Watching movies is an experience. Nowadays, people do not just want to see the movie itself, but they like seeing it with other people while eating their popcorn. For some it is a way to relax and often it is a common ‘date’ activity for couples. They often see a movie and then have dinner after. Others enjoy the luxury experience like lazy boy seats and unlimited popcorn and soda. This of course can differ from person to person because a big number of folks prefer watching movies in the comfort of their own homes via their computers or television. They like the solitude and economical value since there is less cost for gasoline, food and such.
“Many in the US simply can’t keep up with prices of movie tickets. A sixteen year old making minimum wage must work nearly four hours to afford seeing a film and purchasing concession items. Movie tickets for a poorer family might be 10% of a family’s weekly income. To an increasing number of people, movie tickets are now too high a price to pay for entertainment, especially when film rental is significantly less expensive.”
If only there was a way for moviemakers to add more value to the current prices or perhaps cinemas can have promos or discounted rates. It is a longshot, but it is one of the sure fire ways to get people to watch movies. In the Philippines, cities partner with cinemas to provide senior citizens the privilege of watching movies for free every Mondays. This perk gives cinemas some revenue since the government shoulders the fees. It just takes creativity and people to think out of the box to improve the situation. Otherwise, all we can do is pray that the tides change and economies improve in the coming months, so that more people have the spending power to relax and see a movie.