It became very clear after visiting film geek heaven (The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin Texas) that there is a better way to handle the theatrical experience. And since my visit to Texas, I’ve been thinking a lot about what could be changed and improved in the multiplex.
A new deluxe movie cinema is set to open this year in suburban Chicago, one of 50 multiplexes set for construction in the U.S. over the next five years. These new theaters will offer plush reserved reclining armchair seats with footrests, valet parking, a lounge and bar serving cocktails and appetizer, and upscale food and beverage offerings with seat-side waiter service (a service button at each seat calls a waiter). Some of this is already offered in the estimated 300 premium theaters around the country, but what Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinema hopes to bring to the table is a 40-seat-maximum patron capacity and an even higher-end atmosphere. Each complex will typically house eight screens, and will be housed in high-end shopping centers and malls.
So how much will this high end experience cost? An estimated $35 a ticket! And that doesn’t cover food or alcohol purchases. I’m one who is all for a premium movie theater experience, but this just seems ridiculously overpriced. I would like to see a big corporate multiplex chain adopt the Alamo model of ordering from your seat, but like the Alamo, this shouldn’t come at a higher cost of a ticket.
Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas also plans to open 20 additional cinemas by 2010. Village Roadshow operates more than 100 Gold Class screens in Australia..
Discuss: Would you pay $35 for a ticket to an upscale deluxe movie theater?
March 26th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Well I have never experienced a Gold Class experience over here in Australia yet as you need to be 18 or accompanied by a parent or guardian, but the tickets are priced as such. Gold Class tickets here are $28 per person not including the food and drinks. Normal tickets for an Adult are $14.80 and a Child is $10.50. I guess the comfort is worth it. I have heard good things about it though.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:08 am
The only way I would pay $35 to see a film was if they guaranteed people in the audience wouldn’t talk through the entire movie, or make really loud chewing sounds by eating with their mouth completely open.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:10 am
There is another theater like that here in exas called the movie tavern. it’s a chain with 5 theaters already. it hs a bar in the lobby while you wait for the movie to start and seat side service while you watch the flick. and tickets are $5 on tuesdays!!!!!!
March 26th, 2008 at 5:11 am
I think this would be a once every couple of months type of thing for me, and I hit the theaters at least once a week.
Besides, those valet parking guys never seem to know how to handle a Prius and we always come back to the battery being almost dead.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:11 am
i mean Texas……damn it’s early.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:13 am
depends! only if they guarantee me that people in the audience wouldn’t talk throughout the movie..
March 26th, 2008 at 5:14 am
I wouldn’t pay $35 a ticket to watch a movie. The difference between my home theater experience and the actual theater experience isn’t that great. I pay more than that for Hockey tickets, or Opera tickets, because the last time I looked it was extremely expensive to duplicate THOSE experiences in my own home. (Not that I haven’t tried, the Hockey thing sorta worked, but those damn Opera singers… I don’t need to tell you.)
But I suspect the same people who are still driving Hummers and Yukons with big pipes, low profile tires and 80mph average speeds, would probably jump at the chance to be even worse consumers.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Village Roadshow is an Australian cinema company and they run the Gold Class cinemas here. I can tell you they are fantastic to go to. I don’t go for every movie, but for films I really wanna see like the Simpsons, or movies that are long like the Aviator, it is an excellent way to see a film.
You have food and alcohol, drinks brought to you, comfortable recliners, excellent viewing, and no kids.
Gold Class tickets here are $28 instead of $14.80, so its almost double the price, but once you add going out to dinner with your girl and getting drinks and stuff at the cinema, the extra $13.20 is a small price to pay for the difference.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:38 am
I already find the 10$ cost fee in regular theatres WAY too expensive… so I’ll pass for 35$!
March 26th, 2008 at 7:01 am
How are they gonna guarantee that people wont talk, take them out and shoot them behind the theater?
I think 35 is a bit much. I spend 20 when I go and thats including ticket and concessions - so I would think spending 35 total with concessions would be a good compromise. Maybe include one med drink and med popcorn or small popcorn with the seat would justify it. I mean they literally spend pennies on the popcorn and 10 cents a pour for the pop - I don’t care if the seat massaged me through the flick, the seat alone isn’t worth 35 when I can see an IMAX for 10.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Here in the Philippines, we have premium cinemas like that at around 8-9 dollars a ticket. You get unlimited popcorn and drinks, and sit in a la-z-boy chair.
