National Movie Theater Chain AMC Announces New Plan To Price Gouge Customers

AMC theaters has released a new tiered pricing model and people are not happy about it. Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola discuss on The Young Turks. Watch TYT LIVE on weekdays 6-8 pm ET. kzbin.info...
Read more HERE: www.nytimes.co...
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230208__BE01AMCVsPricedSeating

[@JuanYe_West]

I’ve never been so sure that movie theaters will die out in the near future

[@jeffcrowtherjr.7861]

With the exception of those independent art-house cinemas. A lot of which also have live concerts and lectures for extra revenue. I even saw Henry Rollins do a spoken word performance at the one where I live.

[@brinaprochniak5905]

I already don’t go to the movies . This just makes me even happier about my choice to stay out of movie theaters.

[@sglushak]

Two things. First, movies used to be affordable to attend. Second, movies used to actually be good enough to want to go to them.

[@justsotiredofBS]

I just can't imagine anyone wanting to pay for a subscription type service to a movie theater. I mean, going to the movies is kind of a hassle. You gotta take time from your schedule to go to one. Not to mention all the costs associated with theatres. It's not exactly convenient, and I thought that was the whole point of subscription services. Convenience.

[@dansmodacct]

@@justsotiredofBS right

[@mitch_edc]

Haven’t been in years. This will just keep me away even longer. Don’t see myself going back anytime soon.

[@MikeHunt90731]

I'm done with the movie theatre experience. Sitting with people texting on their phones, coughing up a storm and bringing their little crying brats I'll leave to the other suckers who want to pay those prices. Having your own home theatre and watching anything you want is the way to go :)

[@timothyletwin5911]

Exactly. Stopped going as well because of the cell phones. Dark theater with random lights in laps all over the damned place.

[@MikeHunt90731]

@@timothyletwin5911 it will grate on your nerves and soul!

[@Kilkenny1923]

I stopped spending time in darkened rooms full of potentially armed and unbalanced individuals the night a gunman opened fire in a movie theater in 2012. And I have a college degree in film production.

[@thomas0086]

This is what these corporations do every single time. They have no concept of lower prices, more volume. This is why inflation is perpetual. It’s because of them.

[@davidanderson6100]

And they think the public has unlimited funds.

[@fadedrose9]

@@davidanderson6100 They don't care either. It's all greed.

[@BigDawg-if7ti]

Don’t try to tell me they’re not raising the total price of all the seats and just using this to cover that up for a month 😂

[@fadedrose9]

It's the numbers that count to them, even if it's not there, no matter how they achieve it, and yes, they cover it up. They are part of a corporation, and most of them are too big to fail, so what does it matter to them whether the seats are empty or not.

[@remistarlight8485]

So, before when you bought a ticket your goal was to get a great seat so you can watch the movie. If you were late, you got the crap seat, that's how the game works! Now, when you're sitting in your good seat, you can feel good about the fact that you're not as poor as the people in the front. I absolutely hate the fact that AMC has no problem with sowing more discord between people when all we want is to go out and watch a movie. Do we really need to be reminded that we are poor while we're trying to enjoy a movie? Way to introduce more classism into society! "Hey you in the value seats! STF! I'm trying to watch the movie!" -- A future classic AMC Theater experience!

[@peterh7575]

AMC Theaters = blockbuster back then. We've seen the plot, we know how it ends. T'was nice knowing you AMC.

[@potrelviewer9536]

Is it legal to call them "cuckbusters" now?

[@ohioplayerinva]

Movie theaters are going the way of horses, and the iceman. Last time I was in a theater was 2019, and that was to see a classic movie. A moment to appreciate history. Other than just needing to get out of the house why would you: Pay for a sitter Pay gas money, Pay for parking Buy $10 tickets Then buy expensive crappy theater junk food Then be forced to watch 30 minutes of commercials before the trailers. Then finally watch a movie surrounded by people using cell phones, and walking in front of you. Can't even pause it, or rewind it if missed that crucial dialogue that explains the entire movie Too frequently the sound is too loud, or too low AMC is actually taking a barely tolerable experience and adding baggage fees. Theaters are done. I have a 50 inch screen at home. I will wait for the Blu-ray or streaming version.

