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Sneaking food into movies.

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I bring in my own water, but I don''t eat during movie and if I do, I''ll buy a snack from the movie theater.

I don''t care if other brought in food, but I remember once that a family brought in chinese take out. First of all, it was in plastic bags that made a TON of noise, and OMG, the smell was ridiculous. Some people are just OTT.
 
We do it. I dig the popcorn tho. I like to dump M&M''s in it..mmmm.

When we went to Avatar last weekend, I also brought in my water jug. I take that everywhere and wasn''t about to pay for it there.
 
If we go to the rare movie I make popcorn on the stove and we bring it, along with tap water. This is for two reasons: it''s cheaper and healthier. Sometimes there''s a candy buy slipped in, but almost never. Also learned snack-sneaking from my mom, as she used to have a "movie purse" that was strictly for stuffing snacks into when we went to the movies.

I''m not sure I understand the idea of supporting concession stands because ticket sales alone don''t earn enough. If that is in fact the case, then why don''t they just raise ticket prices? Despite the fact that they are already ridiculously high, I''d rather pay face-value for an item than it be marked up to overcompensate for loss elsewhere. Items sold at concession stands are highly overpriced and I don''t see the value in purchasing a $4 bottle of water when it''s free in the bathroom, or I can bring my own from my tap or otherwise for much less.
 
Hmm BF and I usually make a CVS run before getting to the theater. I go for Milk Duds, he goes for Reese''s Pieces and chocolate milk. I usually buy a soda at the theater though.
 
If they served something slightly healthier, I would probably buy it there, but the fact that all they serve is greasy popcorn, stale chips with artificially colored yellow gloop, or candy means that if you do want a healthy snack, you have to bring it from home. I can''t even eat 90% of what is served there b/c of severe food coloring allergies.
 
I worked at the cinemas for nearly 4 years AND I''m a miser, so I can see both sides of this.
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Raising ticket prices won''t do much for the theater, as the studio takes a percentage of the ticket sales -- and it''s a big one. Whenever we would screen Disney or Dreamworks films, I think we were keeping 3% of ticket sales. Tickets were like $6 at the time, so that''s literally 18 cents/ticket. Even if you packed out the theater for a show, you''d probably be breaking even with the costs of electricity, etc. You had to count on all of the kids squealing for candy or you were operating at a loss for nearly every show.

I find it hard to complain about ticket and concession prices in the States when I go back. When I''m back for 2 weeks, I''ll often go to see 3-4 movies. I still get free admission, but I buy heaps of concessions to compensate my old employer. Ticket prices in Perth are around $16-20 each. When FI and I saw Avatar last week, it was $45 for us - tickets and popcorn only. That''s a bitter pill to swallow when you went for so long without paying admission OR for concessions! It was really killer when we went Gold Class to see the last HP. If I remember right, it was $65 to get in and then we spent another $35 on ice cream and a cheese tasting platter!

So, kudos to the people who understand the situation and compensate theaters through enormously overpriced concessions.
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I know it''s so tempting to save your pennies (and no one likes getting ripped off), but it''s either that or the theater industry will fail as the movie industry rolls in the dough!
 
justginger, thanks for your insight! I find buying $4 bag of candy a lot more painful at the airport than the movie theater.
 
I usually sneak in a Coke and sometimes candy, too. But we always buy popcorn because my husband LOVES it. Sometimes we buy candy or a soda, too, but I prefer bottles/cans of Coke to fountain Coke so I always try to sneak one in.

I don''t really believe that the theaters only make $ on concessions. Tickets are what, around $10/person? Subtract the 3% and they''re still making $9.70/person. And how many people fit in each theater? I''m sure it varies greatly but at my local theater I would guess a few hundred for the largest rooms. There are tons of rooms in each theater and then there are several showings every night.

Most employees are high school kids getting minimum wage. And they don''t even need tons of staff because the customers are just sitting in a room. I just don''t believe that they don''t make $ on ticket prices!
 
