Would you pay $35 for a movie ticket?

[SykkBoy]

Get ready for the $35 movie ticket.

That's the estimated price of tickets for a new deluxe cinema to open this year in suburban Chicago, one of 50 U.S. multiplexes set for construction during the next five years through a new $200 million joint venture headed by Australian entertainment conglomerate Village Roadshow.

The planned theaters will boast boosted amenities, including plush reserved seating, special parking privileges and upscale food and beverage offerings with seat-side waiter service.

Some or all of those offerings are available at existing deluxe cinemas in select U.S. markets that charge $20 or less for movie tickets. But Gold Class auditoriums will feature a 40-seat-maximum patron capacity and an even higher-end atmosphere, officials said Tuesday.

"It's an absolutely different environment than anything else that exists," Village Roadshow CEO Graham Burke said.

Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas also plans to open a site in Redmond, Wash., by year's end, with about 20 additional sites planned for rollout by 2010.

"The demand for luxury moviegoing in the U.S. is very strong," said Kirk Senior, CEO of the new Burbank-based joint venture.

Companies partnering with Village Roadshow in the joint venture include Act III Entertainment, a company co-owned by Norman Lear and Hal Gaba; Michael Lambert's Lambert Entertainment; and the Retirement Systems of Alabama, a pension investment fund.

Village Roadshow operates more than 100 Gold Class screens in Australia, Singapore and Greece, part of its roughly 500-screen worldwide theater circuit.

"Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas are renowned worldwide for providing the ultimate luxury cinema experience," Village Roadshow deputy chairman Robert Kirby said. "Introducing that experience in the U.S. is a natural extension of our highly regarded brand."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...5338580eabe7c1


Are upscale movie theaters going to be a new trend?
Will fancy dinners and upscale seating become more distracting than a couple teenyboppers talking on their cellphones?

[BradM]

I'd go, if I was assured there would be no cellphones, no talking and if someone did talk they would be booted out or I would be refunded.

I watch movies at home now because I am sick and tired of the riff raff ruining all of the movies I see. For $22 (wife and I) to go, I expect to be entertained, not pissed off.

[Jayvis]

I pay close to that to go to a comedy club (usually around $20-$30 for the ticket) and whatever I spend on food and drinks there as well... so yeah, I'd probably spend that at a nice movie theater, its about the same thing I'd say.

[spunkmister]

We have Directors Rooms over here, where instead of sitting in rows you sit on private tables and can have food and drinks, including alcohol...the price ranges from $20-$40 per ticket depending on the cinema.

[Eriic]

I have and will

[SykkBoy]

For me, it would depend on the movie and assurances the waiters won't be as annoying as the typical teenager with a cellphone (actually, lately these days, teenagers are getting better while older people are getting worse with that)

[Rhesus]

No I wouldn't pay that much, although I've paid $30 for a single movie ticket here before (which was a ridiculous action, btw)

[VeriSexy]

Yes I would..

[Jarmusch]

Seat-side waiter service? So the waiters would be moving about blocking the view and people would be talking to them placing their order etc during the movie, right?

[Eva PSC]

I would pay. It would be more like a dinner/snack and some entertainment. And who doesn't want better seats?

[Peaches]

We have a little 2 screen theater here in town that's in a strip mall. All seats are $5. If you get there late, you just put your $5 inside the window and go in because the guy there to take your money is upstairs getting the projectors started.

If I go "into town" I do the early cheap showing unless I'm with a group of people (who are usually cheap like me and go to the early shows). I honestly can't remember the last time I paid more than $7.50 for a movie. And even then some asshole's cell phone went off 3 times.

Netflix is my friend

[viencarl]

if they change the waiter's to hot waitress why not lol

[J. Falcon]

Originally Posted by viencarl

if they change the waiter's to hot waitress why not lol

Then you'd really miss a lot of the movie.

[KellyKayne]

Hey here's an idea... stop making crappy movies, the last few we saw we THOUGHT were going to be good were horriable.

[Holly]

One of the guys involved in this, David Bronner, is a really sharp guy. I've met and dined with him several times and he's one of those "Midas touch" kind of people. If you golf and you're familiar with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, that's his baby.

[Ross]

Yeah I'd pay that. Would be nice to have waiter service and be able to have a few drinks!

[Sosa]

fuck that, i'll stay at home and mix my own drinks while watching a movie. I prefer to do that now anyways

[Elli]

It seems that this is a bad time in the economy to be offering luxury pricing, but it's not even built yet, so that's not a big deal, I guess.

I wouldn't pay that much for a movie because so many movies are complete crap these days anyway. If they started offering classic movies or oscar winners or something or documentaries, then that might attract me more. Like an evening with Gone With the Wind or 12 Angry Men or the original Star Wars or Riding Giants. That would be cool.

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by Jarmusch

Seat-side waiter service? So the waiters would be moving about blocking the view and people would be talking to them placing their order etc during the movie, right?

Yeah, i'm not sure how they would work that one.

I would be willing to pay extra if it was worth it though. I hate paying what we pay just now to be stuck in a cinema with uncomfortable seats, and idiots ruining the movie most the time...

[faze]

yeah i'd pay it and i think it's a really good idea.

they have a few places already like that called Chunky's, it's a new england place.

http://www.chunkys.com

pitchers of beer, delicious food, and get this, leather seats pulled out of luxury cadillacs.

[faze]

chunky's has cheap ass tickets too. other movie theaters need to step their games up. i suggest everyone in the ma/nh area goes and checks one out.

[AdPatron]

I would pay it...sounds like a good idea although somethings need to be considered such as how they take the orders...maybe they could do like a place near hear where you place your order before the movie and the walk area for the waiters to walk through and bring your food and drinks is lower than the seats so they not get in your way.

[jalami]

Sounds just like Cinepolis VIP down here in Costa Rica, instead the movie ticket is about $8 (regular cinemas are around $3-4). Assigned seating, the chairs have pop-out leg rests, very few seats per screen, and waiter service serving regular movie fare as well as sushi, sandwiches, beer, wine, and mixed drinks (in a glass!).

[bobby666]

only if there is a blowjob included

[woj]

Not sure about that, now a days most movies are so bad that I'm not sure $10 is even a fair price... out of 10 random movies out now, maybe 1-2 are reasonable, a "good" movie comes out maybe once every 3 months...

[Michaelious]

I like having catching the movies for cheap. £3-£7, I think that is reasonable and if they theatres can't make a profit from that then fuck them. Movies are for everyone and if someone is talking or ruining the enjoyment I usually just say to them to get it together.

[SykkBoy]

Originally Posted by Michaelious

I like having catching the movies for cheap. £3-£7, I think that is reasonable and if they theatres can't make a profit from that then fuck them. Movies are for everyone and if someone is talking or ruining the enjoyment I usually just say to them to get it together.

kind of like today's porn surfer


;-)

[Jon Clark - BANNED FOR LIFE]

I always skip the dinner, movie and take her back to my house and get right up in her...

[atman]

no never....

[Persius]

i pay 10$ for Imax and have the best movie experience

[Sly]

I will stick with my 60 inch, surround sound, Netflix, and refrigerator full of beer and snacks. I'm so behind on movies these days anyway... I prefer watching TV shows on DVD. Though I can see how many would be interested in something like this.