[@Jesi-g]

😅 facts! I have a 75in screen!

[@jeffcrowtherjr.7861]

Not to mention having a 4k UHD player w/a 50-inch 4k TV & 5.1 surround sound system. Which is definitely more affordable nowadays.

[@tylerharris4392]

nobody goes to the movies anymore,the ticket themselves are already expensive as hell and who the hell want to pay almost 20 bucks for popcorn

[@danielh8569]

Especially when owning the movie costs the same

[@tckt88]

Another reason to just wait a few months for a streaming service to get it.

[@Jesi-g]

The last time a lot of us stepped foot in a theater was pre-covid, 2019. So there's no way this stupid plan will work. Streaming is the present and future of movies. I'll be surprised if AMC doesn't file for bankruptcy by next year.

[@cynthiavaldez5941]

Reminds me of that line from the song Master of the House from the musical Les Miserables: Charge 'em for the lice, extra for the mice Two percent for looking in the mirror twice Here a little slice, there a little cut Three percent for sleeping with the window shut When it comes to fixing prices There are a lot of tricks he knows How it all increases, all them bits and pieces Jesus! It's amazing how it grows!

[@drVainMD]

THIS! Late stage capitalism to a T. Bravo! Perfect comment!

[@jesssicka3232]

Master of the house Isn't worth my spit Comforter, philosopher And life long shit Cunning little brain Regular voltaire Thinks himself a lover But there's not much there What a cruel trick of nature Landed me with such a louse... God knows how I've lasted living with this bastard in the house! Couldn't help myself 😁

[@nancymesek]

That’s such BS. They already make a fortune price gouging at the concession.

[@dantefuego]

its $2 extra for Preferred Seats, and $2 CHEAPER NOW for regular seats and its only a TRIAL in like 4 Locations for fuq sakes.. the naked short selling hedge funds are doing there best to bankrupt this company. These hit pieces are a joke of a news segment... Meanwhile Chevron is ACTUALLY price gouging energy in the Guise of " tHe WaR "

[@tlovemac]

AMC forget exactly what American people are. prices get to high we resort to piracy Pirate voice (hoist the VPN)

[@elmasheavy89]

The big difference is that concerts & sport events are live, the actors, players and singers are performing live.

[@censoredbyyoutubeagain4569]

Streaming is making movie theaters irrelevant. So good luck AMC 😂🤣

[@jojomakes]

I haven't been to the movies since the pandemic started and I honestly have no desire to go back

[@seventhfirestephanie8740]

Same.

[@bigby2k]

Me too!

[@MeidasMJ]

I would rather watch at home , than pay the outrageous ticket prices.

[@OfficialSeth]

For real. If I'm going to pay a premium price then I want a premium experience, otherwise I'd rather just watch it at home.

[@BelligerentIdeas]

If you're a AMC insider (the app) tickets and concessions prices are amazingly cheaper. Do your research

[@Gimpygladiator]

So where do us wheelchair users sit.... because A) WE BRING OUR OWN SEATS, but we're limited on the stadium-like parking spots, which are either in the front and add neck pain to our list of problems, or in the "expensive" seats ... not to mention the damn-near ten-pound closed captioning glasses that only work 1/3 of the time. They don't have an "accessibility" department (believe me, I've tried to find one).

[@mocrg]

I grew up in the UK . They did this in the 70s. I was surprised they didn’t do this here.

[@bethanychatman9531]

Do you know why they stopped? What feedback they got? It's incredibly stupid

[@fadedrose9]

Whoooa! My sister went to an AMC theater here in MA a few years ago & she was shocked to see how dirty it was. There was popcorn on the floor, either mouse or rat traps everywhere including under the seats & just terrible condition. She said it was so bad that she wrote a letter to the corporate office, but never heard back. She said she'll never go back to an AMC theater again. She also heard that those theaters are the same everywhere.