I once saw a couple of tweens sneaking in a 2-liter bottle of orange soda and a huge party size bag of doritos into the movies. They were super skinny and tried to sneak them in underneath their sweatshirts. It was pretty obvious and it looked like they were impregnated by a Pepsi or something.
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Date: 1/9/2010 11:24:10 PM
Author: thing2of2

I don''t really believe that the theaters only make $ on concessions. Tickets are what, around $10/person? Subtract the 3% and they''re still making $9.70/person.
Click to expand...
The studio would make the $9.70. The theatre would make the .30, which as justginger said, basically allows the theatre to break even when you consider electricity and all of the other things that go into running a business (paying hourly employees, etc).
 
I typically take an apple to munch on.

While is is usually in my pocket - I really don''t try to hide it. Several movie theaters know this about me.

I would never take in food that directly competed with the concession stand - even before my food allergy problems. In the past it was not unusual for me to buy a pepsi (or something) to go with my apple.

I also drink the tap water. At home I have a good filter system for most of my drinking and cooking water. But, the tap water within the US is really not that bad in the scale of things.... (and yes, the insides of pipes look ugly - but, its not anything that would cause a problem (remember that water comes either out of the ground (who says it''s any cleaner) or from a lake (our city water comes from Lake Michigan).

Perry
 
Do cinemas actually check? They don''t here in the UK

I have thought about taking food in, but DF is set in his ways and always has to have a medium Sprite and medium sweet popcorn. Without fail. We can''t go to the closest cinema as he doesn''t like their popcorn! The drink and popcorn cost as much as the cinema ticket, and they must only cost the cinema 20p to make!

If I did take my own food in, I don''t know what I''d take.

BTW- I have never had nachos at the cinema. I always look longingly at them but never buy them!
 
Date: 1/10/2010 12:52:15 AM
Author: luckystar112
Date: 1/9/2010 11:24:10 PM

Author: thing2of2

I don''t really believe that the theaters only make $ on concessions. Tickets are what, around $10/person? Subtract the 3% and they''re still making $9.70/person.
Click to expand...

The studio would make the $9.70. The theatre would make the .30, which as justginger said, basically allows the theatre to break even when you consider electricity and all of the other things that go into running a business (paying hourly employees, etc).
Click to expand...

Ha, I totally misread that-oops! Theaters only making $ on concessions makes a lot more sense now. Yay reading comprehension!
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I still don''t think they can expect people to want to pay $6 for a $1 bag of candy, though. Most people will buy movie theater popcorn because you can''t get that just anywhere. Theaters should figure out other tasty stuff like that to sell. I''d pay way too much for cotton candy at a movie, personally. Or funnel cakes...mmmm. Solution: movie theaters should sell state fair food!
 
We have a premium theater near us, thats the only time I eat theater food. (we go 1-2 times a year) You can get real food there that isn''t the worst stuff you can get (certainly isn''t the best either). Premium theater tickets however reflect exactly what it is.


Otherwise, if we go see 3-d, I take my own. those theaters don''t have anything I could even munch on because its too heavily processed or loaded with stuff that would send me to the fraking hospital. We only do 3d once a year.

Personally I love our home theater setup at home a heck of a lot more. We tend to wait for the movies to come out on dvd because our system is set up for it. (no dealing with kids, cellphones ringing, and rude people talking through the movie...love it!)

When I lived in the midwest, there was one movie theater that would let you bring in stuff from the mall it was tacked onto(just show your receipt) So no need to hide your stuff. They had a limited concession anyway so maybe that was why.
I don''t know if they do that anymore but at least that way you could get what you want.


