It never bother me when I buy a large popcorn in a local AMC theatres located in Bay Plaza shopping center the only thing I sneak in is the outside drinks with my book bag.If I go to another movie theater like 161st Street Movie theaters and Whitestone cinema they be checking every people bag except AMC and Regal. There is a strict usher checked my bags at 161st Street movie theater they kicked me out for sneaking in an AMC popcorn bag then i went to the whitestone cinema to see a r rated movie they this mean lady said I not allowed in the projection booth so the boss kicked me out so I took a cab to AMC in Bay Plaza,pay my tickets, buy a large popcorn and go to the theaters
It never really bothered me when people would bring food in. I had enough to worry about on opening night/ weekend. Cans were a problem. Our per cap on customers was never a problem,most folks then, hit the concession.70’s early 80’s.
Sneaking snacks and a coke into a movie theater has been going on for decades. As long as you are discrete you will not get caught, regardless of the policy. Theaters would sell more soda at the concession if they offered smaller sizes. I paid $4.50 for a “small” coke that had to be about 40 oz. As Seinfeld once said: How much Mountain Dew can a man drink? At any rate, I don’t think a policy change will alter this situation at all.
Bottom line theater owners: if you moved upmarket and disallowed food in your theaters, the experience would be far more pleasant for all. Instead, you have trained people to treat it like a MacDonalds – all the popping diacetyl smell and all, the ads, the grease, the filth.
Simple answer: Run a theater. You cant bring popcorn to the symphony, or a hot dog dripping oil all over the seats to the real theater. You want to run a macdonalds, then do that. Instead, you shut down real movie theaters, then turn the thing into a mess and make your only profits on the greaseburgers.
I select which movies I go to now very carefully – just the special effects spectaculars really. THe rest I wait a few weeks to come out on DVD. And like IU say, I’m looking forward to getting a big screen at home. You suck, youre going extinct, except that you will have a loyal following of fast-food-loving teenagers.
“You know who’s responsible for the high prices? YOU. You fat, greasy, slobs who cant seem to find your cake holes with the food you buy without spilling it all over the ground."
If people are treated with respect, they act with respect, by and large. If people are overcharged, herded in lines like cattle, and treated like a source of cash, nothing more, theyre going to treat your place like garbage – after all, they paid for your cleaning fees. I dont mess up, because I do what most complainers dont – I watch the movie and dont eat. But I sure as hell understand why people treat your place like a greasy spoon cafe. Because thats the image youre going for.
“No one has ever successfully sued a theatre for not allowing outside food and won. Theatres can allow what they please inside as long as they are consistent and do not discriminate. They are NOT public spaces.”
The spaces will get even more private soon enough. All those costs you moan about? Guess what – theyre pretty much the same whether you attract thousands of customers or drive away all but a few diehards. Ever wonder why the theaters are half empty except on date night? Yup! people dont see movies anymore except as a place to go on a cheap date. Keep acting like a real theater in terms of pricing, and you might just find that people rediscover a real theater experience – with real actors on a stage. Why pay $25 for a mass market job when you can see a play for the same?
“Ugh, it pains me to read some of these responses. Movie Theatres are a for profit business, the profit comes almost entirely from concession sales.”
There are more than enough cafes around, we dont go to your workplace to eat, we go to watch movies. You have 2 choices, charge for the item that people are going there for (the MOVIE) or go the airline way – charge airport fees, landing fees, bag fees, restroom fees, food fees, etc. with a frisking line up front. Do you enjoy flying anymore with this new pricing model?
The simple solution: jack up your ticket prices even more. Be honest. It may pain you to read the responses from people who pay your bills, but if you ignore them, youre going to lose even more customers.
Apart from that, your model doesnt work with me – I never use the “concession” stand (no-one ever conceded me anything at this), so using your warped logic, youre letting me in free.
There is a reason we hate to see multiplexes driving independents out of business. And soon, I’ll have a wall-sized screen and a blu-ray at home. Enjoy running your fast food joint while you can. Maybe then everyone – you, the distributers, the movie corps and the actors – will charge more reasonably. Too late.