[@jabrak1]

I had the same experience a few weeks ago at the AMC in Braintree. It used to be the good theater, but it was absolutely disgusting and things were falling apart. I don't see myself ever going back.

[@fadedrose9]

@@jabrak1 WOW! THAT 's the same movie that my sister went to!! So, in a few years, they never bothered to clean it up. Too cheap to hire cleaners.

[@jeffcrowtherjr.7861]

The one where I live doesn't change the A/C filters and the roof leaks.

[@rememberruff]

As I'm watching I'm trying to remember the last movie I saw in theaters and I think it was either Brightburn or one of the marvel movies before COVID shutdown everything. I used to go all the time, but the quality for new movie ideas is probably the biggest reason I stopped, rather than price. They make the same 10 movies over and over every year with different people or settings, and people act as if they're watching something revolutionary.

[@dicitalore605]

Mine was the latest Lion King movie. And only because my son really wanted to see it.

[@fadedrose9]

Exacrly! Besides that, they're allowing some of the actors to write their own script, and they use the same actors over & over. Also, notice how dark the movies are? I believe the price of lighting has gone up, because many of the movies - the ones who are done inside, are so dark that you can hardly see what they're doing. All because of greed.

[@rememberruff]

@@fadedrose9 That irks me as well. I instantly lose interest in any action movie that is filmed in a dark room or at night because I can't see what's happening.

[@SuperToughnut]

They should lower prices for the crummy seats, but not raise prices for the good seats.

[@Paul_Wetor]

And if you want a seat facing the screen, that'll cost extra.

[@stonercatmom]

Good riddance. Movie theaters are a product of a bygone age. Straight to streaming services is the best way. Don't buy anything from the theaters, just smuggle it in.

[@adamkreuz9068]

Hopefully this bankrupts them

[@LostChildOfTime]

“Holla atcha girl,” is a legit saying, Ana. lol

[@mackthenight]

Who goes to the movies any more? I stopped going to theaters 25 years ago. Unless you are one of those people that just has to see a movie first wait a week or so and catch it online for free.

[@igot5onit423]

This

[@roddyrod583]

I stopped going to theaters years ago.

[@goldeneastgun]

Just another reason to avoid theatres, especially AMC.

[@Amenti_H]

Two movie theaters near me use a different strategy: they remodeled to reduce number of rows and started to serve food and drinks. Seems to work for them...

[@markusbrauns4274]

I agree. It's been that way in Europe for years.

[@boarder6246]

I used to go to a place that had unlimited popcorn. Haven’t been back since they got bought by another company and they stopped the service.

[@TheFliggs]

Now 58, I haven't been to a movie theater in 17 years!

[@stephennootens916]

First this sounds more like how they sell live theater tickets and second chances are there are goong to be a lot pf empty middle seats given that people will just all pick the outer seats.

[@starbrand3726]

Keep it up and these greedy corporations will destroy the movie theater going experience. With COVID, streaming, large screen TV's and home surround sound, many people are already NOT going to the movie theaters. Personally, I haven't been to the theater since 2019.

[@fadedrose9]

They already have, but it doesn't matter to them. They'll turn the closed movies into some kind of hall or restaurant & open under another name.

[@starbrand3726]

@@fadedrose9 And do the same thing again to those new businesses.

[@fadedrose9]

@@starbrand3726 You got it!!

[@skellener]

Unchecked corporate greed

[@dantefuego]

its $2 extra for Preferred Seats, and $2 CHEAPER NOW for regular seats and its only a TRIAL in like 4 Locations for fuq sakes.. the naked short selling hedge funds are doing there best to bankrupt this company. These hit pieces are a joke of a news segment... Meanwhile Chevron is ACTUALLY price gouging energy in the Guise of " tHe WaR "

[@fadedrose9]

@@dantefuego WTF! Do you work for AMC, or have stock in them? Quit repeating the same meme. What they all say is legitimate.