-A
 
We got to Marble Slab Creamery buy pint sizes and then take them into the theatre
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Date: 1/9/2010 10:22:56 PM
Author: justginger
I worked at the cinemas for nearly 4 years AND I''m a miser, so I can see both sides of this.
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Raising ticket prices won''t do much for the theater, as the studio takes a percentage of the ticket sales -- and it''s a big one. Whenever we would screen Disney or Dreamworks films, I think we were keeping 3% of ticket sales. Tickets were like $6 at the time, so that''s literally 18 cents/ticket. Even if you packed out the theater for a show, you''d probably be breaking even with the costs of electricity, etc. You had to count on all of the kids squealing for candy or you were operating at a loss for nearly every show.

I find it hard to complain about ticket and concession prices in the States when I go back. When I''m back for 2 weeks, I''ll often go to see 3-4 movies. I still get free admission, but I buy heaps of concessions to compensate my old employer. Ticket prices in Perth are around $16-20 each. When FI and I saw Avatar last week, it was $45 for us - tickets and popcorn only. That''s a bitter pill to swallow when you went for so long without paying admission OR for concessions! It was really killer when we went Gold Class to see the last HP. If I remember right, it was $65 to get in and then we spent another $35 on ice cream and a cheese tasting platter!

So, kudos to the people who understand the situation and compensate theaters through enormously overpriced concessions.
36.gif
I know it''s so tempting to save your pennies (and no one likes getting ripped off), but it''s either that or the theater industry will fail as the movie industry rolls in the dough!
Click to expand...
justginger, I''m glad you explained all of this. I work on the studio side and so I understand the plight of movie theatres because I''m one of the people that is asking for those huge box office percentages and you''re right, we don''t care about ticket prices!

There are many things to consider including overhead, theatre maintenance, overtime pay if movies run midnight shows, etc. Then when you factor in that companies such as Paramount or Disney are getting paid 70% of the box office for the first week, the theatres definitely suffer if concessions aren''t being purchased. I''ve been in this business for almost 18 years so I''ve seen lots of theatres and theatre circuits come and go. My heart really goes out to the little independent mom and pop theatres that truly struggle to keep their doors open. I know a lot of people think that they shouldn''t have to pay that much for concessions but when you think about how much your local twin movie theatre has to pay a studio to play a movie so you can go to see it, you should think twice about sneaking your own food in and support your local theatre by buying a treat. Or you can just not go the movies because your theatre has closed due to lack of funds.
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DH and I don''t go to the theater all that often, once a year usually. We sometimes buy a popcorn and drink, but not always. They charge way too much as far as I am concerned, and I have no problem with bringing in your own food.
 
and for those taking their food in: please remove it from your bag or whatever without making a lot of noise during the movie. its disruptive to hear the crunching of paper, etc. and hear one ask another "would you like a bite". also, please pick up after yourself. if you insist on taking food in, take your garbage out. why should the theatre pay for peole to clean up after the generic "you"?

maybe pricescopers aren''t talkers during movies, don''t act like they''re at a picnic rather than a movie theatre, and do carry their trash out after bringing in their own snacks....but i experience these events too often as i am a rabid movie goer who wants to get full value for my admissiion ticket which does not include having to experience what i''ve described.

mz
 
Ask if there is a child''s popcorn deal. For a good price you can get a small (kid sized) soda, small popcorn, and a candy. They may not advertise it on the menu, but they often have these available! Perfect size for your cravings!
 
Jelly, I used to do that all the time - a little box (think Bento, slightly bigger, cardboard) with a slot for popcorn, a small drink, and a small laffy taffy. I think they were $4 when I started getting them - perfect size, under $5, got everything I want from the concessions. But I''ve even seen the prices go up on these - I believe they''re $6.50 now, so if DH and I go together, it just makes economical sense to split a popcorn and drink.

-In regard to the OP: I go both ways. Sometimes I buy concessions, other times I don''t and sneak them in. And, sometimes we go to lunch right before the movie, so I don''t want anything to snack on other than gum. I would never sneak my own popcorn in - that seems silly, but sometimes if I''m not in the mood for popcorn, DH and I will sneak in candy....and a soda or two. There''s a Walgreen''s next to the theater, and when I''m watching my own purse strings, there''s no way I''m going to pay 200% or more mark-up on something that can be purchased much cheaper across the street.
 
