Highway Robbery
Author News May 13th, 2008Or the high price of a good time. 
Saturday night I let #2 son go to the movies with the girlfriend (yes I KNOW he’s 12) at the mall. #1 insisted tickets were 9.00 and I said no they’re 7.00–we were both wrong. They’re 8! OMG WTF!
And if we go to the movies at the mall as a family, it costs me 50 bucks. Never mind paying 4.00 for a coke water…a 20 ounce bottle of Dasani is 2.75. I could buy a SIX PACK for that price WTF! So I started sneaking in my own. I mean damn it’s WATER PEOPLE!
On Sunday for Mother’s Day I really wanted to see Iron Man but I just couldn’t bring myself to pay … 24.00 for all three of us to get in. So we drove across town to the cheap movies. The seats aren’t as comfy, you don’t get free refills but it’s 3.25 a person for matinées. I saved like 30.00 even after we got popcorn and drinks. And the movie rocked. So what if my back hurt a little afterward.
So come on and fess up. Do you sneak drinks or snacks in? Or does your theater allow you bring food in and how much are movie tickets where you live? Let me know I’m not alone in my misery.
Leave a comment and even though this post has NOTHING to do with my new release, other than you can entertain yourself for less than a five-spot by buying a Wicked, I’ll be back after five to draw a winner at random.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:18 am
[...] The auction is up to 500.00!!!! Over at Naughty and Spice with my RITA scores. And blogging about the high cost of a good time at the Cobblestone [...]
May 13th, 2008 at 8:23 am
[...] when I wrote this on Saturday I forgot I was blogging at the Cobblestone Press blog. Pop in and chat with me on the high cost of having a good time. I’m giving away a copy of Ropers Rule and I’ll [...]
May 13th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I used to be so embarrassed when my mom or grandma would sneak in food and drink to the movies. But now I understand - and the prices have tripled since then! So yes I do occasionally sneak in something though my kids so love those $4 drinks. Sigh.
I wanna see Iron Man!
May 13th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I’ve always snuck stuff in. Not drinks usually, but totally food.
When I was like 12, my friend and I were stupid enough to go to the store across the street and stuff our booty into our purses just yards away from the theater.
The guy at the counter was like, “Give me the candy.”
We’re like, “What candy. We don’t have any.”
He’s like, “Dude, I totally saw you put the candy in your purse.”
We emptied our booty and saw the crap movie.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Shelli…shelli….shelli…you’re NOT supposed to get CAUGHT!
Karen we rarely went to the movies when I was a kid–though I did finally go with a friend to see Star Wars AND Star Trek. Movies were a rare treat in our house.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I live in NY, so movie tickets are $11-$12. Popcorn and soda will probably set you back another $10. I have snuck in my own drink and candy, but I’ve never snuck in food like hot dogs. I’ve seen people bring their own popcorn from home. I’ve also seen people bringing fast food into the theater.
May 13th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
My town is so small that the movie theater has a hard time making a go of it. It recently reopened under new ownership and we have high hopes it will be able to stay solvent. The walls are covered with carpet squares to help with the acoustics; the screen has a big tear in it that was shabbily repaired years ago, the seats are unpadded and wooden/metal, but hey, it’s the only one we have. It costs
around $5 to get in plus snacks and yes, I’m a snack sneaker.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
My mom and I once brought a safeway bag full of buttered homemade popcorn. you could see it right through the bag, let alone smell it, yet they never said a word. Beats me how they missed it. I’d like to know why they jack the prices so damn high. I’m not against bringing food in but I don’t do it often. i don’t go to the movies often either though. If I do I include the outrageous price of snacks in my evening out fund but I don’t go overboard.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I used to sneak in a packet of M&Ms back when I was in college…or maybe some Raisinettes. But not anymore. We have this GREAT theater about 45 minutes away (okay, to clarify, we live a bajillion miles away from everything, so this is our closest movie theater)…it is cheap seats and CHEAP food. And it’s not one of those movie theaters that gets the new movies weeks after it’s been released. It’s also never crowded, even on opening night. So, I never feel badly about buying food there.
What I don’t get is WHY they charge so much for the food. Yes, I understand that is really how they make their profit. But have they never heard of supply & demand? Guess, what? if you lowered the prices, I would actually buy MORE! Oh, well. Guess I’ll just keep going to our little local place and paying $1.25 for a large soda! Yes, it’s that cheap!
Otherwise, I wait until it comes out on DVD and watch it at home.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Since relocating the nearest movie is 70 miles away one way. The last movie we saw in a theatre was The World Is Not Enough, released in l999. (Yes, I’m a James Bond, junkie, but not the Timothy Dalton ones).
We now enjoy movies, although a few months later in the privacy of our home, where I can pause for bathroom breaks and have a cigarette without missing the best parts.
We understood when we moved this would be a change, but we’ve adapted nicely, and there’s no long drive home.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Kris…that sounds like the theater we went to Sunday. They get first run movies and it’s never crowded though popcorn is still four dollars for a large *sigh*
AL I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they’re successful! Sometimes you just need a night out.
LOL Tara maybe they’re so used to the smell of popcorn they missed it!
May 14th, 2008 at 8:19 am
PS Kris I usually hit the grocery store for candy before we go
May 14th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Jane I’ve seen the fast food thingy too–I do wonder if the mall theater allows it but i’ve never asked. I’ve heard that on the west coast it’s about the same for an evening movie *sigh* I hate to say this but no wonder people bootleg!
May 14th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Lillith I have to say I”m TOTALLY spoiled by my DVD…it’s not just movies, it’s television shows now too!
May 14th, 2008 at 8:26 am
PS Jane you’re my winner!!!!!! Congrats. And please email me for a copy of Ropers Rule (Don’t forget to let me know what format)
May 14th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I love seeing movies in the theatre but it’s SO EXPENSIVE! I live in Ottawa Ontario Canada and the prices have been high here for ages.
The last film I saw in the theatre was The Other Bolyn Girl (FANTASTIC film btw) and it was over $50 after tickets, food and drinks. That doesn’t even include lunch!
It’s crazy. I remember when I was a kid, a movie was $4.00. Now for an adult it’s almost $9 here. I just don’t get it. But then again, if you want to see the movie bad enough (IE: Harry Potter, the upcomming Twilight movie, Prince Caspian) You’ll pay the $$$.
Sigh!
May 14th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Jamieson it’s ridiculous! That’s what it costs for us to hit the theater at the mall (and there’s three of us). Every once in a while I’ll splurge on the dinner theater (they have a full kitchen and serve real food, and a bar, and popcorn LOL). The tickets are cheaper but it still comes out to like 50 bucks.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Thanks, Amie.
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