Recently AMC offered Pizzeria Uno at several locations with the tagline “Hasta La Vista Hunger”. I got a coupon for that offer, which thankfull expired…..who wants to eat big food during a 2 hour movie? I remember when AMC’s Clifton Commons, as General CInema, used to have cookies and coffee from Starbucks, but since AMC took over, it’s gone. Same could be said for east hanover and its barren food counter between the entraces to the two wings of the theater that have six screens each.
They’re stupid! Do they know how easy it is to stuff a friggin Subway/Quizno’s sub or Chipotle burrito in your coat? They should just build a food court in the concession stand and call it a day. Sheesh!
N H U, I feel that the majority of theater goers behave well and enjoy the experience, and that as usual its a minority of them that are behaving badly, but VERY BADLY, as is the case pretty much everywhere…HOWEVER…it is the fault of all who every time a new chain opens up they simply go there and forget about their local independently operated cinemas that now they find themselves having to go along with the will of the monopolyplexes.
You know who’s responsible for the high prices? YOU. You fat, greasy, slobs who cant seem to find your cake holes with the food you buy without spilling it all over the ground.
I have a great balcony in my theater…which I have had to now close off due to people being so physically screwed up they can’t walk up and down the stairs without falling down. I can’t say “hey you i don’t think you’re up to the stairs…because that would be "wrong”.
Screw you. You people made it this way. You people flock to the big Walmart chains the second they open a new shiny high priced dump, putting the independents out of business because the new guys had bigger wider seats you could slide your fat, sniveling asses into since you gorge yourself on garbage.
Now that they have done away with all the competition in the metro areas you cry foul because they charge a higher premium to have to deal with you people. You raise your kids to be spoiled brats who ruin the movies for everyone else. Then you go and make a horrible mess. Great role models you are.
YOU MADE IT THIS WAY. Stop whining, stop wearing your crocks with socks in public, try walking a little bit more, and deal with it. So pat yourselves on the back, nice job. Idiots!
With superb presentations on High Definition TV screens, and excellent sound from even the most inexpensive home sound system, and being able to PURCHASE a new DVD for less than the price of tickets, and WAY less to rent, theatres are going to have to do something VERY grand to keep people coming. Running commercials, high prices, and bad film presentations in auditoriums filled with dregs will be the end of the thetre business as we’ve known it.
If I’m going to an independent and the concession offerings are decent, then I will spend money there to support them.
Tonight, I went to Cinemark’s Egyptian 24, in Hanover, MD and saw that most of their concession items are above $5. A hotdog is $8.50! I would NEVER pay $8.50 for a hotdog even if they killed the animal and ground it up fresh and had it Kosher blessed and certified it as organic. How ridiculous is that? If I were to frequent this place, I would hide my food in my jacket and sneak it in. Heck, I’ll bring an entire Chinese buffet with me, with egg rolls and soup in my jacket.
See the issue is AMC did allow outside food for as long as I can remember, which was great because they had very limited offerings at their concession stand (popcorn, soda, candy and hot dogs) – where as National Amusements, my favorite of the big chains in terms of food offerings, comfort and presentation has in most of it’s theaters food court style concessions that are actually quiet good (the Pizza is real pizza, not something that was taken out of a freezer for example). Same for Cineplex in Canada.
AMC was resistant to putting cafes in their theaters, even shutting down those that Loews opened (Loews Wayne for example had a coffee and ice cream stand AMC shut down after taking over). So if you wanted coffee or tea to make your movie going experience more enjoyable, you’d have to stop off at Starbucks before the show – which is no problem since AMC allowed outside food and beverage. (Same at General Cinema Essex Green after AMC took over). Another problem is their food isn’t terrably good either. Ironically enough AMC is now lead by a former Starbucks executive, perhaps they’ll take a page from that company and offer higher quality products instead of artificial/highly processed juices and teas made by Coca Cola and pre-packaged junk.
