Huge surge in moviegoing due to poorer economic times

posted by HowardBHaas on March 5, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Not only is revenue surging but even attendance is on pace to reach high peaks.

While much of the economy is teetering between bust and bailout, the movie industry has been startled by a box-office surge that has little precedent in the modern era. Suddenly it seems as if everyone is going to the movies, with ticket sales this year up 17.5 percent, to $1.7 billion, according to Media by Numbers, a box-office tracking company.

And it is not just because ticket prices are higher. Attendance has also jumped, by nearly 16 percent. If that pace continues through the year, it would amount to the biggest box-office surge in at least two decades.

Read the full story at the New York Times.

Comments (8)

KenLayton
KenLayton on March 5, 2009 at 4:44 pm

That’s not the case in my locality. Theaters are closing left and right due to poor attendance. High ticket prices are indeed keeping people away.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on March 5, 2009 at 4:56 pm

There’s no movie theaters being closed in the Philadelphia area. Movies are the most affordable entertainment there is.

Michael Furlinger
Michael Furlinger on March 5, 2009 at 6:20 pm

theaters opening here (2 this year) none closing.No issue with price ….

MPol
MPol on March 6, 2009 at 12:47 am

As far as I know, movie theatres in my area are open and functioning as usual. It’s not at all surprising that, during this serious near-depression economic downturn, that people are flocking to the movies. People want to forget about reality for awhile, and to be immersed in a movie shown on a great big, wide screen, in a REAL movie theatre, with the lights down low. Imho, staying home and watching a movie on TV has never been much of a cheerer-upper.

JohnMLauter
JohnMLauter on March 8, 2009 at 3:57 am

Just like the lsdt depression

MPol
MPol on March 8, 2009 at 6:26 am

Could very well be, JohnMLauter.

JohnMLauter
JohnMLauter on March 8, 2009 at 12:33 pm

that should read “last” depression!

MPol
MPol on March 8, 2009 at 5:44 pm

Yup. I figured that out.

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