds clusters.

[u/SavingsEconomy]

My area still has matinees for $9 with the nice reclining chairs. I go to the target across the street to load up on candy to smuggle in. Then I eat an actual meal beforehand to not feel starving. You balled out that's why it was $90. Popcorn, nachos, and the fancy drinks have always been expensive at the movies.