I personally think this policy is a shame and I will certainly try to avoid AMC. I especially enjoyed Jamba Juice with my AMC popcorn at Garden State, much better than the crap they sell at their snack bar.
This policy would be illegal here in California. When I worked for Century about 5 years ago, we were instructed to let outside food and drink in, as long as it didn’t pose a hazard (e.g. glass containers, etc.). We would actually give people courtesy cups to put their glass-contained drinks in. This is because someone sued one of the chains (AMC if I’m not mistaken) and contested their policy of not allowing outside food or drink on anti-trust basis. The plaintiffs won. I guess the court saw movie theatres as places that show movies and sold food on the side, rather than the reality today of restaurants that show movies.
The trick for the movie theatres is to pretend they give a rip and entice people to buy their products. We were told to pop fresh popcorn during every set, whether or not we needed to. It increased our waste slightly, but our percaps always went up because the smell of freshly-popped popcorn was irresistible. And if they didn’t have anything to drink with them, well that was something we could suggest-sell.
I’ve never been terribly impressed with AMC and it’s presentation or customer service. Regal is not a big player where I am, so I haven’t had the (dis?)pleasure. But I will never buy anything from an AMC concession stand again. They have the uncanny knack of taking neat venues and ruining them. I can only assume they treat their employees like crap because their employees treat customers like crap.
As a semi-retired part time usher, the incredible amount of garbage I pick up between 4 to 5 sets a day simply astounds me and that includes both sex restrooms!
The majority of the general public are quite respectful and I try to say a personal “thank you” when they pitch their garbage into a container.
What really makes me snort fire and brimstone is the thoughtless movie patrons who leave their outside purchase empties, etc., all over the floor. I wonder what their last servant died of?
You all have no clue what it cost to operate these buildings..The electric bill alone is mind blowing every month as well as Rent & taxes,phone workers comp,phone ,liability ins,admission tax,sales tax,projection upkeep,salaries,cam charges,newspaper ads, print delivery fees, web site upkeep, cleaning, cost of goods paper products,candy ,cable, license fees,film rental,water,garbage……………………….
In San Antonio, there are Regal Cinemas, AMC, Cinemark, and Santikos. Santikos is every bit as greedy, and screws the patrons just as well as the big boys.
After nearly 30 years in the business, I know where the money taken in goes. The theatres have gone WAY OVER THE TOP with their ridiculous prices. I paid $17.50 for ONE large popcorn, and TWO medium drinks on my last visit to a theatre. That is utterly ridiculous, and to also be bombarded by commercial advertisements for 20 minutes before the show, AND have a lousy screen presentation due to a flickering xenon bulb, made me feel nothing but disgust and contempt for that Regal Theatre.
you don’t ID where you are, but here in the Philadelphia area almost every movie theater showing mainstream blockbusters is operated by a chain, especially Regal and AMC. There are choices for arthouse films.
I am a theater operator…if all of you whiners would make the extra effort to patronize your INDEPENDENTLY owner theatres instead of just lazing out and going to Regal, AMC, Cinemark and the like, then you’d find you’d get a quality experience and a lower price on both tickets and snacks, and then the BIG BOYS will take some prices down. YOU WHO ONLY GO TO THE BIG GUYS BECAUSE THEY’RE “NEARER” ARE THE SOLUTION HERE..IF THIS ANGERS YOU THEN DON’T GO TO THOSE CHAINS.
I always try to buy concessions at independent theatres such as the Brattle and Somerville, but I will always buy my candy and drinks at CVS before going to any big chain theatre.
It never bother me when I buy a large popcorn in a local AMC theatres located in Bay Plaza shopping center the only thing I sneak in is the outside drinks with my book bag.If I go to another movie theater like 161st Street Movie theaters and Whitestone cinema they be checking every people bag except AMC and Regal. There is a strict usher checked my bags at 161st Street movie theater they kicked me out for sneaking in an AMC popcorn bag then i went to the whitestone cinema to see a r rated movie they this mean lady said I not allowed in the projection booth so the boss kicked me out so I took a cab to AMC in Bay Plaza,pay my tickets, buy a large popcorn and go to the theaters
It never really bothered me when people would bring food in. I had enough to worry about on opening night/ weekend. Cans were a problem. Our per cap on customers was never a problem,most folks then, hit the concession.70’s early 80’s.
