digitalfreaknyc

So...have to ask this.
Friends of mine have HUGE ethical problems with doing this but with ticket prices almost $11 here in NYC and no matinee cheapies, I have no problem doing this once I'm in there.
Any of you?

Ever get caught?

Last night a friend and I saw Four Brothers and 40 Year Old Virgin. Good times Paid for the former but the latter was better.

Groucho

Nope. I'm a good boy.

Charlie Goose

I did it once a few years ago. After American Pie 2, I went into The Score. As I sat there, every time the door opened I thought they were coming to get me. I decided the potential embarassment of being caught wasn't worth it.

BigDan

I did it when I was a kid, but that was a long time ago.

Actually, when I was about 11 years-old or so, the movie theaters still used color-coded tickets. So a ticket for an afternoon showing was identical to a ticket for the later showing for the same movie.

So there were a couple of times when I stood outside the exit doors and picked up ticket stubs that people threw on the ground as they left the theater (back then, people littered). I really overthought it the first time, so I figured out which color stub went with which movie (the back of the ticket booth was glass, and though I don't remember how, there was a way to see which color stub went with which movie from behind), then I waited until the next showing of the movie I had the right color stub for started and flashed my stub as I walked by the ticket taker.

The second time I did that, I didn't bother to figure out which ticket went with which movie. I just flashed the stub and went into the movie I wanted to see.

I only did it those two times.

But there were a couple of other times when my friends and I would simply go into another movie after having watched one.

I don't do that anymore, but I'm also over 30 years old now.

marty888

Haven't done it for ..... well, almost three weeks now!

Last "double feature" was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory followed by The Devil's Rejects.

I "justify" the practice by making sure that the 2nd movie is one that, while I obviously am interested in, I wouldn't actually pay to see it in a theater anyway - so it's not as if my little hop is reducing the box office take.

Maxflier

I don't do it, but the AMC Palace here is so lax that it would be very easy to do it.They only check your ticket when you walk through the front door.Out of all the times i have been there i have never seen anyone check tickets you walk into the actual theater of the movie you are going to see nor have i ever seen an employee enter the theater during the show.

Giles

not since I was a teenager - I don't risk it anymore.

matome

I don't do it. Even with new stadium seating, I doubt my ass would make it through two flicks without numbing up.

Shannon Nutt

Movie-hopping is stealing, pure and simple. I won't do that to save a few bucks.

auto

Many, many times. But not since I've grown up.

digitalfreaknyc

Amusing that the two people that have admitted to doing it the most frequently live in NYC. hmmm....

Let me guess...you're not insinuating anything...right?

IDrinkMolson

I've done it once or twice back in the day, but never for a whole 2nd movie and generally frown upon it.
Besides nowadays you can get a DVD for cheaper.

Josh H

Yes, but very seldomly. Did it in June to see Star Wars for a second time and Cinderella Man.

There's not often two movies I want to see bad enough to stay in the theater for 4+hours. Show times often don't line up when there is as well.

talemyn

Even if he is, are you really surprised? This thread might as well be titled "Come in and fight!!"


For the record, I don't believe that I ever have (at least I can't remember doing it). I do know that, at least once I have paid for one movie, watched it, gone out, bought a ticket for another movie, and gone back in and watched it.

Why don't I? Because I think it's wrong and have been able to resist an temptation to do it anyways (not that that's been all that difficult).

dadaluholla

Nope. I'm usually ready to leave once my show is over.

sundog

That's my main deterrent. Particularly at the shithole Music Box (Chicago) where they up the prices but improve nothing and their service and presentation sucks ass. Yet they get exclusive movies. They have the most uncomfortable seats in the city. Sitting for 2+ hours is pushing the limit.

Sit in those seats for over 3 hours and your spine fuses into a whole new shape.

Giles

try four movies - yesterday I saw a midday movie at noon "The Ninth Day" at the AFI, ran around the corner to the Majestic to see 'Valiant' had an hour or so to eat a meal, walk (get the circulation flowing), then did another two movies "Dead Man" and "Ghost Dog" back at the AFI, now that was a marathon.

Giantrobo

I go to movies twice a week. 99% it's the same theater and I'm pretty sure I'm recognized by the staff not to mention the camera lenses that are all around. So the answer is no. I also noticed that after Ep III was released they added a few security people but it seems like now they've scaled down to one security person who keeps an eye on things.

Plus, not only is seeing trailers and not missing any part of the movie important, I've earned enough free popcorn, free sodas, and free movies tickets with my MOVIETICKETS points that I woudl feel bad sneaking into a movie.

Giles

I agree I see alot of movies, and I really don't want to jeopardize myself from being barred from a specific theatre.

Trigger

Used to do it all the time until the theater caught on to us... during cellular, a manager walked in and stood there for an unusually long time... then he left for a minute and they turned off the film and brought up the lights... we booked out the door and didn't do it again for awhile. I don't give a fuck if it's stealing - I look at my house and then I look at Ashton Kucher's house and realize that I'm frickin robin hood.

Giantrobo

Hey, I guess that makes it ok.

Actually, I don't care about the theater's bottomline. I learned long ago not to worry about corporations/businesses because they'll always get their money one way or another.

I just don't want any shit from them.

scott shelton

In AZ, doesn't Harkins have a slide with a picture of a angry, foaming dog warning people against hopping?

I faintly remember that.

devilshalo

I do it.. about once every 2 - 3 months.. I plan a day of it. I bring my bookbag full of water and eats, print the schedule of the showings and plan accordingly, taking into account trailers and potty breaks so that I'm never waiting more than 10 mins between each movie. I buy my ticket for Deuce Bigalow 2 or Stealth or whatever crappy Sony movie is out and have a seat. I figure my company is already screwing the theater owners, so why not me?

rkndkn

I did it once, but I felt REALLY bad. I will NEVER do it again.

I often watch 2 films in the same day, but I go back out and buy another ticket. I see around 100 films at the theatre a year, so I could save big bucks, but it's just not right.

Mr. Cinema

Never. I'm an adult.

I would never lower myself to do something so lame.