[@dantefuego]

@@fadedrose9 Im a shareholder and we are being attacked by the real corporate greeD. CITADEL for naked short selling our company in to the ground and sponsering garbage journalism

[@pher421]

@@dantefuego get ready and hold onto your butts. you know it's becoming desperation when they crank up their media machine to this level. Even local radios are bashing them. This seat thing has been known about for a min but all of you are just now hearing about it? All at the same time right before amc does some moves in the market that will lead to those in the know making a lot of money.. super bullish

[@fadedrose9]

@@dantefuego All true, but are your stocks going down?

[@hbgriss]

May as well shut them all down now.

[@solstus6783]

If streaming is killing their business why don't they just allow AMC subscribers to stream the movies in their home?

[@MysteriousFuture]

Cause the movie production studios would never allow that when they can run their own streaming service and cut out the middle man

[@theFLCLguy]

The cost to watch a movie once must less than half what it costs to buy. I'm not spending $15 to see a movie once when I can buy it for $20 later. If they want more people to go to theaters they need to lower their prices.

[@lisag18]

The AMC theater I go to don't check tickets. You literally walk in, sit and watch the film

[@eddiet3026]

The expensive popcorn is not a shock. It's always been that way. The cost is part of why people stopped frequenting theaters.

[@elconquistador5469]

No! Who charges different prices for better seats???

[@yochp9693]

Milk ya for every penny.

[@christyritter1828]

If they lowered the price we'd go more often which would increase their revenue. Raise the prices and we will go less. It's not that hard to figure out. 🙄

[@fadedrose9]

But that isn't the way Big Business looks at things.

[@xnreyescj]

Corporations have yet to find a way to charge for the very air you breathe. Once they do, well...this simulation is over.

[@culturedboor]

I have long said that will be the real reason for the required microchip. Not the biblical ‘mark of the beast’ but a means of measuring oxygen usage so you can be billed by the corporation that bought the “air rights” from the government, which divided the country into a grid and sold off sections of air rights to the highest bidders in a fundraising scheme lobbied for by the corporations that wanted it done.

[@dominicmauricio2474]

The money is in the popcorn and other stuff you buy so how is getting less people to go to the movies a better business plan.

[@mrnopain]

with all the taxes and if you aren't a paid subscriber just to get a regular movie ticket is already outrageous. But with the exception of opening night the theater is vastly empty every other night of the week except for those center seats. Assigned seating was never a thing before they decides to make it a thing so you could pay extra.... for.... After that the prices just snowballed to the point the Theater just stopped filling up. Let's also not forget there is a drought on good movies and we are just getting flooded with cash grabs,.... someone somewhere really wanted to see.

[@miked1639]

Covid showed us we don’t need too pay 20$ for a bucket of popcorn

[@MysteriousFuture]

And you can choose any food you want when you’re at home for less 😂

[@mike-gv2ol]

People still go to theaters? Weird… Too many options to see movies at home now.

[@RichHeimlich]

They've tried this before with Reserved Seating and it failed miserably. Patrons DESPISE going into a theater and finding nearly all the prime seats going empty. It also causes unnecessary intereactions with other patrons and staff.

[@smaakjeks]

That's a great point.

[@fadedrose9]

There are some ppl who will say they don't care, they want to go to the movies, but if those ppl knew that they are enabling the theater to keep their prices high, maybe they wouldn't go to that theater.

[@Paul_Wetor]

A better question is: why does a ticket for a $20 million movie cost the same as one for a $250 million movie? Why does a 90-minute movie cost the same as a 3-hour movie?

[@DavidLaneFox]

The standardized market

[@marie-franceFortin]

My local movie theater is not AMC. It's a independent. To try to incite people to go to movies they have updated their seats, the front row is lounge seats, add alcohol to the menu, big waiting area with comfortable chairs, better sounds, and lots of other things. I wouldn't go to any other theatre, the experience is fantastic. And to top it all, no price increase.

[@121Greenthumb]

the amc here was renovated just like that. Still doesnt entice me. My living room will always be better

[@marie-franceFortin]

@@121Greenthumb I also have a home theater at home but it's not the same. For big spectacle movies, I want the bigger screen, the sound that make my bones vibrate and the 3D.