Sneaking snacks and a coke into a movie theater has been going on for decades. As long as you are discrete you will not get caught, regardless of the policy. Theaters would sell more soda at the concession if they offered smaller sizes. I paid $4.50 for a “small” coke that had to be about 40 oz. As Seinfeld once said: How much Mountain Dew can a man drink? At any rate, I don’t think a policy change will alter this situation at all.
Bottom line theater owners: if you moved upmarket and disallowed food in your theaters, the experience would be far more pleasant for all. Instead, you have trained people to treat it like a MacDonalds – all the popping diacetyl smell and all, the ads, the grease, the filth.
Simple answer: Run a theater. You cant bring popcorn to the symphony, or a hot dog dripping oil all over the seats to the real theater. You want to run a macdonalds, then do that. Instead, you shut down real movie theaters, then turn the thing into a mess and make your only profits on the greaseburgers.
I select which movies I go to now very carefully – just the special effects spectaculars really. THe rest I wait a few weeks to come out on DVD. And like IU say, I’m looking forward to getting a big screen at home. You suck, youre going extinct, except that you will have a loyal following of fast-food-loving teenagers.
“You know who’s responsible for the high prices? YOU. You fat, greasy, slobs who cant seem to find your cake holes with the food you buy without spilling it all over the ground."
If people are treated with respect, they act with respect, by and large. If people are overcharged, herded in lines like cattle, and treated like a source of cash, nothing more, theyre going to treat your place like garbage – after all, they paid for your cleaning fees. I dont mess up, because I do what most complainers dont – I watch the movie and dont eat. But I sure as hell understand why people treat your place like a greasy spoon cafe. Because thats the image youre going for.
“No one has ever successfully sued a theatre for not allowing outside food and won. Theatres can allow what they please inside as long as they are consistent and do not discriminate. They are NOT public spaces.”
The spaces will get even more private soon enough. All those costs you moan about? Guess what – theyre pretty much the same whether you attract thousands of customers or drive away all but a few diehards. Ever wonder why the theaters are half empty except on date night? Yup! people dont see movies anymore except as a place to go on a cheap date. Keep acting like a real theater in terms of pricing, and you might just find that people rediscover a real theater experience – with real actors on a stage. Why pay $25 for a mass market job when you can see a play for the same?
“Ugh, it pains me to read some of these responses. Movie Theatres are a for profit business, the profit comes almost entirely from concession sales.”
There are more than enough cafes around, we dont go to your workplace to eat, we go to watch movies. You have 2 choices, charge for the item that people are going there for (the MOVIE) or go the airline way – charge airport fees, landing fees, bag fees, restroom fees, food fees, etc. with a frisking line up front. Do you enjoy flying anymore with this new pricing model?
The simple solution: jack up your ticket prices even more. Be honest. It may pain you to read the responses from people who pay your bills, but if you ignore them, youre going to lose even more customers.
Apart from that, your model doesnt work with me – I never use the “concession” stand (no-one ever conceded me anything at this), so using your warped logic, youre letting me in free.
There is a reason we hate to see multiplexes driving independents out of business. And soon, I’ll have a wall-sized screen and a blu-ray at home. Enjoy running your fast food joint while you can. Maybe then everyone – you, the distributers, the movie corps and the actors – will charge more reasonably. Too late.
Recently AMC offered Pizzeria Uno at several locations with the tagline “Hasta La Vista Hunger”. I got a coupon for that offer, which thankfull expired…..who wants to eat big food during a 2 hour movie? I remember when AMC’s Clifton Commons, as General CInema, used to have cookies and coffee from Starbucks, but since AMC took over, it’s gone. Same could be said for east hanover and its barren food counter between the entraces to the two wings of the theater that have six screens each.