35 dollars is pretty bad.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Yeah but isn’t everything in the philippines cheaper?
March 26th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Well no, not really. Movies are much cheaper. The best cinemas in the country won’t run you more than 4 dollars. But everything else is pretty much the same. You guys actually pay less for laptops and TVs. We get really screwed on those.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:43 am
We already HAVE “premium” seating in the Chicago area: Muvico, in Rosemont near O’Hare airport. Six of their eighteen screens have either a balcony or an entire auditorium with huge, LazyBoy type chairs (not reclining) that are incredibly comfortable. All digital projection and sound, and every ticket is $15, which includes the film, valet parking and a bag of popcorn. Best of all? It’s 21 and over. Their “concession stand” includes beer and wine, and you can order form the menu of the in-house restaurant run by the Levy Company (Cheesecake Factory). Considering it costs $10 to see a movie in Chicago with screaming hordes of tweens, most people I know consider paying $15 for super comfy chairs and superior viewing and listening - and getting popcorn and parking thrown in - to be quite a bargain. Would I pay more than TWICE as much just to put my feet up? Not a chance in hell. But as along as Muvico continues to deliver this kind of really satisfying movie experience, I’m there!
March 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am
35 bucks? They better have the champaign room experience also.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I’d pay $35 for everything mentioned, including the valet, food and beer. But $35 just to watch a movie in a Laz-E-Boy? Aren’t those meant for napping in?? I’m not paying $35 to fall asleep halfway thru the movie!
The Arclight in Hollywood has the nicest accommodations I’ve seen and they only charge like $5-6 more than regular theatres.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:26 am
$35 is nothing. Many movie fans have already spent THOUSANDS of dollars on their home theatres because they want to watch movies with quality image & sound, no commercials, and no interruptions.
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But Village Roadshow is missing the point entirely by building
“smaller, more intimate” 40-seat cinemas. If you want to draw us away from our home theaters, you need to start building 80 foot wide screens again, and give us something we can never have at home.
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Jonesy
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http://www.OnTheBigScreen.net
March 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am
No way. I barely pay $5 for a movie at AMC before 12 noon on weekends.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I would argue that film geek heaven would have a lot more to do with the quality of watching the movie and less to do with shoving nicer concessions down your fat throat and peripheral fun in the form of college theme parties.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:43 am
“Would You Pay $35 for a Movie Ticket?”
No, never will.
I still think the prices now are too high. It’s why I’m so picky about what I watch. If I miss it, I just wait for the DVD release.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Yes, I would pay that much to see a movie. It’s the whole ambience and experience that would make it worth it. Especially if you know you’re going to see a highly anticipated movie, like Indiana Jones, Iron Man or Wanted. It’d make a great date! Even better if I didn’t have to pay :-)
March 26th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Anyone know the name/website of this company that is opening these up in the USA?
March 26th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Screw That! I probably only go three or four times a year if it was $35 bucks!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
NO.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Unless I am getting a free lapdance hell no.
I barely go as is since its retareded expensive for 1.5hrs of ok entertaiment.
I can wait for everyrthing to come out on DVD rent it from netflix and burn it :)
March 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I have been to the Gold Class Cinemas in Australia and they are the best cinema experience I have ever had. They charge $42 on a peak night (Sat) in Australia and it is always difficult to get in - people love it over there. Trust me, once you’ve gone to Gold Class you won’t want to go back to normal cinemas. It’s like flying first class and then having to go back to coach.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
$35 for plush seats and valet parking? Psh, if they made movies $5 a ticket, I’ll sit in a lawn chair and park on in a field 500ft from the theatre. When is someone going to make that model?
March 26th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I though you guys would have had something like this already…
To be honest, 35 bucks a little expensive for the ‘experience’ since you have to pay for food and drinks as extras (although they do bring it in to you whatever time you want). But it is great value if you go during the day on a weekday - its normally about 1/2 price.
March 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
No.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
when i go to the movies i also have a date that would mean id have to pay for her to 35 each no way in hellllll would i pay 35 to watch a movie and thats fact. Id rather rent it for 5 10 bucks when it comes out or go to a regualr movies for 7 8 bucks
i can park my own car
i can sit in the regular movie seats
just cause a guy parks for car and all the extra trash thats not even worth it they charge man it better come with a free ticket 2 watch that movie all day
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
i would. but what if the movie sucked.