[@dragonhile2926]

AMC theaters decision with their dynamic pricing model is a terrible decision from anyone including filmmakers who want their films played in movie theaters and also it will force consumers to watch movies at home more often.

[@dantefuego]

its $2 extra for Preferred Seats, and $2 CHEAPER NOW for regular seats and its only a TRIAL in like 4 Locations for fuq sakes.. the naked short selling hedge funds are doing there best to bankrupt this company. These hit pieces are a joke of a news segment... Meanwhile Chevron is ACTUALLY price gouging energy in the Guise of " tHe WaR "

[@izzylippold4296]

Johns face when Anna thought he talked about Sam Seder... XD absolute gold

[@joshbrown284]

I can't believe anyone even still goes to the movies

[@bigby2k]

You and I both! Cinemas are technologically obsolete. Those 4K and 8K televisions and decent sound systems are becoming more affordable.

[@Ksnamaste]

They’ll definitely go out of business with this

[@hathor4isis]

I haven't gone to a movie theater in a decade and will never again, when I can get first run movies for free at home!😹

[@smaakjeks]

*Previously on AMC's The Walking Out*

[@BigDawg-if7ti]

If you buy anything besides a ticket at the theater it’ll literally cost you 100 to bring a family of 4 The business model is trash in today’s age. Nobody would ever open a theater as a new business in 2023 😂

[@Bibbzyy]

The last time I went to a move theater was……. I don’t even remember. Why would I waste my time and money?

[@CACOS-ALIVE]

AMC is the AT&T, Sprint, Bell Atlantic of the 70-80’s. Who cares! The next 20yrs, they’ll be Gone

[@r3drift]

No they won't. Are you citadel? Are you shorting them?

[@dantefuego]

its $2 extra for Preferred Seats, and $2 CHEAPER NOW for regular seats and its only a TRIAL in like 4 Locations for fuq sakes.. the naked short selling hedge funds are doing there best to bankrupt this company. These hit pieces are a joke of a new segment... Meanwhile Chevron is ACTUALLY price gouging energy in the Guise of " tHe WaR "

[@robertkukla591]

This is like malls in the early aughts kicking children out so old people can walk around. Whelp, old people don't spend money and malls barely exist any longer. Who coulda guessed?

[@charlesmikkelsen5993]

I hope they do. I'll buy the cheapest seats and sit wherever I want because I'm usually alone with my wife in the theater.

[@roygbiv9038]

This is why I go to Regal.

[@cutejustice]

Maybe if they lowered the price of the food and snacks they wouldn’t need to do that smh

[@henrywestbrook9773]

IKR? It amazes me that no one has figured out the simplest solution to getting more people to come to the theater and buy the popcorn. LOWER THE EFFING PRICES!!! McDonalds doesn't make billions by charging $35.99 for a Happy Meal. They make their money on volume. That's how theaters made their money for most of a century.

[@KnarfStein]

Okaaay? What's the freakout all about? Movie theatre seats have long been price tiered by experience levels. There're the regular seats; premium seats with extra body, leg room, and coat racks; and seats in premium screens (e.g., IMAX, Dolby Atmos, and 4DX).

[@Maya_Ruinz]

Haven’t seen a movie in the theater since 2021, and definitely no reason to return, just buy or rent the movie when it releases.

[@tdrewman]

I have the AMC moviepass. I paid $22 a month. I go at least two, three movies a month. I've gone at the peak to see three movies in one day, before the pandemic. It pays for itself when you watch two movies. I checked the passes won't be affected. They want people to join the movie club.

[@jmajick4415]

They're going to "start" nickel and diming?

[@Reese842]

I have childhood memories of the sticky floor of each row, just super unclean and sprinting to the bathroom so you didn't miss too much of the movie.

[@MeidasMJ]

No way. Basically, I stopped going to theaters a long time ago. I still go to the drive in movies, but even there, I don’t go as often.

[@denisemontgomery7169]

Goodbye, Movie Theater, and Hello to Drive Inn Movie Theater.

[@culturedboor]

This won’t go over well.

[@metalbrainmextrememetalent6810]

The seats in the middle are just going to sellout. You’ll be forced to take crappier seats.