They’re stupid! Do they know how easy it is to stuff a friggin Subway/Quizno’s sub or Chipotle burrito in your coat? They should just build a food court in the concession stand and call it a day. Sheesh!
N H U, I feel that the majority of theater goers behave well and enjoy the experience, and that as usual its a minority of them that are behaving badly, but VERY BADLY, as is the case pretty much everywhere…HOWEVER…it is the fault of all who every time a new chain opens up they simply go there and forget about their local independently operated cinemas that now they find themselves having to go along with the will of the monopolyplexes.
Hey JDC, how do REALLY feel about today’s movie theater patrons? Don’t hold back.
You know who’s responsible for the high prices? YOU. You fat, greasy, slobs who cant seem to find your cake holes with the food you buy without spilling it all over the ground.
I have a great balcony in my theater…which I have had to now close off due to people being so physically screwed up they can’t walk up and down the stairs without falling down. I can’t say “hey you i don’t think you’re up to the stairs…because that would be "wrong”.
Screw you. You people made it this way. You people flock to the big Walmart chains the second they open a new shiny high priced dump, putting the independents out of business because the new guys had bigger wider seats you could slide your fat, sniveling asses into since you gorge yourself on garbage.
Now that they have done away with all the competition in the metro areas you cry foul because they charge a higher premium to have to deal with you people. You raise your kids to be spoiled brats who ruin the movies for everyone else. Then you go and make a horrible mess. Great role models you are.
YOU MADE IT THIS WAY. Stop whining, stop wearing your crocks with socks in public, try walking a little bit more, and deal with it. So pat yourselves on the back, nice job. Idiots!
Next time you are asked to pay $8.50 for a hot dog, blame this silly bitch, not Cinemark. All stupid criminals cost all of us.
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$8.50 for a HOT DOG!?!?!
They are NUTS!
With superb presentations on High Definition TV screens, and excellent sound from even the most inexpensive home sound system, and being able to PURCHASE a new DVD for less than the price of tickets, and WAY less to rent, theatres are going to have to do something VERY grand to keep people coming. Running commercials, high prices, and bad film presentations in auditoriums filled with dregs will be the end of the thetre business as we’ve known it.
If I’m going to an independent and the concession offerings are decent, then I will spend money there to support them.
Tonight, I went to Cinemark’s Egyptian 24, in Hanover, MD and saw that most of their concession items are above $5. A hotdog is $8.50! I would NEVER pay $8.50 for a hotdog even if they killed the animal and ground it up fresh and had it Kosher blessed and certified it as organic. How ridiculous is that? If I were to frequent this place, I would hide my food in my jacket and sneak it in. Heck, I’ll bring an entire Chinese buffet with me, with egg rolls and soup in my jacket.
No one has ever successfully sued a theatre for not allowing outside food and won.
Theatres can allow what they please inside as long as they are consistent and do not discriminate. They are NOT public spaces.
Remember those discount theatres with discount concession stands? Probably not. They are, with rare exceptions, out of business.
Try bringing your popcorn into a Broadway show or a Yankee game next time. And their snack bars make AMC and Regal a bargain.
I wish to thank those chains in advance for trying to keep their theatres clean and their businesses open and profitable.
Yeah AMC? Then search me! I always bring pb and j and my camelbak. Lower your prices for food and add nutritional info and maybe i’ll consider it.
See the issue is AMC did allow outside food for as long as I can remember, which was great because they had very limited offerings at their concession stand (popcorn, soda, candy and hot dogs) – where as National Amusements, my favorite of the big chains in terms of food offerings, comfort and presentation has in most of it’s theaters food court style concessions that are actually quiet good (the Pizza is real pizza, not something that was taken out of a freezer for example). Same for Cineplex in Canada.
