View Poll Results: Do you eat at the theater?
Yes, I always stop at the concession stand
24
32.88%
Yes, I go to theaters that serve meals
4
5.48%
Yes, I sneak in food
20
27.40%
No, never
19
26.03%
Only a drink
6
8.22%
Voters: 73. You may not vote on this poll
Do you eat at theater?
01-13-13, 08:01 PM
#76
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Ritualistic eating habits are a thing. People eat during sporting events, snack at the movies, etc. For some it is part of the "experience" of going out to the movies. It is really no different from random food-event connections such as tailgating before a football game (something I still don't get having not attended a big sports college).
01-13-13, 08:11 PM
#77
DVD Talk God
Re: Do you eat at theater?
No, never.
My parents taught me that it's a movie theater, not a restaurant.
Put another way, let's say you're at work from 8-5. Most people would easily have two 4-hour stretches without eating (8-12 and 1-5) and think nothing of it, but then they act like they'll die of malnutrition in a theater if they go 2 hours without food. Doesn't make sense.
My parents taught me that it's a movie theater, not a restaurant.
Put another way, let's say you're at work from 8-5. Most people would easily have two 4-hour stretches without eating (8-12 and 1-5) and think nothing of it, but then they act like they'll die of malnutrition in a theater if they go 2 hours without food. Doesn't make sense.
01-13-13, 08:25 PM
#78
Senior Member
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I regularly buy something at the consession stand, unless I've just eaten prior.
Our thing now is buying popcorn and peanut M&Ms and then pouring them into the popcorn. Dee-lish.
My other movie fave is Dots. There should be a law requiring all theaters to carry them. As that is not the case, it's the one item that I will sneak in from time to time.
Our thing now is buying popcorn and peanut M&Ms and then pouring them into the popcorn. Dee-lish.
My other movie fave is Dots. There should be a law requiring all theaters to carry them. As that is not the case, it's the one item that I will sneak in from time to time.
01-13-13, 09:07 PM
#79
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
It is super rare that I eat something in the theater. If I do, I sneak it in. The only time I've paid for popcorn is about 10 years ago when the theater was selling small bags for $1. Most recent was me sneaking a soda in during Hobbit.
01-13-13, 09:32 PM
#80
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Do you eat at theater?
No, never.
My parents taught me that it's a movie theater, not a restaurant.
Put another way, let's say you're at work from 8-5. Most people would easily have two 4-hour stretches without eating (8-12 and 1-5) and think nothing of it, but then they act like they'll die of malnutrition in a theater if they go 2 hours without food. Doesn't make sense.
My parents taught me that it's a movie theater, not a restaurant.
Put another way, let's say you're at work from 8-5. Most people would easily have two 4-hour stretches without eating (8-12 and 1-5) and think nothing of it, but then they act like they'll die of malnutrition in a theater if they go 2 hours without food. Doesn't make sense.
and your parents were absolutely right about everything all of the time
Do you ever think for yourself, or are you such an absolutist that your opinion about anything never changes.
01-13-13, 09:40 PM
#81
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I did attend a big sports college, and am still a football season ticket holder, and I still don't get tailgating. Probably because I'm not much of a drinker. A lot of people do it to get their buzz on before going into the stadium, since you can't buy alcohol inside.
I guess it's the social aspect but you can experience the same social activities at a bar near the stadium as you can freezing in some parking lot.
01-13-13, 09:43 PM
#82
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I don't get you people that sneak food and drink into movies. I thought all you guys were movie fans and enjoy going to the movies. If everybody snuck food and drinks in, there wouldn't be any movie theaters or they'd be God awful dumps that still charged $25 per ticket. Would you sneak a Budweiser into a bowling alley?
01-13-13, 10:14 PM
#83
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
A big tub of popcorn with loads of butter and a soda are must haves when I go to the movie. It's all part of the experience for me, and I won't have it any other way.
01-13-13, 10:17 PM
#84
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I don't get you people that sneak food and drink into movies. I thought all you guys were movie fans and enjoy going to the movies. If everybody snuck food and drinks in, there wouldn't be any movie theaters or they'd be God awful dumps that still charged $25 per ticket. Would you sneak a Budweiser into a bowling alley?
01-13-13, 10:24 PM
#85
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Well I know how much bag in a box soda costs and it's pennies per cup. A large soda, including product, cup, lid and straw probably costs less than 50 cents so the profit margin is huge. But since most theaters seem to have similar prices there must be a business reason for it. Movie theaters are large and very expensive buildings, both to construct and operate. They have to make their money somehow.
01-13-13, 10:50 PM
#86
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Well I know how much bag in a box soda costs and it's pennies per cup. A large soda, including product, cup, lid and straw probably costs less than 50 cents so the profit margin is huge. But since most theaters seem to have similar prices there must be a business reason for it. Movie theaters are large and very expensive buildings, both to construct and operate. They have to make their money somehow.
01-13-13, 10:58 PM
#87
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Doesn't always work like that. There's a break even point where anything below price x the business will lose money on every sale. There's much more than just the cost of product that goes into deciding how much to charge for something. Like I said, since the vast majority of theaters charge a lot for concessions it's obviously not as simple as just charging less than the nearest competitor.
01-13-13, 11:15 PM
#88
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Do you eat at theater?
And WTF is with your attitude? This is a simple discussion.
01-13-13, 11:28 PM
#89
DVD Talk Special Edition
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Re: Do you eat at theater?