[@adamschoedel8829]

I haven't been to a movie theater since 2019. This isn't going to make want to go.

[@encyclopediabrown5100]

Good thing movies are being released to streaming faster. No more theaters for me.

[@beverlyportlamoureux8459]

How are they going to enforce this?

[@dasher920]

Take it around where I live it’s about $13 a pop Unless I go on Tuesday, it’s $5… So I’ll settle for the non- AMC theater in New York

[@pete_lind]

And now consider that price of cheapest 55-65" flatscreen is round 500 , popcorn does not cost 10 per bag at home , neither does a tiny soda . So two person one movie easily cost over 50 , so for a price of less than 10 movies you get huge flatscreen TV to watch your movies from . It was a bit different when i did go to movies in 1980s-90s , 28" color TV and VHS with mono sound at home .

[@tonyahinrichs8828]

The only reason streaming gets my business over a movie theater is that the theater gets mad when I smoke. My house doesn't seem to mind

[@michaeltijerina2915]

Just don't go to the theater boycott them charge too much for everything anyway if they want to get you in there they should be giving you deals not overcharging you

[@MeidasMJ]

I still go to drive in movies, but not as a often as we used to go to the drive in movies.

[@czarekp3552]

used to love cinemas

[@huizhechen3779]

Do did I but that was before the Internet. Now I wouldn't bother going to a cinema anywhere.

[@hennocent]

USA = United Subscriptions of America. Why do we have to subscribe to every dang thing.

[@gsmith6595]

That is what our oligarchy wants us to move towards, we own nothing because they bought it all and rent it to us

[@conniegaylord5206]

Its the same movie !!!!😂😂😂😂

[@ohmydamn6807]

Just buy the DVD/Blu ray or if you go to the movies bring your own snacks

[@sagasta1983]

Here comes a boost in movie pirating

[@pavsofficial4284]

Its sad but i think i goobye is nessary times are changing

[@KOTJ412]

Drive-In is better anyways! GL to AMC trying to hustle ppl.

[@aliquot8404]

Unfortunately, there are so few drive-in theatres left, very few people under the age of 60 have EVER been to one.

[@Pandion1872]

Glad there is no AMC theater around me since I would lose out going to movies altogether since I would NOT pay more than someone 3-4 rows up. That is just dumb!

[@milascave2]

It wasn't three movies. It was two movies, a short subject comedy, a cartoon, and a new reel.

[@timreno72]

These days it's no secret that there are countless sites that will allow you to view movies and TV shows before or the day of it's release. Before it was common knowledge there were numerous 'bootleg' sites that you could not only view but download movies before it's theaterical release. I even purchased a DVD burner that burns the movie on one side and can burn the movie cover on the other side of the DVD. One gag I used to always pull on my then GF at the time was to watch 'Two Broke Girls' online E.Coast time then watch it with her as it aired on the W. Coast. She was amazeded at how well I could predict a joke. :)

[@jaimereynolds258]

Don't go to the theater. Not an issue 🤷‍♀️ Who wnats to sit in a room with a bunch of strangers anyway lol

[@raysprad404]

While paying to watch someone else's tv.

[@dansmodacct]

@@raysprad404 at volumes you can’t control

[@charlesgomes6266]

I'm surprised you guys are behind on this story. So the price change is an effort to better the company's profits and sure it may be a bad idea. The truth is that AMC theateres are still fighting against short selling hedge funds that have created a multi trillion dollar bubble that is about to pop this year. It's a continuation of the amc gme short squeeze from a year and a half ago. The story you just repeated is exactly the story headgefunds are trying to spread to help rob individual investors.

[@Kinn72]

Im from Denmark We have always had that, preorder so you are sure you can sit with your friends.. and the best seats are a little more expensive…

[@christinahansen9952]

That's right 🙂

[@alexfescu665]

How much is a movie ticket in the USA? In east Europe is about 8$

[@igot5onit423]

Around 15$

[@johntuel2375]

People are still going to movie theaters?

[@bigby2k]

As M3GAN would say, "It's insane, right?"😂