AMC lowers 3-D prices

posted by Michael Zoldessy on May 28, 2010 at 3:43 pm

NEW YORK, NY — Maybe it was an error or maybe they received so many complaints about it, but the bottom line is AMC is lowering it’s 3-D ticket prices in some NY theaters after they crossed the $20 mark last weekend.

AMC, which offered the $20 tickets on sale online yesterday for IMAX 3-D showings of “Shrek” at several of its New York theaters, attributes it to an error. Theaters with $20 tickets on sale include AMC Kips Bay, AMC Loews 34, AMC Loews Lincoln Square and AMC Empire 42 Street.

“Unfortunately, a limited number of theatres posted incorrect pricing for ‘Shrek Forever After,’ which we immediately corrected,” AMC spokesperson Justin Scott said in a statement today. “Any guest who purchased a ticket at the incorrect price can visit Guest Services for a refund.”

Read more in the Wall Street Journal.

Comments (15)

Chris Utley
Chris Utley on May 28, 2010 at 5:05 pm

cough-SPIN!-cough

John Fink
John Fink on May 28, 2010 at 6:04 pm

Yeah, um kay.

I’m losing respect for AMC lately – first they doubled back on their policy regarding outside food and beverages after they closed or reduced menu items that General Cinema and Loews had (although Loews Cineplex in its later years had really truly awful popcorn). And now I feel like they’re jacking up their 3-D prices with every release, between that and the mini-IMAX screens and even worse their EXT screens in markets where Regal has the IMAX franchise – there moving into a direction that I don’t particularly care for under Gerardo Lopez.

PS: If they were smart they’d adopt Kerasotes' popcorn, popcorn is an important part of the experience: Kerasotes is so delicious it’s second only to National Amusements in terms of deliciousness, when I go to their Showplace in Secacus, I have to plan on an extra hour of cardio at the gym the next day, because it’s that good (and free refills on all sizes!).

KJB2012
KJB2012 on May 28, 2010 at 8:33 pm

Well quickest way to get AMC or anyother chain to lower prices is to stop going. If they don’t sell enough tickets at $20 or whatever price, they will either lower it or close up. Econ 101

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on May 28, 2010 at 11:58 pm

In my market (DC/MD/VA) I paid $13 for a matinee showing for Shrek 4 in IMAX-lite 3D. At Regal, it was $14.50 for Digital 3D. Its funny though at Regal, the ticket taker asked me if I needed the glasses for the 3D film. I should have told him I didn’t that my contact lenses were already 3D ready. :P

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on May 29, 2010 at 2:09 am

All those managers programmed the wrong price at the same time. Must have been AMC’s new telepathy management brainwashing methods or some middle management creep blaming the guys in the field.

John Fink
John Fink on May 29, 2010 at 6:03 am

I doubt it knowing that everything is controlled by Kansas City at AMC. I remember someone in Kansas City a few years back keyed in the wrong thing and I was able to go online and buy tickets for Mike Judge’s Idiocracy in West Orange, NJ. That film never played in NJ/NYC.

I called the theater to ask if it was a mistake and they told me “no” – so I bought tickets, printed out my confirmation only to arrive and find that on the digitally controlled board that Idiocracy at 8 was sold out! When we printed our tickets at the Kiosk we were given a message saying the show was canceled and I should visit guest services, when we arrived the manager said “so your the two that bought tickets to the show we don’t have”

We did get comp tickets, a refund and free popcorn for our troubles with the explanation that it was someone in the home office that punched in the wrong thing (the movie that should have been punched in was Jackass). Strangely they had to manually override it at the theater level and couldn’t remove it from digital hallwalls signage.

I also know from the folks at Rockaway that the prices on the digital menu boards at the concession stand are controlled remotely by corporate. Hell maybe even the digital projection rooms are. My guess is AMC corporate jacked up the prices and retreated when they got caught.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on May 29, 2010 at 2:25 pm

I agree John. Nowadays I mostly use gift cards and coupons to save on money.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on May 29, 2010 at 9:49 pm

AMC= Anti-Moviegoing Crap. At least they have the silence is golden policy which works quite well, lol. I used to like going to the Rockaway theaters when it was an outer 6 plex with digital sound. That was only for one movie, “Exit Wounds”, which I enjoyed but my late nana didn’t because of the violence. When they closed it down, I went to Succasunna and Mansfield and Parsippany, all sub-par theaters when AMC took over what was supposed to be a Loews Cineplex Rockaway theater in late 2006. I’d wish they still show film in all the screens, but AMC is doing all glitz and glamour by making it all digital and lie-max. At least there’s Netflix at home.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on May 29, 2010 at 9:51 pm

As for the popcorn John, it’s too salty. A friend of mine complained about the popcorn at East Hanover for Nightmare on Elm Street. I went with M&M’s instead. I used to go there to sneak and drinks in until they enforced the no-food policy. At least I can eat dinner or snacks before the show and go to the bathroom so that I won’t miss a thing during a 2 hour film with previews and commercials.

markp
markp on May 31, 2010 at 4:02 am

Whats this I read? Mr Fencsak wishing for film instead of digital? Oh finally, at last, he has seen the light. You dont know how happy that makes me Justin. I am a film man and have been for over 34 years. I wish 70MM would come back, but I guess I really going out on a limb for that one.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on May 31, 2010 at 7:24 pm

The only 70mm I’ve seen is IMAX film in Jersey City, Lincoln Square, Palisades Center, Washington DC at the AIr and Space Museum and Smithsonian, NatureMax, and OMSI in Oregon, not to mention the closed Cinedome Mt. St. Helens in Castle Rock, Washington, and the Patriot Twin theaters in Williamsburg, VA, where I saw the still-playing 70mm version of “Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot”, which was faded out and grainy but had a good soundtrack in Todd-AO. A restored version is now playing at this theater.

Eric Friedmann
Eric Friedmann on June 1, 2010 at 2:51 pm

Any $20 movie ticket that I am ever insane enough to pay for had better come with a couple of drinks and a blwjb included in the price!

…I’m just saying…

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on June 1, 2010 at 6:48 pm

Oh, Eric! Now you are just being another nostalgic old timer waxing melancholy for the old 42nd street.

ceasar
ceasar on June 2, 2010 at 4:57 pm

with more studios relasing films in 3d those cinemas that lack 3d tech to show them are already left out of the picture. Now Wilcox Theaters who opened a few years ago in the old Pemberton Mall doesn’t have the 3d tech to show such films. I figure sooner or later independent operators whod can’t afford this tech are going to lose thier audience to larger chains like AMC,Cinemark,and others. This I believe will cause smaller market cinemas to close. Anyone agree or disagree?

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on June 4, 2010 at 5:05 am

I disagree and think the 3-D fad has already passed and remains for kid films only.

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