I'll pick up a soda, but I rarely get popcorn unless I get a Regal Rewards free popcorn or an AMC Stubs rewards. Getting a soda though depends on the concession line. The last few times I've been to a theater, I ended up giving up on getting anything because the lines were ridiculously long and slow. I wish when it was busy that they'd have an express line for one or two items or less. It pisses me off to stand in a line and listen in to the people in front of me as they're not sure what they want when they reach the cashier.
01-13-13, 11:29 PM
#90
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Besides the social aspect...
Economics: you bring your own beer to the parking lot and you can bring a whole case for the cost of 3-4 of the same beer in a bar.
Logistics: get the driving done before you start drinking.
Economics: you bring your own beer to the parking lot and you can bring a whole case for the cost of 3-4 of the same beer in a bar.
Logistics: get the driving done before you start drinking.
01-13-13, 11:35 PM
#91
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I'll pick up a soda, but I rarely get popcorn unless I get a Regal Rewards free popcorn or an AMC Stubs rewards. Getting a soda though depends on the concession line. The last few times I've been to a theater, I ended up giving up on getting anything because the lines were ridiculously long and slow. I wish when it was busy that they'd have an express line for one or two items or less. It pisses me off to stand in a line and listen in to the people in front of me as they're not sure what they want when they reach the cashier.
01-13-13, 11:38 PM
#92
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Yeah I understand that but considering the cost of an NFL ticket and the parking pass and merchandise that people buy, most people that go to NFL games aren't exactly on welfare. You've already spent a boatload of cash...is it really worth it to save another $20 on beer?
01-13-13, 11:44 PM
#93
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Do you eat at theater?
Doesn't always work like that. There's a break even point where anything below price x the business will lose money on every sale. There's much more than just the cost of product that goes into deciding how much to charge for something. Like I said, since the vast majority of theaters charge a lot for concessions it's obviously not as simple as just charging less than the nearest competitor.
Off topic a bit but I deal with this almost everytime I go to a fast food place. I mean really...you don't know what you want at McDonalds or Taco Bell? You really need to study the board? Every time I end up behind one of these idiots I ask myself "Why me? Why do I always end up behind an idiot?" Then I remember that the average person is simply stupid so by law of averages, whoever is in front of me is going to be a moron that doesn't know what they want by the time it's their turn to order even though they've probably ordered from the same place a hundred times in the past. I've never had a problem ordering fast food before so why these dolts run into problems baffles me.
That said, I think if you're ordering for 4+ people or spending $40+ worth of food, you shouldn't go through the drive thru and make everyone wait for your big order
01-14-13, 06:58 AM
#95
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: Do you eat at theater?
On this point, while 90% of the time I go specifically knowing what I want, I can see why others might look and see if there's any specials going on, a new product that they might want to try, or maybe there's 3 or 4 people in the car that all have to decide and order. I think for a lot of people swinging through the drive thru might just be a quick impulse thing so they weren't even thinking about what they wanted. Calling it stupidity is unnecessarily harsh.
That said, I think if you're ordering for 4+ people or spending $40+ worth of food, you shouldn't go through the drive thru and make everyone wait for your big order
That said, I think if you're ordering for 4+ people or spending $40+ worth of food, you shouldn't go through the drive thru and make everyone wait for your big order
01-14-13, 07:16 AM
#96
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Re: Do you eat at theater?
The concession stands at the theaters I go to always seem fairly busy, even with the high prices. It would certainly be curious how many more people would actually decide to buy food or drinks if everything was $2-3 cheaper and if it that was actually enough of a deterrent on people buying concessions. That and whatever cost it would be to higher more employees to handle any increase in concession lines. Obviously cheaper would be better for me, but since I also recall hearing how little theaters make on actual ticket sales as well, i'm not surprised. I don't see it much different from the higher costs people pay for a beer at a bar versus at home.
On this point, while 90% of the time I go specifically knowing what I want, I can see why others might look and see if there's any specials going on, a new product that they might want to try, or maybe there's 3 or 4 people in the car that all have to decide and order. I think for a lot of people swinging through the drive thru might just be a quick impulse thing so they weren't even thinking about what they wanted. Calling it stupidity is unnecessarily harsh.
That said, I think if you're ordering for 4+ people or spending $40+ worth of food, you shouldn't go through the drive thru and make everyone wait for your big order
On this point, while 90% of the time I go specifically knowing what I want, I can see why others might look and see if there's any specials going on, a new product that they might want to try, or maybe there's 3 or 4 people in the car that all have to decide and order. I think for a lot of people swinging through the drive thru might just be a quick impulse thing so they weren't even thinking about what they wanted. Calling it stupidity is unnecessarily harsh.
That said, I think if you're ordering for 4+ people or spending $40+ worth of food, you shouldn't go through the drive thru and make everyone wait for your big order
Maybe if you are accustomed to eating fast food, it can become "not fast enough" for you, but I've never found myself waiting too long even when there have been lines at the drive thru.
01-14-13, 09:14 AM
#97
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I love to have a hotdog (only nathans) and drink and it pisses me off when they dont have any up on the grill. I have even ask for the manager and explain to him how much they are losing out money wise for not keeping up those hotdogs. lol
Got me some free tickets for that advise. =)
Got me some free tickets for that advise. =)
01-14-13, 10:18 AM
#100
Re: Do you eat at theater?
I don't get you people that sneak food and drink into movies. I thought all you guys were movie fans and enjoy going to the movies. If everybody snuck food and drinks in, there wouldn't be any movie theaters or they'd be God awful dumps that still charged $25 per ticket. Would you sneak a Budweiser into a bowling alley?