I''ll admit, after the last thread I''m a total snack-buying convert. I mean, we''d end up spending almost the same amount on snacks if we bought at CVS, we''d just end up consuming more calories! Better for me and the theater.
 
Date: 1/10/2010 4:05:03 PM
Author: Jelly
Ask if there is a child''s popcorn deal. For a good price you can get a small (kid sized) soda, small popcorn, and a candy. They may not advertise it on the menu, but they often have these available! Perfect size for your cravings!
Click to expand...
But, I wouldn''t want my kids drinking soda and eating candy in the theater. They''d go wild on all that sugar!
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Date: 1/10/2010 3:59:06 PM
Author: movie zombie
and for those taking their food in: please remove it from your bag or whatever without making a lot of noise during the movie. its disruptive to hear the crunching of paper, etc. and hear one ask another ''would you like a bite''. also, please pick up after yourself. if you insist on taking food in, take your garbage out. why should the theatre pay for peole to clean up after the generic ''you''?

maybe pricescopers aren''t talkers during movies, don''t act like they''re at a picnic rather than a movie theatre, and do carry their trash out after bringing in their own snacks....but i experience these events too often as i am a rabid movie goer who wants to get full value for my admissiion ticket which does not include having to experience what i''ve described.

mz
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Yeah, the crunching of plastic bugs the crap out of my DH. That is why we bring in ziplocks (one for each kid) because they''re quiet. In fact, I keep a box of them in my car because you never know when they''ll come in handy.
 
Date: 1/9/2010 10:22:56 PM
Author: justginger
I worked at the cinemas for nearly 4 years AND I''m a miser, so I can see both sides of this.
4.gif
Click to expand...
Justginger - what kind of position did you hold at the theater?

Like was stated, it''s silly to expect someone to spend $6 on a $1 bag of candy, PLUS, I don''t want my kids eating candy in a movie. If they ate that crap they''d be jumping off the walls!!! There are no DECENT food items for kids! The nachos in there are toxic
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Not only are others paying to see a movie, I AM spending $35+ for my family to see a movie and I want to enjoy it too and would not want my kids drinking soda and eating a box of candy equalling 100 grams of sugar.
 
Date: 1/10/2010 3:59:06 PM
Author: movie zombie
and for those taking their food in: please remove it from your bag or whatever without making a lot of noise during the movie. its disruptive to hear the crunching of paper, etc. and hear one ask another 'would you like a bite'. also, please pick up after yourself. if you insist on taking food in, take your garbage out. why should the theatre pay for peole to clean up after the generic 'you'?

maybe pricescopers aren't talkers during movies, don't act like they're at a picnic rather than a movie theatre, and do carry their trash out after bringing in their own snacks....but i experience these events too often as i am a rabid movie goer who wants to get full value for my admissiion ticket which does not include having to experience what i've described.

mz
Click to expand...
My biggest Movie "peeve" as of Friday night... people that can't be separated from their Blackberry or Iphone for 2 freaking hours! Do they not realize that the entire area around them becomes illuminated when they turn that thing on!

Between the couple that was checking facebook together during the last 30 minutes of the movie on their BB (at eye level, not in their lap), and the mom who didn't take her teenager's Iphone away after he checked the time and for any missed calls/text messages for the 15th time... I was furious to say the least.
29.gif
 
I don''t go to the movies very often, maybe 2-4 times a year. We purposely go on the inexpensive days (Tuesday) only. It''s £4.25/ticket. DH likes popcorn, so we''ll buy that sometimes, for around £5, and share it. We get the tap water for free.

I do sneak food into the movies. I wouldn''t buy the food at the movies anyhow so I honestly don''t think of it as stealing. I''m too lazy to sneak food in most times anyhow.

We watch any movie we want to see to tv when it comes out or rent it through Love Film (Net Flix) if we want to see it before that.
 