AMC was resistant to putting cafes in their theaters, even shutting down those that Loews opened (Loews Wayne for example had a coffee and ice cream stand AMC shut down after taking over). So if you wanted coffee or tea to make your movie going experience more enjoyable, you’d have to stop off at Starbucks before the show – which is no problem since AMC allowed outside food and beverage. (Same at General Cinema Essex Green after AMC took over). Another problem is their food isn’t terrably good either. Ironically enough AMC is now lead by a former Starbucks executive, perhaps they’ll take a page from that company and offer higher quality products instead of artificial/highly processed juices and teas made by Coca Cola and pre-packaged junk.
I personally think this policy is a shame and I will certainly try to avoid AMC. I especially enjoyed Jamba Juice with my AMC popcorn at Garden State, much better than the crap they sell at their snack bar.
This policy would be illegal here in California. When I worked for Century about 5 years ago, we were instructed to let outside food and drink in, as long as it didn’t pose a hazard (e.g. glass containers, etc.). We would actually give people courtesy cups to put their glass-contained drinks in. This is because someone sued one of the chains (AMC if I’m not mistaken) and contested their policy of not allowing outside food or drink on anti-trust basis. The plaintiffs won. I guess the court saw movie theatres as places that show movies and sold food on the side, rather than the reality today of restaurants that show movies.
The trick for the movie theatres is to pretend they give a rip and entice people to buy their products. We were told to pop fresh popcorn during every set, whether or not we needed to. It increased our waste slightly, but our percaps always went up because the smell of freshly-popped popcorn was irresistible. And if they didn’t have anything to drink with them, well that was something we could suggest-sell.
I’ve never been terribly impressed with AMC and it’s presentation or customer service. Regal is not a big player where I am, so I haven’t had the (dis?)pleasure. But I will never buy anything from an AMC concession stand again. They have the uncanny knack of taking neat venues and ruining them. I can only assume they treat their employees like crap because their employees treat customers like crap.
As a semi-retired part time usher, the incredible amount of garbage I pick up between 4 to 5 sets a day simply astounds me and that includes both sex restrooms!
The majority of the general public are quite respectful and I try to say a personal “thank you” when they pitch their garbage into a container.
What really makes me snort fire and brimstone is the thoughtless movie patrons who leave their outside purchase empties, etc., all over the floor. I wonder what their last servant died of?
You all have no clue what it cost to operate these buildings..The electric bill alone is mind blowing every month as well as Rent & taxes,phone workers comp,phone ,liability ins,admission tax,sales tax,projection upkeep,salaries,cam charges,newspaper ads, print delivery fees, web site upkeep, cleaning, cost of goods paper products,candy ,cable, license fees,film rental,water,garbage……………………….
In San Antonio, there are Regal Cinemas, AMC, Cinemark, and Santikos. Santikos is every bit as greedy, and screws the patrons just as well as the big boys.
After nearly 30 years in the business, I know where the money taken in goes. The theatres have gone WAY OVER THE TOP with their ridiculous prices. I paid $17.50 for ONE large popcorn, and TWO medium drinks on my last visit to a theatre. That is utterly ridiculous, and to also be bombarded by commercial advertisements for 20 minutes before the show, AND have a lousy screen presentation due to a flickering xenon bulb, made me feel nothing but disgust and contempt for that Regal Theatre.
you don’t ID where you are, but here in the Philadelphia area almost every movie theater showing mainstream blockbusters is operated by a chain, especially Regal and AMC. There are choices for arthouse films.
I am a theater operator…if all of you whiners would make the extra effort to patronize your INDEPENDENTLY owner theatres instead of just lazing out and going to Regal, AMC, Cinemark and the like, then you’d find you’d get a quality experience and a lower price on both tickets and snacks, and then the BIG BOYS will take some prices down. YOU WHO ONLY GO TO THE BIG GUYS BECAUSE THEY’RE “NEARER” ARE THE SOLUTION HERE..IF THIS ANGERS YOU THEN DON’T GO TO THOSE CHAINS.
I always try to buy concessions at independent theatres such as the Brattle and Somerville, but I will always buy my candy and drinks at CVS before going to any big chain theatre.