Date: 1/10/2010 5:39:19 PM
Author: meresal

My biggest Movie ''peeve'' as of Friday night... people that can''t be separated from their Blackberry or Iphone for 2 freaking hours! Do they not realize that the entire area around them becomes illuminated when they turn that thing on!

Between the couple that was checking facebook together during the last 30 minutes of the movie on their BB (at eye level, not in their lap), and the mom who didn''t take her teenager''s Iphone away after he checked the time and for any missed calls/text messages for the 15th time... I was furious to say the least.
29.gif
Click to expand...
i''m past being polite in these cases: i loudly ask/tell them to turn it off. usually once is enough.....if a 2nd or 3rd time is necessary [it was during Anticrist] i go to the manager.

i paid for my ticket and i expect to not be distracted by someone''s need to be connected to the outside world. if they need to do that then get up and and outside the theatre.

my last disaster was sitting in a theatre when 4 young women came in late and then started pulling out the burger king type food with all the attendent crunching of paper, etc. including the "do you want a bite" comment. when one of them at the end of the movie stepped over the back of the seat next to me to get out of her row and stepped on my purse, well, i grabbed her ankle with a very strong grip and told her to not step on my purse [she already had]....she did apologize. this was during the movie NINE. my husband said, please, let''s not go to any more saturday movie showings.


mz
 
Eating while at the movies is a bad habbit I''ve picked up from bf- I used to only bring water from home and maybe gum or mints.

Most cinemas in New Zealand allow you to bring in your own food with simple rules like no hot food, glass bottles or alcohol.
BF and I are big movie go-ers and usually go to the supermarket first for some snacks rather than paying the extorsionate cinema prices for food. I''ll get bottled water and somthing to munch on which varies depending on weather I behaving myself of being naughty and BF with get a softdrink and a snack.

I do love movie popcorn but I know it is evil because it is mega calorific and I can eat ALOT of it.
 
Date: 1/10/2010 5:58:54 PM
Author: movie zombie
Date: 1/10/2010 5:39:19 PM

Author: meresal


My biggest Movie ''peeve'' as of Friday night... people that can''t be separated from their Blackberry or Iphone for 2 freaking hours! Do they not realize that the entire area around them becomes illuminated when they turn that thing on!


Between the couple that was checking facebook together during the last 30 minutes of the movie on their BB (at eye level, not in their lap), and the mom who didn''t take her teenager''s Iphone away after he checked the time and for any missed calls/text messages for the 15th time... I was furious to say the least.
29.gif
Click to expand...

i''m past being polite in these cases: i loudly ask/tell them to turn it off. usually once is enough.....if a 2nd or 3rd time is necessary [it was during Anticrist] i go to the manager.


i paid for my ticket and i expect to not be distracted by someone''s need to be connected to the outside world. if they need to do that then get up and and outside the theatre.


my last disaster was sitting in a theatre when 4 young women came in late and then started pulling out the burger king type food with all the attendent crunching of paper, etc. including the ''do you want a bite'' comment. when one of them at the end of the movie stepped over the back of the seat next to me to get out of her row and stepped on my purse, well, i grabbed her ankle with a very strong grip and told her to not step on my purse [she already had]....she did apologize. this was during the movie NINE. my husband said, please, let''s not go to any more saturday movie showings.



mz
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I''m not even going to the movies that much anymore because of stuff like that. I told the PARENTS of a child to be quiet because they were blabbing continuously during a movie and the woman blew her nose and threw it in my hair!
When I must go (like to Avatar), I do bring in snacks. Recently, I went with my husband and I forgot my purse so I had to put on my hubby''s military parka (in 72 degree San Diego weather) and loaded the pockets. We laughed hysterically because I couldn''t put my arms down. I don''t know why my hubby needs so much food for the theater and then also gets a bucket of popcorn. The only thing I hate is when he tries to put his "popcorn fingers" on me.
 
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